Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
270261397
IRS 990-EZ coverage
2017–2025
Forms available
Form 990-EZ 2025
Location
Atlanta, GA, USA
Phone
4045437616
Rating
66
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Educational Services and Schools - Other

Reported finances

Revenue
$52,105
Expenses
$50,790
Assets
$19,060

Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

3 people listed

People named in this filing

  • Stephen Ramsden (Director)
  • Tim Stephens (Treasurer, Dir.)
  • Jeff Eyrich (Secretary, Dir.)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

We support solar astronomy outreach, nature hikes, Sunlight's effect on terrestrial biosystems and general STEM outreach by spreading information, teaching classes, supplying equipment and logistical support locally and abroad.

What it reported doing in 2025

Our accomplishments for 2025 included:- Distributed imaging and observational equipment to people around the world to assist in spreading the science of the Sun- Operated world's largest online Solar Astronomy forum- Gave 76 in-person nature walks to highlight Sunlight in Nature and observe the Sun through narrowband telescopes

Operating model

Revenue model
Cannot be determined from the filing. The filing does not provide enough consistent revenue detail to tell how this nonprofit funds its work.
Distribution model
Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 90% of its reported program spending out as grants.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of total spending goes to programs.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 47
  • Transparency & Controls: 100
  • Sustainability: 37
  • Growth: 20

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 46.3%; rating input score 46
  • Program expense ratio: 47.5%; rating input score 48

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 2.5%; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.38; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -5.8% per year; rating input score 0; 34th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -3.7% per year; rating input score 0; 37th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 13.4% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 46.3% of revenue deployed · 47.5% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: Filed governance answers
  • Accomplishments: 1 filed program accomplishment · $24K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 3 people listed
  • Consistency: 7 of 7 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 3 filed schedules
  • Filing history: 9 filing years from 2017 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: Resolved incoming and outgoing counterparties from filed money flows.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 46/100.
  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 48/100.
  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 49/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 26/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 56/100.