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THE INTERNATIONAL DARK-SKY

TUCSON, AZ · EIN 742493011 · Form 990 · FY2022 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.darksky.org
revenue
$2.1M
expenses
$1.4M
net assets
$1.6M
employees
11
volunteers
1,799
program ratio
68%
mission · from form 990

DARKSKY'S MISSION IS TO RESTORE THE NIGHTTIME ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECT COMMUNITIES AND WILDLIFE FROM NIGHT POLLUTION.

profile · synthesized from sources

THE INTERNATIONAL DARK-SKY works to protect the night sky environment and minimize light pollution globally. The organization certifies dark sky places, approves responsible lighting products, and advocates for policies and education to reduce the harmful effects of artificial light on humans, wildlife, and the climate.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $233K
    OUR LIGHTING PRACTICES PROGRAM ADDED 15 NEW LIGHTING COMPANIES AND NOW CERTIFIES MORE THAN 10,000 DARK-SKY APPROVED LIGHTING PRODUCTS. LOWER TEMPERATURE, 2200K FIXTURES ARE NOW STANDARD OFFERING IN THE COMMERCIAL MARKET PLACE. WE ALSO CERTIFIED 19 COMMUNITY FRIENDLY OUTDOOR SPORTS LIGHTING FIELDS.
  2. #2 $225K
    OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAM DESIGNATED 7 NEW INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY PLACES, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 195 ACROSS 23 COUNTRIES. THE YEAR WE ADDED A NEW COUNTRY TO THE PROGRAM, MEXICO. COMBINED, THIS IS MORE THAN 160,798 SQUARE KILOMETERS OF PROTECTED SKY ON 6 CONTINENTS.
named programs · 5 · from sources

what they call their work

Advancing Responsible Outdoor Lighting
Works with communities and professionals to establish lighting codes and policies that reduce light pollution.
DarkSky Approved Lighting
Certifies lighting products, designs, and installations that reduce light pollution.
Education and Outreach
Informs the public about how excessive artificial light harms humans, wildlife, and the climate, and provides resources for community action.
International Dark Sky Places
Certifies and helps conserve starry sky parks, communities, and other places around the world that meet strict criteria for night sky protection and light pollution minimization.
Research
Supports and disseminates scientific research related to light pollution and its effects.
activities · 3 clusters

what they do

  • Dark Sky Lighting Policy & Certification 12 activities
    • Advocacy for Lighting Ordinances and Policy
      Collaborates with communities and professionals to develop and implement outdoor lighting codes and policies, offers a review process for draft ordinances, and creates free policy templates for U.S. state laws and local municipal codes.
    • Advocacy for Lighting Ordinances and Policy
      Collaborates with communities and professionals to develop and implement outdoor lighting codes and policies, including offering a review process for draft ordinances and creating free policy templates for U.S. state and local laws.
    • Certification of Dark Sky Places
      Certifies and supports the conservation of international dark sky places, including parks and communities, to promote responsible outdoor lighting and protect night skies.
    • Certifying Dark Sky Places
      Certifies and supports the conservation of international dark sky places, including parks and communities, recognizing excellent stewardship of night skies through a program established in 2001.
    • Certifying Dark-Sky Friendly Lighting
      Certifies lighting products, designs, and installations that meet criteria for reducing light pollution and minimize near-horizontal lighting emissions.
    • Lighting Product Certification
      Certifies lighting products, designs, and installations that meet dark-sky friendly standards to minimize light pollution.
    • Policy Advocacy for Outdoor Lighting
      Works with communities and professionals to develop and implement outdoor lighting codes that reduce light pollution and promote responsible lighting practices.
    • Public Education on Light Pollution
      Conducts public education initiatives to inform communities about the harmful effects of excessive artificial light on human health, wildlife, and climate.
    • Public Education on Light Pollution
      Conducts public education and informs the public about the harmful effects of excessive artificial light on human health, wildlife, and the climate.
    • Research and White Paper Publication
      Publishes research, such as a white paper evaluating near-horizontal lighting emissions from outdoor lighting and their contribution to atmospheric light pollution.
    • Research on Light Pollution
      Published a white paper evaluating near-horizontal lighting emissions from outdoor lighting and their contribution to atmospheric light pollution.
    • Research on Light Pollution
      Publishes white papers evaluating aspects of light pollution, such as near-horizontal lighting emissions from outdoor lighting and their contribution to atmospheric light pollution.
  • Dark Sky Volunteer Advocacy & Community Engagement 4 activities
    • Local Chapter Operations
      Operates more than 60 local chapters worldwide as organizing centers for the dark sky movement.
    • Local Chapter Operations
      Operates more than 60 local chapters worldwide, serving as organizing centers for the dark sky movement.
    • Volunteer Advocate Engagement
      Engages over 4,000 volunteer Advocates globally in night sky protection through education, advocacy, lighting retrofits, and community science.
    • Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Building
      Engages over 4,000 volunteer Advocates globally to protect the night sky through education, advocacy, retrofits, and community science.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Educational Curriculum Development
      Develops educational materials such as a light pollution curriculum ("Fight for the Stars: Be a Knight for the Night") with videos and activity sheets for elementary and middle school students, and "Wildlife Workbooks" for younger children.
    • Educational Curriculum Development
      Develops educational materials such as the "Fight for the Stars: Be a Knight for the Night" curriculum with videos and activity sheets for elementary and middle school students, and "Wildlife Workbooks" for ages 5-12.
    • Local Chapter Operations
      Operates more than 60 local chapters worldwide that serve as organizing centers for the dark sky movement, facilitating local advocacy and education efforts.
financials · form 990 · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$2.07M
Contributions & grants$1.92M93%
Program service revenue$151K7%
Investment income$3K0%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$1.37M
Program expenses68%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising19%
Salaries & benefits$736K
Grants paid out$32K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.74M
Cash$1.41M
Investments$272K
Liabilities$150K
Net assets$1.59M
Liquid reserves14.7 mo
2 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +80.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
RUSKIN HARTLEY EXECUTIVE DI 40 $152K
board members · 13
  • ALEJANDRO SANCHEZ MIGUEL — DIRECTOR
  • BRAD SCHLESSELMAN — TREASURER
  • CONNIE WALKER — SECRETARY
  • DIANE KNUTSON — PRESIDENT
  • KEN WALCZAK — DIRECTOR
  • KEVIN GASTON — DIRECTOR
  • LAUREL ALYN-FOREST — DIRECTOR
  • MIKE SIMMONS — DIRECTOR
  • NALAYINI BRITO-DAVIES — DIRECTOR
  • PAULINA VILLALOBOS — DIRECTOR
  • SERGIO SERGIO MANTUFAR CODONER — DIRECTOR
  • SIBYLLE SCHROER — DIRECTOR
  • THOMAS REINERT — VICE PRESIDE
relationships · 13

who they work with

  • DarkSky Texas chapter Partner — Developed a light pollution curriculum with the organization.
  • National Audubon Society Partner — Partners to promote "Lights Out for the Birds" initiative to protect migratory birds from light pollution.
  • National Audubon Society Partner — Partners to promote "Lights Out for the Birds" initiative.
  • National Audubon Society Partner — Partners to promote "Lights Out for the birds" initiative.
  • University of Arizona Partner — Partners with universities to accomplish goals.
  • businesses Partner — Accomplishes goals through partnerships with businesses.
  • city planners Partner — Collaborates with city planners in developing outdoor lighting policy templates.
  • community groups Partner — Accomplishes goals through partnerships with community groups.
  • environmental ecologists Partner — Collaborates with environmental ecologists in developing outdoor lighting policy templates.
  • industry professionals Partner — Collaborates with industry professionals in developing outdoor lighting policy templates.
  • lighting designers Partner — Collaborates with lighting designers in developing outdoor lighting policy templates.
  • nonprofits Partner — Accomplishes goals through partnerships with nonprofits.
  • universities Partner — Accomplishes goals through partnerships with universities.