Nonprofit · EIN 86-0138043
ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR
Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20004
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $468,809,827 | $465,014,744 | $3,795,083 | $146,567,872 | $121,094,916 | $25,472,956 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $450,393,254 | $447,255,915 | $3,137,339 | $125,924,044 | $120,688,717 | $5,235,327 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990 | $420,912,916 | $419,441,241 | $1,471,675 | $150,950,841 | $150,673,168 | $277,673 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $246,659,705
- of which government grants
- $245,050,051
- Program service revenue
- $221,278,794
- Investment income
- $737,523
- Net rental income
- $218,867
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $343,786
- Other revenue
- $133,805
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $67,764,530
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $6,268,126
- Other salaries and wages
- $160,825,304
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $260,502,372
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $887,157
- Accounting fees
- $893,342
- Occupancy
- $12,483,605
- Travel
- $7,059,032
- Depreciation
- $285,376
- Program services (functional)
- $423,045,132
- Management and general (functional)
- $41,969,612
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $125,924,044
- Total assets, end of year
- $146,567,872
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $121,094,916
- Net assets, end of year
- $25,472,956
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $2,070,220
- Publicly traded securities
- $15,058,221
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $24,168,035
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $1,304,921
- Gross receipts
- $518,341,461
- Employees
- 1,607
- Volunteers
- 20
- Year formed
- 1957
- State of legal domicile
- AZ
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 September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES MOUNTAIN | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $603,661 | $63,776 |
| JENNIFER LOTZ | NOIRLAB - GEMINI/STSCI DIR Key employee | 40 | $448,598 | $69,998 |
| KENNETH SEMBACH | ASTRONOMER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $387,279 | $60,415 |
| HEIDI HAMMEL | VP FOR SCIENCE Key employee | 40 | $349,384 | $69,883 |
| DAVE LISKA | ASSO. DIR. ENG&IT (THRU 9/24) Key employee | 40 | $380,347 | $30,094 |
| BARBARA LAM | VP OF OPERATIONS/CFO Officer | 40 | $335,494 | $66,735 |
| PATRICK MCCARTHY | NOIRLAB DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $359,483 | $36,382 |
| NANCY LEVENSON | INTERIM DIRECTOR, STSCI Key employee | 40 | $331,291 | $60,131 |
| JEAN EISEN | VP FOR CORPORATE STRATEGY Key employee | 40 | $349,573 | $37,146 |
| VICTOR KRABBENDAM | VP CONSTRUCTION - PROJECT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $289,590 | $78,206 |
| DANA LEHR | VP PROGRAMS Key employee | 40 | $278,050 | $70,018 |
| STUARTT CORDER | NOIRLAB DEPUTY DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $302,659 | $43,556 |
| THOMAS RIMMELE | NSO - ASSO. DIRECTOR - DK Highest-paid employee | 40 | $280,638 | $59,905 |
| NEILL REID | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - SCIEN Key employee | 40 | $273,556 | $63,591 |
| ZELIJKO IVEZIC | RUBIN OPS CONSTRUCTION DIR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $303,880 | $31,145 |
31 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JON TUMA | VP OF HUMAN RESOURCES Key employee | 40 | $270,041 | $62,157 |
| PHILIP PUXLEY | VP FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS Key employee | 40 | $285,043 | $40,499 |
| MARC POSTMAN | ACTING DEP. DIR. - STSCI (THRU 2/24) Key employee | 40 | $262,784 | $58,556 |
| JEDEDIAH MCCORMICK | ASSO. DIR. - ADMIN Key employee | 40 | $245,814 | $57,991 |
| JENNIFER HOPPS | INT. ASSO. DIR. ENG/TECH Highest-paid employee | 40 | $274,283 | $28,648 |
| CHRISTOPH KELLER | DIRECTOR, NSO Key employee | 40 | $224,416 | $46,322 |
| LEE CURTIS | CHIEF OF STAFF Key employee | 40 | $199,242 | $46,232 |
| VALENTIN PILLET | DIRECTOR, NSO (THRU 07/24) Key employee | 40 | $176,919 | $33,396 |
| INGER JORGENSEN | CSO (THRU 08/24) Key employee | 24 | $184,820 | $25,049 |
| NANCI REICH | DIRECTOR - CORP GOVERNANCE Officer | 40 | $151,222 | $48,643 |
| KAREN BJORKMAN | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREW BAKER | VICE CHAIR (THRU 06/25) Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| EMILY COBABE-AMMANN | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH BARTON | DIRECTOR (THRU 06/25) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| GEORGE BLUMENTHAL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES BULLOCK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| KELLE CRUZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROGER DAVIES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MEGAN DONAHUE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRENNA FLAUGHER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| RAJA GUHA THAKURTA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TIM HECKMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| LEOPOLDO INFANTE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN JAFFE | DIRECTOR (THRU 06/25) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES MCATEER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SALLY OEY | DIRECTOR (THRU 06/25) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEROME OGLESBY | DIRECTOR (THRU 06/25) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| KATIE OLSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID REITZE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIE ROCKWARD | DIRECTOR (THRU 06/25) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MONICA RUBIO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 45 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES MOUNTAIN | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $566,893 | $67,081 |
| NANCY LEVENSON | INTERIM DIRECTOR, STSCI Key employee | 40 | $392,185 | $57,951 |
| KENNETH SEMBACH | ASTRONOMER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $386,984 | $57,843 |
| HEIDI HAMMEL | VP FOR SCIENCE Key employee | 40 | $340,990 | $66,236 |
| VALENTIN PILLET | DIRECTOR, NSO (THRU 7/24) Key employee | 40 | $331,690 | $63,028 |
| PATRICK MCCARTHY | NOIRLAB DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $359,483 | $34,882 |
| BARBARA LAM | VP OF OPERATIONS/CFO Officer | 40 | $312,905 | $62,446 |
| DANA LEHR | VP PROGRAMS Key employee | 40 | $287,937 | $67,048 |
| MARC POSTMAN | ACTING DEP. DIR. - STSCI (THRU 2/24) Key employee | 40 | $296,162 | $58,085 |
| VICTOR KRABBENDAM | VR CONSTRUCTION - PROJECT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $277,130 | $71,232 |
| PHILIP PUXLEY | VP FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS Key employee | 40 | $295,373 | $37,891 |
| NEILL REID | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - SCIENCE Key employee | 40 | $269,361 | $61,157 |
| STUARTT CORDER | NORILAB DEPUTY DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $277,921 | $51,105 |
| JEAN EISEN | VP FOR CORPORATE STRATEGY Key employee | 40 | $296,165 | $32,487 |
| THOMAS RIMMELE | NSO - ASSOC. DIRECTOR - DK Highest-paid employee | 40 | $274,842 | $53,041 |
| ZELIJKO IVEZIC | RUBIN OPS CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $292,232 | $29,809 |
| JENNIFER LOTZ | NOIRLAB - GEMINI/STSCI DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $277,519 | $42,388 |
| DAVE LISKA | ASSOICATE DIR. ENG. & IT (THRU 9/24) Key employee | 40 | $267,663 | $40,734 |
| ROBERT BLUM | OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $256,487 | $39,962 |
| JEDEDIAH MCCORMICK | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - ADMIN Key employee | 40 | $195,285 | $44,447 |
| INGER JORGENSEN | CSO (THRU 8/24) Key employee | 24 | $184,820 | $25,049 |
| NANCI REICH | DIRECTOR - CORP GOVERNANCE Officer | 40 | $154,219 | $45,676 |
| LEE CURTIS | CHIEF OF STAFF Key employee | 40 | $150,961 | $39,696 |
| KAREN BJORKMAN | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREW BAKER | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH BARTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| EMILY COBABE-AMMANN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES CROCKER | DIRECTOR (THRU 6/24) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| KELLE CRUZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROGER DAVIES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MEGAN DONAHUE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRENNA FLAUGHER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MAURA HAGAN | DIRECTOR (THRU 6/24) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF HALL | DIRECTOR (THRU 6/24) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TODD HOEKSEMA | DIRECTOR (THRU 6/24) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| LEOPOLDO INFANTE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN JAFFE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES MCATEER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SALLY OEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEROME OGLESBY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID REITZE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIE ROCKWARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MONICA RUBIO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARIA TERESA RUIZ | DIRECTOR (THRU 6/24) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES YECK | DIRECTOR (THRU 6/24) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 39 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES MOUNTAIN | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $547,450 | $62,973 |
| KENNETH SEMBACH | STSCI DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $388,031 | $54,159 |
| PATRICK MCCARTHY | NOILAB DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $372,797 | $32,352 |
| HEIDI HAMMEL | VP FOR SCIENCE Key employee | 40 | $319,505 | $62,329 |
| NANCY LEVENSON | STSCI DEPUTY DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $326,239 | $53,822 |
| BARBARA LAM | CFO/VP OF OPERATIONS Officer | 40 | $292,976 | $59,982 |
| VALENTIN PILLET | NSO DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $284,336 | $63,028 |
| DANA LEHR | VP PROGRAMS Key employee | 40 | $277,067 | $62,228 |
| VICTOR KRABBENDAM | VR CONSTRUCTION - PROJECT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $264,895 | $67,063 |
| MARC POSTMAN | STSCI ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $267,377 | $54,171 |
| THOMAS RIMMELE | NSO - ASSOC. DIRECTOR - DK Highest-paid employee | 40 | $264,564 | $50,626 |
| NEILL REID | STSCI ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE Key employee | 40 | $256,957 | $57,208 |
| PHILIP PUXLEY | VP FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS Key employee | 40 | $278,674 | $34,305 |
| GERARD KIRSS | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR UNTIL MAY 2023 Key employee | 40 | $255,801 | $55,375 |
| ZELIJKO IVEZIC | RUBIN OPS CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $280,953 | $28,452 |
| JENNIFER M LOTZ | NOIRLAB - GEMINI DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $273,980 | $28,538 |
| DONALD HOUGH | STSCI ASSOC. DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE Key employee | 40 | $242,584 | $55,683 |
| DAVID HUNTER | DIVISION/MISSION DEPUTY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $250,249 | $39,244 |
| DAVE LISKA | DIRECTOR- ENGINEERING AND IT Key employee | 40 | $251,818 | $37,392 |
| ROBERT BLUM | OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $248,721 | $37,539 |
| INGER JORGENSEN | NOIRLAB ASSOC. DIREC. OPS Key employee | 40 | $252,643 | $31,321 |
| AMEERAH MCBRIDE | CDO Key employee | 40 | $189,679 | $49,513 |
| NANCI REICH | DIRECTOR OF CORP. OPS/SECRETARY Officer | 40 | $131,142 | $43,461 |
| MAURA HAGAN | CHAIR AND DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MEGAN DONAHUE | VICE-CHAIR AND DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREW BAKER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH BARTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| KAREN BJORKMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH CANTWELL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES CROCKER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROGER DAVIES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| KIMBERLY ESPY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF HALL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TODD HOEKSEMA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SALLY OEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK PHILLIPS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID REITZE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARIA TERESA RUIZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES YECK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1331 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW STE 1475, WASHINGTON, DC 20004-1752
- In care of
- % PAYROLL
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- CHARLES MOUNTAIN, 1331 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW 1475, WASHINGTON, DC 20004
- Signed the 990
- CHARLES MOUNTAIN, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (202) 483-2101
- Website
- WWW.AURA-ASTRONOMY.ORG
- Return prepared by
- CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP
Mission
AURA PROVIDES INNOVATIVE, OPEN RESOURCES TO ENABLE DISCOVERY AND EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH, TO UNIFY THE ASTROPHYSICS COMMUNITIES, AND TO PROMOTE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF OUR UNIVERSE AND THE BENEFITS OF SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION.
Program accomplishments
- AURA OPERATED THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION'S (NSF) NATIONAL OPTICAL INFRARED LABORATORY (NOIRLAB), THE NATIONAL SOLAR OBSERVATORY (NSO), AND THE VERA C. RUBIN OBSERVATORY CONSTRUCTION (RUBIN CONSTRUCTION OR LSSTPO) UNDER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE NSF. AURA ALSO OPERATED THE SPACE TELESCOPE SCIENCE INSTITUTE (STSCI) UNDER AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA). THE FEDERAL AGREEMENTS ARE DEPENDENT ON ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATION.Expenses $423,045,132 · grants $67,764,530 · revenue $221,224,329
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 September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 16, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 17, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 18, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 86-0138043
- 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
- 1961
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Science and technology (U31C)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $146,567,872
- Income (IRS master file)
- $518,341,461
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | September 2025 | $468,809,827 | $465,014,744 | $146,567,872 | XML |
| 990 | September 2024 | $450,393,254 | $447,255,915 | $125,924,044 | XML |
| 990 | September 2023 | $420,912,916 | $419,441,241 | $150,950,841 | XML |
| 990 | September 2022 | $380,284,932 | $382,669,172 | $108,725,911 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2018 | – | – | – | 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 86-0138043).
Questions about ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR
- What is the EIN of ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR is 86-0138043.
- Is ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1961.
- Are donations to ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR 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 ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names CHARLES MOUNTAIN.
- Who are the officers and directors of ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 46 people; 25 received compensation from the organization, the highest $603,661 (CHARLES MOUNTAIN, PRESIDENT).
- How much revenue does ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $468,809,827, expenses of $465,014,744 and total assets of $146,567,872 at year end.
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All nonprofits in WASHINGTON · District of Columbia · Science and technology