The Planetary Society
The Planetary Society empowers the world's citizens to advance space science and exploration. Together with our members, the Planetary Society develops space technology, guides future space policy, and inspires people of all ages to value the adventure of exploration and the joy of discovery.
The Planetary Society at a glance
In short: The Planetary Society gave $25K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $25K). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $25,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $7,780,673
- -3.2% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Planetary Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Colorado ($25K).
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 7 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How The Planetary Society gives
- Giving fell 64% 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 $2K (2021) to $99K (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $25K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado | Support of 2025 ABGRADCON25 | $25,000 |
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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 | $7,780,673 | $7,526,105 | $7,622,888 | $25,000 | 1 | $117,966 |
| 2024 | $8,038,153 | $5,198,586 | $7,225,780 | $25,000 | 1 | $129,785 |
| 2023 | $10,311,558 | $6,313,313 | $7,509,258 | $99,284 | 2 | $72,813 |
| 2022 | $9,508,979 | $4,905,895 | $6,232,294 | $69,569 | 3 | $9,956 |
| 2021 | $10,992,615 | $6,115,995 | $5,391,946 | $2,400 | Total only | $25,399 |
| 2020 | $10,610,266 | $4,344,184 | $4,755,443 | $25,000 | 1 | $765 |
| 2019 | $10,679,224 | $12,815,765 | $4,927,577 | $3,505 | 3 | $2,245 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About The Planetary Society
Based on IRS filings
The Planetary Society is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Pasadena, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $7.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $25K. Net investment income was $118K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Planetary Society is led by William Nye, Director & CEO on every filing since 2019; 7 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William Nye
Director & CEO
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$107K (2019) → $234K (2025)
Bethany Ehlmann
President
Director → Director President, 2021
Director President → President, 2022
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dan Geraci
Chairman
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bijal Hayes-Thakore
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Britney Schmidt
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Logsdon
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Picardo
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dipak Srinivasan
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Grunsfeld
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lorne Trottier
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Newton Campbell
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Betts
Chief Scientist
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$129K (2019) → $156K (2025)
Casey Dreier
Chief of Space Policy
Chief Advocate & Senior Space Policy Advisor → Chief Advocate & Senior Space, 2022
Chief Advocate & Senior Space → Chief of Space Policy, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$108K (2019) → $158K (2025)
Jennifer Vaughn
COO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$130K (2019) → $213K (2025)
Richard Chute
Chief Development Officer
CDO → Chief Development Officer, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$147K (2019) → $174K (2025)
Danielle Gunn
Chief Communications Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$123K (2021) → $158K (2025)
Jim Suh
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$181K (2024) → $180K (2025)
Heidi Hammel
Vice President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Bell
Secretary
President → President Secretary, 2021
President Secretary → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lon Levin
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Benjamin Bank (2019–2022) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Fillmore Wood (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Brendan Curry (2020–2022) — Chief of Washington Operat
- Former: Wallace Hooser (2019–2021) — Secretary · Filing note: Deceased 121
- Former: Barbara Turman (2019) — Manager of Individual Givi
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $234K, to William Nye (Director and CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Planetary Society
How much does The Planetary Society give each year?
The Planetary Society gave $25K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $25K across 1 grant.
How large is The Planetary Society?
The Planetary Society reported $7.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.5M.
What is The Planetary Society?
The Planetary Society is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Pasadena, CA. It holds $7.8M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does The Planetary Society operate?
The Planetary Society has awarded grants in Arizona, District of Columbia, Illinois, South Carolina.
What is The Planetary Society's EIN?
The Planetary Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3423566. 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
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Planetary Society's focus areas in our free grants database
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