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TUCSON GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY INC

TUCSON, AZ · EIN 860205863 · Form 990 · FY2021 · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.tgms.org
revenue
$717K
expenses
$764K
net assets
$866K
employees
2
volunteers
135
program ratio
73%
mission · from form 990

TO ENCOURAGE INTEREST AND STUDY IN GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY, LAPIDARY AND ALLIED SCIENCES

profile · synthesized from sources

The Tucson Gem & Mineral Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting interest and education in geology, mineralogy, and related earth sciences. It hosts the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, which brings together enthusiasts, collectors, and professionals to explore and appreciate minerals and gems. Established in 1946, the Society serves the local community and beyond through educational programs and events.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021

what they reported doing

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

  1. #1 primary $3K
    SCHOOL VISITS - VISITING SCHOOLS FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES
  2. #2 $3K
    GRANTS & AWARDS - TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS ENCOURAGING INTEREST AND STUDY IN GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY, LAPIDARY AND ALLIED EARTH SCIENCES
named programs · 5 · from sources

what they call their work

Educational Classes
Informal classes offered to members covering various topics related to geology and mineral collecting.
Field Trips
Organized trips for members to collect minerals in Arizona and neighboring states.
Junior Education Program
Engages children with educational activities and exhibits during the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.
SARSEF Science Fair Sponsorship
Supports the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation's fair and awards outstanding projects in Earth Sciences.
Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
Annual event showcasing a variety of minerals, fossils, and jewelry, attracting enthusiasts and professionals from around the world.
activities · 6 groups

what they do

  • Gem & Mineral Show Hosting 7 activities
    • Hosting Family Day Events
      Hosts family day events, including abbreviated versions, to engage the public and promote interest in gems and minerals, often promoted through social media.
    • Organizing the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show
      Organizes and hosts the annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, an internationally recognized event featuring retail dealers, educational exhibitors, lectures, and symposia on minerals, fossils, jewelry, and lapidary crafts. The show also includes dedicated educational areas for approximately 2,000-3,000 Arizona school students.
    • Organizing the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show
      Organizes the annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, an internationally recognized event featuring retail dealers, educational exhibitors, and various displays of minerals, fossils, jewelry, and lapidary crafts. The show also includes lectures, symposia, and a dedicated Junior Education area for students.
    • Organizing the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show
      Organizes and hosts the annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, an internationally recognized event featuring retail dealers, educational exhibitors, mineral and jewelry exhibits, and related publications. The show also includes lectures, symposia, and an awards reception.
    • Organizing the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show
      Organizes the annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, an internationally recognized event featuring retail dealers, educational exhibitors, and various exhibits related to minerals, fossils, jewelry, and lapidary crafts. The show also includes lectures, symposia, and a dedicated Junior Education area for students.
    • Organizing the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show®
      Organizes the annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show®, an internationally recognized event featuring retail dealers, educational exhibitors, and various exhibits related to minerals, fossils, jewelry, and lapidary crafts. The show also includes lectures, symposia, and a dedicated Junior Education area for thousands of school students.
    • Providing Educational Opportunities at the Gem Show
      Invites approximately 2,000 Arizona school students and 3,000 elementary students to attend the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® free of charge. The show also features a dedicated Junior Education area where University of Arizona SESS students provide information on mineral and earth sciences to over 2,000 children.
  • Science Fair Sponsorship & Judging 6 activities
    • Coordinating and Judging the Arizona Regional Science Fair
      Coordinated, organized, and judged the Arizona Regional Science Fair for children in 8th grade and under, starting in 1986.
    • Sponsoring and Judging at the SARSEF Fair
      Sponsors the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation's (SARSEF) Fair at the "Rachel Carson" level, with members participating as judges and awarding outstanding science projects in Earth Sciences with honorary family memberships and gift packets.
    • Supporting Science Education through SARSEF
      Sponsors the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation's (SARSEF) Fair, coordinates and judges the fair, and awards outstanding science projects in Earth Sciences with honorary memberships and gift packets.
    • Supporting Science Fairs
      Sponsors and coordinates the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation's (SARSEF) Fair, with members participating as judges. The organization awards outstanding science projects in Earth Sciences with honorary family memberships and gift packets.
    • Supporting Youth Science Education
      Sponsors the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation's (SARSEF) Fair, with members participating as judges. The organization awards four outstanding science projects in Earth Sciences with one-year honorary family memberships and a gift packet, and provides a scholarship for the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson.
    • Youth Science Education and Sponsorship
      Sponsors the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation's (SARSEF) Fair, with members participating as judges. The organization awards outstanding Earth Sciences projects at the fair with honorary family memberships and gift packets, and previously coordinated and judged the Arizona Regional Science Fair for younger students.
  • Mineral & Gem Educational Meetings 5 activities
    • Hosting Monthly Meetings and Educational Classes
      Holds monthly general meetings, including potlucks, featuring presentations on gems and minerals, field collecting, and scientific information. The organization also offers informal educational classes to members to broaden their knowledge and skills in subjects like mineral cleaning, pricing, and metal detecting.
    • Member Meetings and Educational Programs
      Holds monthly general meetings featuring presentations on gems and minerals, covering topics such as field collecting, history of collections, mines, and scientific information. The organization also offers informal educational classes to members to broaden their knowledge and skills in subjects like mineral cleaning, pricing, metal detecting, and gemstones.
    • Member Meetings and Educational Programs
      Holds monthly general meetings, including potlucks in summer, featuring presentations on gems and minerals, field collecting, and scientific information. The organization also offers informal educational classes to members on topics like mineral cleaning, pricing, and metal detecting.
    • Member Meetings and Educational Programs
      Holds monthly general meetings, including potlucks, featuring presentations on gems and minerals. The organization also offers informal educational classes to members on topics such as mineral cleaning, pricing, and metal detecting, and organizes field trips to mines and mineral localities.
    • Member Meetings and Educational Programs
      Holds monthly general meetings featuring presentations on gems and minerals, and offers informal educational classes to members on topics such as mineral cleaning, pricing, and metal detecting.
  • Historical Publishing on Mining & Geology 5 activities
    • Publishing "ROCK TALK"
      Publishes "ROCK TALK," an official publication that includes articles, writings, and columns, allowing reproduction of its material for non-profit use.
    • Publishing "ROCK TALK"
      Publishes "ROCK TALK," an official publication that allows reproduction of its material for non-profit use and includes articles and writings sharing knowledge, experience, and travel insights related to gems and minerals.
    • Publishing "ROCK TALK"
      Publishes "ROCK TALK," an official publication that allows reproduction of its material for non-profit use, featuring articles and writings on various topics related to gems and minerals.
    • Publishing "ROCK TALK"
      Publishes "ROCK TALK," an official publication that allows reproduction of its material for non-profit use. It includes articles and writings sharing knowledge, experience, and travel insights, as well as a regular column authored by Bill Shelton.
    • Publishing Educational Content
      Publishes "ROCK TALK," an official publication, allowing reproduction of its material for non-profit use. It also publishes articles and writings, including travel insights and knowledge sharing, and produces a regular column authored by Bill Shelton.
  • Organized Member Prospecting Access 3 activities
    • Field Trips for Members
      Organizes field trips throughout the year for members to mines and mineral localities within Arizona and occasionally neighboring states, providing opportunities to collect in areas typically closed to the public.
    • Organizing Field Trips for Members
      Organizes field trips for members to mines and mineral localities in Arizona and neighboring states, providing opportunities for collecting in areas typically inaccessible to the public.
    • Organizing Field Trips for Members
      Organizes field trips throughout the year for members to mines and mineral localities within Arizona and occasionally neighboring states, providing opportunities to collect in areas typically closed to the public.
  • Uncategorized 5 activities
    • Providing Grants and Scholarships
      Provides annual grants to The University of Arizona and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum to support their mineral collections, and funds graduate scholarships in the Geoscience Department at The University of Arizona and a scholarship for the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson.
    • Supporting Mineral Collections and Education
      Provides annual grants to The University of Arizona and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum to support their mineral collections, funding mineral acquisition and collection growth. The organization also funds a graduate scholarship in the Geoscience Department at The University of Arizona and a scholarship for the Boys and Girls Club.
    • Supporting Mineral Collections and Education through Grants and Scholarships
      Provides annual grants to The University of Arizona and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum to support their mineral collections. The organization also funds a graduate scholarship in the Geoscience Department at The University of Arizona and a scholarship for the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson.
    • Supporting Mineral Collections and Research
      Provides annual grants to the University of Arizona Mineral Museum and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum to support their mineral collections, funding acquisition and growth. The organization also funds a graduate scholarship in the Geoscience Department at The University of Arizona.
    • Supporting Mineral Collections and Research
      Provides annual grants to The University of Arizona and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum to support their mineral collections, funding mineral acquisition and collection growth. The organization also funds a graduate scholarship in the Geoscience Department at The University of Arizona.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$717K
Contributions & grants$33K5%
Program service revenue$681K95%
Investment income$8940%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$764K
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead27%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$132K
Grants paid out$3K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$866K
Cash$844K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$866K
Liquid reserves13.3 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +1571.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

board members · 3
  • DIANE BRASWELL — BOARD OF DIR
  • JANETTE SIMISTER — BOARD OF DIR
  • VICTORIA FILA — BOARD OF DIR
relationships · 12

who they work with

  • Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Partner — Receives annual grants to support mineral collections.
  • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Partner — Receives annual grants to support mineral collections.
  • Boys and Girls Club Partner — Receives a scholarship funded by the Society.
  • Boys and Girls Club of Tucson Partner — Provides a scholarship.
  • Openform Partner — Design partner responsible for creating the society's branding and visual identity.
  • Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation Partner — Sponsors the SARSEF Fair and has members participate as judges.
  • The University of Arizona Partner — Receives annual grants to support mineral collections and hosts a graduate scholarship funded by the Society.
  • Tucson Convention Center Partner — Hosts the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® at their venue.
  • U of A SESS Partner — Students from U of A SESS share mineral and earth sciences information in the Jr. Education area.
  • University of Arizona Partner — An honorary lifetime member of the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society pursued his doctorate work at the university after being introduced to the Gem & Mineral Show.
  • University of Arizona Partner — Funds a graduate scholarship in the Geosciences Department and provides grants to the Mineral Museum.
  • University of Arizona Mineral Museum Partner — Receives annual grants to support mineral collections.