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Nonprofit · EIN 85-0386047

ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION

Tax-exempt · LAS CRUCES, NM 88004

Financials

$500K$399K2023$525K$388K2024$454K$432K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$454,101$432,471$21,630$770,549$0$770,549
December 31, 2024990$525,154$387,952$137,202$748,919$0$748,919
December 31, 2023990$499,993$398,944$101,049$611,717$0$611,717
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$421,512
of which government grants
$288,450
Program service revenue
$18,715
Investment income
$12,624
Net gain from sales of assets
$12
Net income from sales of inventory
$1,250
Other revenue
$1,250

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$4,230
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$0
Other salaries and wages
$272,032
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$304,506
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$5,767
Occupancy
$56,309
Travel
$5,950
Program services (functional)
$383,571
Management and general (functional)
$37,205
Fundraising (functional)
$11,695

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$748,919
Total assets, end of year
$770,549
Total liabilities, end of year
$0
Net assets, end of year
$770,549
Publicly traded securities
$538,959
Net assets without donor restrictions
$770,549
Gross receipts
$496,637
Employees
11
Volunteers
103
Year formed
1990
State of legal domicile
NM

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, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Justin Van ZeePresident
Trustee or director, Officer
7$0
Carrie HernandezVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
6$0
Donna YargoszSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
6$0
Mark SechristTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
6$0
Eugene GantBoard member
Trustee or director
4$0
Tom WilliamsBoard member
Trustee or director
4$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 6 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Justin Van ZeePresident
Trustee or director, Officer
7$0
Carrie HernandezVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
6$0
Donna YargoszSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
6$0
Mark SechristTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
6$0
Eugene GantBoard member
Trustee or director
4$0
Gilbert TellezBoard member
Trustee or director
4$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 6 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Eugene GantPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
7$0
Justin Van ZeeVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
8$0
Donna YargoszSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
8$0
Mark SechristTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
8$0
Gilbert TellezBoard member
Trustee or director
4$0
Carrie HernandezBoard member
Trustee or director
4$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
PO BOX 891, LAS CRUCES, NM 88004-0891
In care of
% STEPHANIE BESTELMEYER
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
Justin Van Zee, PO Box 891, Las Cruces, NM 88004
Signed the 990
Justin Van Zee, President
Phone
(575) 524-3334

Mission

The Asombro Institute for Science Education is dedicated to increasing natural science literacy through engaging, place-based education. We provide hands-on science education programs in classrooms, schoolyards, and at the organization's Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park. We also provide teacher professional development workshops and programs for the general public.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • Provided hands-on science education programs (field trips, classroom lessons, schoolyard ecology projects, teacher workshops, and public events) to 19,226 K-12 students, 658 teachers, and 1,267 other adults.
    Expenses $296,607 · grants $4,230 · revenue $18,715
  • Maintained the organization's Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park, which serves as a site for science education programs and other outdoor learning opportunities.
    Expenses $82,790
  • Published and distributed four issues of informational and educational Asombro Insights newsletter.
    Expenses $4,174

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, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
85-0386047
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
1991
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$770,549
Income (IRS master file)
$496,637

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$454,101$432,471$770,549IRS
990December 2024$525,154$387,952$748,919XML
990December 2023$499,993$398,944$611,717XML
990December 2022$414,592$412,238$492,866IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS

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 85-0386047).

Questions about ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION

What is the EIN of ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION?
The employer identification number (EIN) of ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION is 85-0386047.
Is ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1991.
Are donations to ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION 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 ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Justin Van Zee.
Who are the officers and directors of ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 6 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
How much revenue does ASOMBRO INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $454,101, expenses of $432,471 and total assets of $770,549 at year end.

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