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Nonprofit · EIN 46-3550618

HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION

Tax-exempt · AURORA, CO 80019

Financials

$999K$1.2M2023$1.2M$1.1M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$1,158,465$1,074,574$83,891$795,653$20,606$775,047
December 31, 2023990$998,789$1,202,045-$203,256$723,749$32,593$691,156
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$143,262
Program service revenue
$984,005
Investment income
$31,198
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$0
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Travel
$104,199
Program services (functional)
$972,842
Management and general (functional)
$53,721
Fundraising (functional)
$48,011

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$723,749
Total assets, end of year
$795,653
Total liabilities, end of year
$20,606
Net assets, end of year
$775,047
Gross unrelated business income
$31,198
Gross receipts
$1,158,465
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Year formed
2013
State of legal domicile
CO

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
AUSTIN BRAUNBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JASON ARTNERBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JENNIFER GINSBURGBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
KIM DESPAINBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MARISSA GONZALEZBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
NATALIE CHRISTIANBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
NICOLE STOTTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
PHIL SMITHBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
RICHARD PRUSSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
SEAN WILSONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
VICTORIA MECHTLYBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JASON HOPKINSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MICHELLE LUCASPRESIDENT
Officer
60$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 13 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
AUSTIN BRAUNBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JASON ARTNERBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JENNI GINSBURGBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
KIM DESPAINBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MARISSA GONZALEZBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
NATALIE CHRISTIANBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
NICOLE STOTTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
PHIL SMITHBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
RICHARD PRUSSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
SEAN WILSONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JENNI GINSBURGBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
VICTORIA MECHTLYBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MICHELLE LUCASPRESIDENT
Officer
60$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
5892 PERTH ST, AURORA, CO 80019-2229
In care of
% MICHELLE LUCAS
Mailing address (990-N for 2016)
PO Box 4092, Leesburg VA 20177
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
MICHELLE LUCAS
Principal officer (990-N for 2016)
Michelle Lucas, 40753 Kintyre Ct, Leesburg VA 20175
Signed the 990
MICHELLE LUCAS, PRESIDENT
Phone
(281) 451-5343
Return prepared by
EDWARD B JONES CPA LLC

Mission

HIGHER ORBITS IS A NON-PROFIT WITH THE MISSION TO INSPIRE AND ENGAGE HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH THE USE OF SPACEFLIGHT, IN HANDS-ON, PROJECT BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH (STEAM) AND PREPARE THEM FOR FUTURE ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUCCESS BY BUILDING CONFIDENCE, PERSEVERANCE, TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP, CRITICAL THINKING, CREATIVITY, AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • GO FOR LAUNCH! IS A MULTIDAY PROGRAM THAT USES SPACE EXPLORATION AS A PLATFORM TO LAUNCH STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM), STEAM (ART), TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP. THIS PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED TO REACH HIGH SCHOOL-AGED STUDENTS.
    Expenses $972,842 · revenue $984,005

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
46-3550618
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2015
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$795,653
Income (IRS master file)
$1,158,465

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$1,158,465$1,074,574$795,653XML
990December 2023$998,789$1,202,045$723,749XML
990December 2021–––IRS
990-EZDecember 2020–––IRS
990-N for 2016
Officer: Michelle Lucas
December 31, 2016≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 46-3550618).

Questions about HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION

What is the EIN of HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION?
The employer identification number (EIN) of HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION is 46-3550618.
Is HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2015.
Are donations to HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
Who is the principal officer of HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names MICHELLE LUCAS.
Who are the officers and directors of HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 13 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
How much revenue does HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $1,158,465, expenses of $1,074,574 and total assets of $795,653 at year end.

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