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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.0M
-22.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$25K
-74.8% YoY
Grant Count
1
-50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-49.6% YoY
About The Planetary Society
Based on IRS filings
The Planetary Society is a nonprofit organization focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in PASADENA, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $8.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grants totaling $25K. Net investment income was $130K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,038,153 | $10,311,558 | $9,508,979 |
| Revenue | $5,198,586 | $6,313,313 | $4,905,895 |
| Expenses | $7,225,780 | $7,509,258 | $6,232,294 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $129,785 | $72,813 | $9,956 |
| 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 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Colorado ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO | SUPPORT OF 2024 ABGRADCON24 | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LORNE TROTTIER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| BIJAL HAYES-THAKORE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JOHN LOGSDON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ROBERT PICARDO | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| BRITNEY SCHMIDT | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DIPAK SRINIVASAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JOHN GRUNSFELD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DAN GERACI | CHAIRMAN | 5 | — |
| JAMES BELL | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| HEIDI HAMMEL | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| WILLIAM NYE | DIRECTOR AND CEO | 20 | $234,360 |
| BETHANY EHLMANN | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| LON LEVIN | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| JENNIFER VAUGHN | COO | 40 | $213,560 |
| BRUCE BETTS | CHIEF SCIENTIST | 40 | $158,444 |
| RICHARD CHUTE | CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER | 40 | $174,862 |
| JIM SUH | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $180,696 |
| CASEY DREIER | CHIEF OF SPACE POLICY | 40 | $164,784 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Planetary Society?
The Planetary Society is a nonprofit organization focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in PASADENA, CA. It holds $8.0M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Planetary Society?
As of 2024, The Planetary Society holds $8.0M in total assets with $5.2M in annual revenue. It awarded 1 grants totaling $25K in 2024.
Where does The Planetary Society operate?
The Planetary Society has awarded grants in Arizona.
What size grants does The Planetary Society award?
In 2024, The Planetary Society awarded 1 grants totaling $25K — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Planetary Society's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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