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 primary $233KOUR 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 $225KOUR 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 · 2 groups
what they do
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Dark Sky Lighting Advocacy & Certification 24 activities
- Advocacy for Lighting Ordinances and PolicyCollaborates 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.
- Advocacy for Lighting Ordinances and PolicyCollaborates 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.
- Advocate for responsible outdoor lighting policiesWorks with communities and professionals to develop, draft, and implement outdoor lighting codes and ordinances that reduce light pollution, including offering review processes and policy templates.
- Certification of Dark Sky PlacesCertifies and supports the conservation of international dark sky places, including parks and communities, to promote responsible outdoor lighting and protect night skies.
- Certify and support conservation of International Dark Sky PlacesOperates the International Dark Sky Places program, established in 2001, to recognize and support the conservation of dark sky parks, communities, and other locations globally through certification and stewardship.
- Certify dark-sky friendly lighting products, designs, and installationsProvides certification for lighting products, designs, and installations that meet standards for minimizing light pollution and are compliant with dark-sky friendly criteria.
- Certifying Dark Sky PlacesCertifies 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 LightingCertifies lighting products, designs, and installations that meet criteria for reducing light pollution and minimize near-horizontal lighting emissions.
- Conduct and publish research on light pollutionProduces and publishes research, such as white papers, on the technical aspects of light pollution, including the impact of near-horizontal lighting emissions on atmospheric brightness.
- Engage global volunteer Advocates in night sky protectionMobilizes and engages over 4,000 volunteer Advocates globally in activities including education, advocacy, lighting retrofits, and community science to protect the night sky.
- Lighting Product CertificationCertifies lighting products, designs, and installations that meet dark-sky friendly standards to minimize light pollution.
- Local Chapter OperationsOperates more than 60 local chapters worldwide as organizing centers for the dark sky movement.
- Local Chapter OperationsOperates more than 60 local chapters worldwide, serving as organizing centers for the dark sky movement.
- Local Chapter OperationsOperates more than 60 local chapters worldwide that serve as organizing centers for the dark sky movement, facilitating local advocacy and education efforts.
- Policy Advocacy for Outdoor LightingWorks with communities and professionals to develop and implement outdoor lighting codes that reduce light pollution and promote responsible lighting practices.
- Public Education on Light PollutionConducts public education and informs the public about the harmful effects of excessive artificial light on human health, wildlife, and the climate.
- Public Education on Light PollutionConducts public education initiatives to inform communities about the harmful effects of excessive artificial light on human health, wildlife, and climate.
- Public education on harms of light pollutionConducts public education initiatives to inform audiences about the negative impacts of excessive artificial light on human health, wildlife, and climate, using accessible messaging and materials.
- Research and White Paper PublicationPublishes research, such as a white paper evaluating near-horizontal lighting emissions from outdoor lighting and their contribution to atmospheric light pollution.
- Research on Light PollutionPublished a white paper evaluating near-horizontal lighting emissions from outdoor lighting and their contribution to atmospheric light pollution.
- Research on Light PollutionPublishes white papers evaluating aspects of light pollution, such as near-horizontal lighting emissions from outdoor lighting and their contribution to atmospheric light pollution.
- Support local organizing through global chapter networkOperates and maintains over 60 local chapters worldwide that serve as organizing centers for the dark sky movement, enabling local action and engagement.
- Volunteer Advocate EngagementEngages over 4,000 volunteer Advocates globally in night sky protection through education, advocacy, lighting retrofits, and community science.
- Volunteer Engagement and Capacity BuildingEngages over 4,000 volunteer Advocates globally to protect the night sky through education, advocacy, retrofits, and community science.
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Children's Educational Activity Kits and Materials 3 activities
- Develop educational resources for youthCreates and distributes educational materials for children, including the "Fight for the Stars" curriculum and "Wildlife Workbooks," to teach about light pollution and night sky conservation.
- Educational Curriculum DevelopmentDevelops 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.
- Educational Curriculum DevelopmentDevelops 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.
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financials · form 990 · fy2022
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
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.