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 primary $2KPUBLICATION OF DESERT SKIES NEWSLETTER, BULLETINS, AND MAINTENANCE OF WEBSITE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SCIENCE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.
- #2 $3KVARIOUS ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATIONAL SCIENCE FAIRS AND PUBLIC EVENTS. FREE MONTHLY MEETINGS ARE HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA CAMPUS.
named programs · 5 · from sources
what they call their work
Classroom Moon Globe Loan
Provides 12" Moon globes to K-12 teachers for classroom instruction; available on loan with a deposit
Community Star Party Program
Volunteer-led evening events featuring telescope viewing for schools and non-profit organizations; serves approximately 10,000 people annually
Libraryscope Program
Partners with public libraries to lend 4.5" telescopes to community members; includes educational materials and support
Night Sky Network Toolkits
Hands-on educational kits on astronomy themes such as lunar phases, black holes, and exoplanets; used during star parties and outreach events
TAAA Astronomy Camp
Hands-on astronomy program for high school and college students at the Chiricahua Astronomy Complex under dark skies
activities · 9
what they do
direct service · 8
- Astronomy Camp Program Public Observatory & Planetarium ProgramsOperates an Astronomy Camp Program for high school and college students, offering hands-on observations and study at its dark site in Cochise County.
- Chiricahua Astronomy Complex Events Public Observatory & Planetarium ProgramsOffers small group astronomy events at the Chiricahua Astronomy Complex, located 100 miles southeast of Tucson, AZ.
- Community Star Party Program Public Observatory & Planetarium ProgramsOrganizes and hosts over 150 astronomy events annually, including "Star Parties" for schools, youth, non-profit organizations, and the public, where members share knowledge and personal telescopes. This program reaches approximately 10,000 people annually and includes daytime solar viewing activities and virtual live streaming of astronomical events.
- Educational Resource Loan Program Public Observatory & Planetarium ProgramsProvides a 12-inch diameter Moon Globe for K-12 teachers to borrow for classroom use.
- Grand Canyon Star Party Coordination Public Observatory & Planetarium ProgramsFounds and coordinates astronomer participation for the annual eight-day Grand Canyon Star Party, which reaches over 70,000 visitors.
- NASA Moon Watch Station Operation Public Observatory & Planetarium ProgramsOperated as a NASA Moon Watch station at the University of Arizona.
- Night Sky Network (NSN) Toolkit Program Public Observatory & Planetarium ProgramsAdministers a Night Sky Network (NSN) Toolkit program, providing kits with hands-on astronomy activities for use at star parties and other events.
- Telescope Loan Program Public Observatory & Planetarium ProgramsProvides functional, easy-to-use telescopes for community residents to borrow through local libraries in Pima County and Cochise County, with telescopes currently located at 12 libraries.
capacity building · 1
- Library Support and Maintenance Native American Astronomy OutreachProvides ongoing educational support and telescope maintenance to libraries participating in the telescope loan program.
strategies · 3
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any approach shared with other orgs to see the full field.
- Accessible Telescope Lending Program library_lending_program unique to this orgThe organization partners with local libraries to make telescopes available for community members to borrow, similar to books, thereby increasing access to astronomical viewing.
- Community-based Astronomical Education and Outreach public_education_and_outreach unique to this orgThe organization educates the public about astronomy and the universe, including the importance of dark skies, through hands-on demonstrations, public events, and programs for schools and non-profit groups, often led by volunteers.
- Inclusive Stargazing Experiences accessible_viewing_technology unique to this orgThe organization provides accessible stargazing experiences for all ages and capabilities by utilizing diverse viewing technologies, including live video feeds, and supplying all necessary equipment for guided tours of the night sky.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
the money
revenue
Total revenue$108K
Contributions & grants$108K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$41K
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$980K
Cash$223K
Investments$0
Liabilities$16
Net assets$979K
Liquid reserves65.2 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +189.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021
who runs it
board members · 7
- BARBARA WHITEHEAD — TREASURER
- DAVID ROSSETTER — MEMBER AT LARGE
- DOUG SMITH — VICE PRESIDENT
- GUS GOMEZ — MEMBER AT LARGE
- JOHN KALAS — MEMBER AT LARGE
- MAE SMITH — PRESIDENT
- ROBERT REYNOLDS — SECRETARY
relationships · 18
who they work with
- Astronomical League Horkheimer Charitable Fund Funder — Donated telescopes for the program.
- Astronomical Society of the Pacific Partner — Developed Night Sky Network Toolkits used by TAAA for outreach.
- CBS News Partner — CBS News attended the star party and prepared a special report on dark skies and the new status of Grand Canyon National Park.
- Cochise County Libraries Partner — Libraries where telescopes are currently located for the Libraryscope Program.
- Grand Canyon Association Partner — Collaborated with the Grand Canyon Association's Dark Skies Special Project to restore dark skies.
- Grand Canyon National Park Partner — Teams with Grand Canyon National Park for environmental awareness functions.
- International Darksky Association Partner — Contributed to the International Darksky Association designating GCNP as a Provisional International Dark Sky Park.
- Joel D. Valdez Main library Partner — One of the libraries participating in the Libraryscope Program.
- MemberPlanet Partner — Hosts the "Members Only" content and is used for TAAA member registration.
- Miller-Golf Links library Partner — One of the libraries participating in the Libraryscope Program.
- NASA Partner — Operated as a NASA Moon Watch station at the University of Arizona.
- NASA’s Night Sky Network Network — Charter member of the network that supports amateur astronomy clubs with outreach programs.
- National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Partner — Project Astro is an educational outreach program of NOAO.
- National Park Service Partner — Teams with the National Park Service for environmental awareness functions.
- New Hampshire Astronomical Society Partner — The organization whose Library Telescope Program serves as a model for TAAA's program.
- Pima County Libraries Partner — Libraries where telescopes are currently located for the Libraryscope Program.
- Project Astro Partner — Partners astronomers and teachers for learning, providing instructional materials and one-on-one support.
- University of Arizona Partner — Operated as a NASA Moon Watch station at the University of Arizona.