The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Rockledge, Florida (with additional offices in Merritt Island). Established in 2011, CASIS operates as an independent entity overseen by NASA through a cooperative agreement. The organization manages the International Space Station's U.S. National Laboratory, serving as a broker and facilitator for research opportunities across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.4M
-19.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.9M
+39.0% YoY
Grant Count
43
+2.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$138K
+35.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To maximize use of the International Space Station as an unparalleled platform for innovation that can benefit all humankind and inspire a new generation to look to the stars.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Facilitating research access to the ISS National Laboratory
- Advancing science literacy in the future workforce
- Maturing space-based business models
- Expanding sustainable and scalable markets in low Earth orbit
- Supporting non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives
The organization's work spans physical sciences, earth sciences research, and related services.
Grantmaking
CASIS makes grants to support research and implementation projects on the ISS National Laboratory. Recent grant activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CASIS funds research initiatives with geographic reach including California, Texas, and Alabama, though the organization's scope extends nationally to support U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and private sector partners.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024 (ending September 2024):
- Total Assets: $5,392,094
- Total Revenue: $19,451,197
- Total Expenses: $19,723,477
- Total Liabilities: $2,650,000
- Total Giving: $5,927,601
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since April 2011 (EIN: 27-5410763)
Audit Findings: An independent audit for fiscal year ending September 2024 identified a significant deficiency in internal controls related to the organization's ability to track and report financial data reliably. This deficiency is less severe than a material weakness but warrants management attention.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,392,094 | $6,721,508 | $3,595,465 |
| Revenue | $19,451,197 | $17,778,832 | $12,704,587 |
| Expenses | $19,723,477 | $17,177,114 | $12,599,326 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $62,912 | $529 | $1,932 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
154 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Regents of the University of Colorado ($972,528), Redwire Space Technologies Inc ($943,500), Space Tango Inc ($535,743).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY TEMPE, AZ | THIS PROJECT ENGAGES MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATORS IN A SERIES OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS ON CURRICULA RELATED TO ISS RESEARCH LED BY SCIENTISTS FROM UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE PART OF THE ORBITAL REEF UNIVERSITY ADVISORY COUNCIL. | $66,294 |
| ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS WEBSTER, TX | THIS PROJECT CREATES A PROGRAM FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THE HUMAN AND GEOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF EARTH IN THREE CONTEXTS: EARTH AS SEEN FROM SPACE, ASTRONAUTS AS A DIVERSE CREW, AND THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY. | $14,000 |
| CARTHAGE COLLEGE KENOSHA, WI | THIS PROJECT DEVELOPS THE EMBEDDED TEACHERS PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO DESIGN EXPERIMENTS FOR A PARABOLIC FLIGHT, AND POSSIBLY THE ISS, TO RAISE STUDENT INTEREST IN STEM CAREERS. | $80,830 |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS INDIANAPOLIS, IN | CREATES EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO INSPIRE STUDENTS THROUGH A SERIES OF VIDEOS THAT EACH FOCUS ON A LETTER OF THE ALPHABET AND EXPLORE THE CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH BEING DONE ON THE ISS. | $40,022 |
| CREATORSPACE LEAGUE CITY, TX | THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS STUDENTS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO BUILD AN ISS MODEL THAT MIMICS THE REAL ISS USING A PROCESS LIKE THAT USED BY ENGINEERS, HELPING STUDENTS DEVELOP SKILLS AND SPARKING INTEREST IN STEM CAREERS. | $40,000 |
| INSTITUTE OF COMPETITION SCIENCES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | THIS PROJECT DEVELOPS THE SPACE STATION TECHNOLOGY BADGE PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT INCLUDES AN ONLINE COURSE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PITCH COMPETITION ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN ADVANCE INDUSTRIES IN SPACE AND ON EARTH. | $12,425 |
| MAGNITUDEIO INC ALBANY, CA | EXOLAB-10: CARBON FARMER | $8,720 |
| MASSCHALLENGE INC BOSTON, MA | MASS CHALLENGE STARTUP ACCELERATOR PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| QUEST INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION SAN JOSE, CA | THIS PROJECT DEVELOPS A PROGRAM FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS TO DESIGN SPACE BIOLOGY EXPERIMENTS AND HELP DEVELOP THE HARDWARE FOR THE PROJECTS TO FLY TO THE SPACE STATION. | $40,000 |
| SCIENCE FRIDAY INITIATIVE INC NEW YORK, NY | THIS PROJECT DEVELOPS A MONTH-LONG ONLINE PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO APPLY ISS RESEARCH TO REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS TO INCREASE THEIR INTEREST IN STEM CAREERS. | $29,440 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Leadership:
- Monica Newman McCluney, Board Chairman (noted in related Brevard County leadership context)
The organization employs 67 staff members as of 2024.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIC D ISAACS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAMES A PAWELCZYK | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL H MOLONEY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| WALEED ABDALATI | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MARGARET JENNY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DAVID RADZANOWSKI | BOARD CHAIR | 2 | — |
| JOHN SHEETS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SOL GLASNER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DOROTHY RASCO | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MELODY KUEHNER | SECRETARY & DIRECTOR OF HR | 50 | $227,151 |
| RAMON RAY LUGO III | PRESIDENT & CEO | 50 | $380,000 |
| JONATHAN BOBBITT | TREASURER & FINANCE MANAGER | 44 | $149,935 |
| FRANCISCO CORDOVA | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 50 | $300,706 |
| MICHAEL ROBERTS | CHIEF SCIENTIST | 50 | $245,793 |
| SVEN EENMAA | CHIEF ECONOMIST | 50 | $202,076 |
| ROBERT HAMPTON | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | 44 | $175,625 |
| HEWITT MCKINNEY | DIRECTOR OF ADMIN & BUSINESS SERVICES | 44 | $190,633 |
| LAURIE PROVIN | DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT | 44 | $184,729 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Center for the Advancement of fund?
**Mission:** To maximize use of the International Space Station as an unparalleled platform for innovation that can benefit all humankind and inspire a new generation to look to the stars. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Facilitating research access to the ISS National Laboratory • Advancing science literacy in the future workforce • Maturing space-based business models • Expanding sustainable and scalable markets in low Earth orbit • Supporting non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Center for the Advancement of?
CASIS makes grants to support research and implementation projects on the ISS National Laboratory. Recent grant activity includes: • **Regents of the University of Colorado:** $972,528 (2024) for Implementation Partner for Multiple Flight Projects Grant amounts typically range from $323 to $1,145,781. The organization's total giving in 2024 was $5,927,601.
Where does Center for the Advancement of make grants?
CASIS funds research initiatives with geographic reach including California, Texas, and Alabama, though the organization's scope extends nationally to support U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and private sector partners.
What size grants does Center for the Advancement of award?
In 2024, Center for the Advancement of awarded 43 grants totaling $5.9M — an average of about $138K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Center for the Advancement of's EIN?
Center for the Advancement of's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-5410763. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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