Lowell Observatory Foundation
To sustain and enhance lowell observatory's mission of research and education by generating perpetual financial support.
Lowell Observatory Foundation at a glance
In short: Lowell Observatory Foundation gave $5.5M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $5.5M), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,511,530
- +1330.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,511,530
- +1330.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,511,530
- Total assets
- $11,143,496
- -26.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Arizona (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Lowell Observatory Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lowell Observatory ($5.5M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 4 grants of 5 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Lowell Observatory Foundation gives
- Giving grew 1673% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $198K (2020) to $5.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $5.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lowell Observatory Flagstaff, AZ | Operational Support | $5,511,530 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $11,143,496 | $1,876,603 | $5,582,552 | $5,511,530 | 1 | $1,321,269 |
| 2024 | $15,249,410 | $1,559,624 | $463,426 | $385,201 | 1 | $867,010 |
| 2023 | $13,980,770 | $3,755,865 | $432,257 | $372,198 | 1 | $225,335 |
| 2022 | $9,574,343 | $587,737 | $379,919 | $310,812 | 1 | $82,013 |
| 2021 | $10,878,749 | $1,073,893 | $667,968 | $354,895 | 1 | $430,919 |
| 2020 | $9,679,419 | $2,194,735 | $257,346 | $198,195 | 1 | $-117,727 |
| 2019 | $6,705,300 | $780,460 | $1,058,675 | $1,009,235 | 1 | $81,351 |
About Lowell Observatory Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Lowell Observatory Foundation is a public charity focused on Science & Technology, based in Flagstaff, AZ. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $11.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $5.5M. Net investment income was $1.3M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Lowell Observatory Foundation is led by Leslie Currie, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; none of the 12 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Leslie Currie
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marjorie McClanahan
Board Chair
Trustee → Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David D. Chase
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donna Weistrop
Trustee
Trustee → Board Chair, 2020
Board Chair → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
W. David Connell
Trustee
Board Chair → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
W. Lowell Putnam
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Camille Bibles
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Logan Bayer
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Neil Gavin
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Bowdler
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Labruzzo
Chief Financial Officer
Deputy Director for Administration → Chief Financial Officer, 2021
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George Putnam III
Board Vice Chair
Trustee → Board Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Stephen W. Brown (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Virginia G. Giovale (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Ann T. Actor (2019–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Teri Kelley (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: John A. Radway Jr. (2019–2021) — Board Vice Chair
- Former: John Menke (2019–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Lowell Observatory Foundation
How much does Lowell Observatory Foundation give each year?
Lowell Observatory Foundation gave $5.5M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $385K across 1 grant.
How large is Lowell Observatory Foundation?
Lowell Observatory Foundation reported $11.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.9M.
What is Lowell Observatory Foundation?
Lowell Observatory Foundation is a public charity focused on Science & Technology, based in Flagstaff, AZ. It holds $11.1M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Lowell Observatory Foundation operate?
Lowell Observatory Foundation has awarded grants in Arizona.
What is Lowell Observatory Foundation's EIN?
Lowell Observatory Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2052113. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 28, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 28, 2024)
Live grants for the work Lowell Observatory Foundation funds
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Figures come from Lowell Observatory Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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