Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation
Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation is a private foundation focused on Science & Technology, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $5.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $964K. Net investment income was $970K.
Key facts about Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation
- EIN
- 20-5012202
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $963,886
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- Average grant
- $68,849
- Median grant
- $16,700
- Total assets
- $5,852,106
- Primary geography
- California (44% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation's 14 itemized 2024 grants were California (44%), Hawaii (34%) and Connecticut (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wilmington, DE (4 grants), Tucson, AZ (2 grants) and Newark, DE (2 grants). 57% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (6 grants).
How Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+13%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Next steps with Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation
- How to evaluate Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.9M
-0.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$964K
+3.7% YoY
Grant Count
14
+180.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$69K
-63.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation is a private foundation focused on Science & Technology, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $5.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $964K. Net investment income was $970K.
Focus Areas
Ready to take the next step with Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 14 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,852,106 | $5,897,493 | $6,615,526 |
| Revenue | $1,191,229 | $448,315 | $-1,394,039 |
| Expenses | $1,236,616 | $1,166,348 | $1,299,126 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,022,409 | $971,233 | $1,092,212 |
| Net Investment Income | $970,235 | $253,200 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $1,043,746 | $942,744 | $978,627 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
42 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Wm Keck Observatory ($329,545), California Institute of Technology ($219,028), The Regents of the University of California ($209,508).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WM KECK OBSERVATORY Kamuela, HI | GENERAL | $329,545 |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Pasedena, CA | GENERAL | $219,028 |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Cruz, CA | GENERAL | $209,508 |
| YALE ASTRONOMY New Haven, CT | GENERAL | $101,500 |
| MT CUBA ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY - VERNON LECTURE Wilmington, DE | GENERAL | $31,449 |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Tucson, AZ | GENERAL | $27,456 |
| LOWELL OBSERVATORY Flagstaff, AZ | GENERAL | $25,200 |
| UARIZONA FOUNDATION Tucson, AZ | GENERAL | $8,200 |
| HENRY T SANDORD Elkton, MD | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| KAYLEE ELIZABETH GRACE Newark, DE | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theodore H Ashford | Chairman/Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Theodore H Ashford III | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Daniel D Friel Jr | President | 1 | — |
| Dave Groski | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Mark Piro | Trustee | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation?
Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation is a private foundation focused on Science & Technology, based in Wilmington, DE. It holds $5.9M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation?
As of 2024, Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation holds $5.9M in total assets with $1.2M in annual revenue. It awarded 14 grants totaling $964K in 2024.
Where does Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation operate?
Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation has awarded grants in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas.
What size grants does Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation award?
In 2024, Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $964K — an average of about $69K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation's EIN?
Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5012202. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Association of Universities for Research
Washington, DC
Assets
$125.9M
Grants
154
Total Given
$56.2M
Foundation for the Carolinas
Charlotte, NC
Assets
$3.9B
Grants
1,605
Total Given
$609.1M
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
Assets
$23.0B
Grants
757
Total Given
$467.3M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
Assets
$6.0B
Grants
3,976
Total Given
$1.4B
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Assets
$15.0B
Grants
204
Total Given
$95.1M
Trustees of Boston University
Boston, MA
Assets
$8.5B
Grants
263
Total Given
$92.0M
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
352
Total Given
$240.1M
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$15.1B
Grants
340
Total Given
$173.1M
The Heising-Simons Foundation
Los Altos, CA
Assets
$810.5M
Grants
671
Total Given
$149.6M
Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation
Palo Alto, CA
Assets
$11.5B
Grants
920
Total Given
$403.0M
Ge Aerospace Foundation
Norwalk, CT
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
2,467
Total Given
$15.3M
American Electric Power Foundation
Wilmington, DE
Assets
$65.2M
Grants
752
Total Given
$22.6M
More Funders in Delaware
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.