Planets Foundation

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
474027864
IRS 990-EZ coverage
2018–2024
Forms available
Form 990-EZ 2024, Form 990-N 2017
Location
Kula, HI, USA
Phone
8082685086
Rating confidence
Limited
Sector
Astronomy

Reported finances

Expenses
$68,103
Assets
$349,022

Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

3 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • MARCELO EMILIO (PRESIDENT/CH)

People named in this filing

  • TAKESHI SAKANOI (SECRETARY)
  • SIMONE DAFLO (TREASURER)
  • MARCELO EMILIO (PRESIDENT/CH)

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 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The planets foundation's purpose is to advance the knowledge and understanding of exoplanets and solar-planetary bodies in the universe. We accomplish this by conducting research, developing software algorithms and creating new scientific tools and instruments to study these celestial bodies. In addition to our research efforts, we have developed an education and outreach program designed for children, students and general public. This creates an environment where young generation gets excited to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (stem).

What it reported doing in 2024

Research and education - the planets foundation conducts research on key technologies for designing and improving astrophysical telescopes and remote sensing instruments. The planets foundation also develops observations and detailed models of exo-atmosphere and exoplanet systems by using techniques like polarimetry, spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry. To further our commitment to educational excellence, we have established a collaborative partnerships with Arizona state university (asu) and the boys & girls club of Hawaii to co-disperse starlights and our educational media. These collaborative partnerships help us tap into the intellectual resources of these organizations who actively contribute to the development of our space-focused media and intellectual properties. These partnerships underscore our dedication to innovation and the creation of cutting-edge educational content.

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
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

- The available evidence is not sufficient to produce an overall rating for this filing. This is not a warning sign.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 37
  • Transparency & Controls: 82
  • Sustainability: 25
  • Growth: 20

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: Limited
  • Program expense ratio: 98.6%; rating input score 99

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Limited

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: Limited
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.12; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -4% per year; rating input score 0; 61st percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -3.3% per year; rating input score 0; 65th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 18.5% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 98.6% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: Filed governance answers
  • Accomplishments: 2 filed program accomplishments · $67K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 3 people listed
  • Consistency: 3 of 3 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 2 filed schedules
  • Filing history: 6 filing years from 2018 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • 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.

  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 51/100.