An observatory dome on a brick building at dusk

Grant recipient EIN 86-0098918Science and technology

Who funds Lowell Observatory?

34 private foundations gave Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ $5.6 million across 102 grants, in tax years 2018 to 2025.

Grants listed on funders’ 990-PF returns for tax years 2018 to 2025, read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

Grants received by year

Grants from private foundations by the funder’s tax year. The latest year is in blue; it is not complete until all its returns reach the IRS.

Every foundation grant, by year

102 grants

Each line as the funder listed it on its return, newest year first, then largest.

  1. Geofamily FoundationFlagstaff, AZ 2025

    Indigenous cosmology mural, early career bridge fund, title 1 school field trips, and dress for expres

    $87,500
  2. Mt Cuba Astronomical FoundationWilmington, DE 2025

    General

    $69,070
  3. APS Foundation IncPhoenix, AZ 2025

    Orbits Curiosity Camp (OCC): Pre-service Teacher Development and STEM Training

    $25,842
  4. Geile Charitable FoundationFlagstaff, AZ 2025

    Support scientific discovery

    $5,000
  5. John F Long Foundation IncPhoenix, AZ 2025

    Aid 501 c3 organization in fulfilling their charitable purpose.

    $4,000
  6. Myers Vitkin Foundation IncScottsdale, AZ 2025

    General support

    $1,000
  7. Levitties FoundationVillanova, PA 2025

    General purpose

    $1,000
  8. Molly and Joseph Herman FoundationFlagstaff, AZ 2025

    Orbits curiosity camp

    $1,000
  9. Bundy Family FoundationKey Largos, FL 2025

    Charity

    $500
  10. The Orr Family FoundationAustin, TX 2024

    Charitable

    $400,000
  11. Claire & John Radway FoundationMesa, AZ 2024

    General purposes

    $200,000
  12. Geofamily FoundationFlagstaff, AZ 2024

    Science education

    $107,000
  13. The Ausolus TrustBoston, MA 2024

    Exempt purpose

    $70,000
  14. Op & We Edwards Foundation IncRed Lodge, MT 2024

    Philanthropic purpose

    $40,000
  15. BF FoundationBasalt, CO 2024

    Indigenous mural project

    $35,000
  16. Mt Cuba Astronomical FoundationWilmington, DE 2024

    General

    $25,200
  17. BF FoundationBasalt, CO 2024

    Young scholars

    $25,000
  18. Dr Scholl FoundationNorthbrook, IL 2024

    Astronomy-themed learning opportunities

    $5,000
  19. John F Long Foundation IncPhoenix, AZ 2024

    Aid 501 c3 organization in fulfilling their charitable purpose.

    $4,000
  20. Myers Vitkin Foundation IncScottsdale, AZ 2024

    General support

    $2,000
  21. Levitties FoundationVillanova, PA 2024

    General purpose

    $1,000
  22. Texas Instruments FoundationDallas, TX 2024

    Donations to colleges, universities and other organizations under "matching gifts program."

    $200
  23. The Orr Family FoundationAustin, TX 2023

    Charitable

    $200,000
  24. Claire & John Radway FoundationMesa, AZ 2023

    General purposes

    $125,000
  25. The Ausolus TrustBoston, MA 2023

    Exempt purpose

    $70,000
  26. APS Foundation IncPhoenix, AZ 2023

    Astronomy Discovery Center STEM Programs

    $50,000
  27. Claire & John Radway FoundationMesa, AZ 2023

    General purposes

    $25,000
  28. Toomey Foundation for the Natural SciencesBradenton, FL 2023

    Astronomy discovery center

    $15,000
  29. Geofamily FoundationFlagstaff, AZ 2023

    STEM ed/comm events

    $14,406
  30. John F Long Foundation IncPhoenix, AZ 2023

    Aid 501 c3 organization in fulfilling their charitable purpose.

    $3,000
  31. Texas Instruments FoundationDallas, TX 2023

    Donations to colleges, universities and other organizations under "matching gifts program."

    $1,105
  32. Myers Vitkin Foundation IncScottsdale, AZ 2023

    General support

    $1,000
  33. Levitties FoundationVillanova, PA 2023

    General purpose

    $1,000
  34. Amazonsmile FoundationSeattle, WA 2023

    General support

    $511
  35. American Express FoundationNew York, NY 2023

    General support

    $360
  36. Bundy Family FoundationKey Largos, FL 2023

    Charity

    $200
  37. Gordon E and Betty I Moore FoundationPalo Alto, CA 2023

    In support of general operations.

    $200
  38. American Express FoundationNew York, NY 2023

    General support

    $100
  39. The Heising-Simons FoundationLos Altos, CA 2022

    To support observing time for the expres 100 earths survey

    $950,000
  40. The Orr Family FoundationAustin, TX 2022

    Charitable

    $200,000
  41. Mt Cuba Astronomical FoundationWilmington, DE 2022

    General

    $116,200
  42. The Ausolus TrustBoston, MA 2022

    Exempt purpose

    $35,000
  43. Geofamily FoundationFlagstaff, AZ 2022

    Signage

    $25,000
  44. Op & We Edwards Foundation IncRed Lodge, MT 2022

    Philanthropic purpose

    $20,000
  45. BF FoundationBasalt, CO 2022

    Pre-doc scholarship

    $10,000
  46. BF FoundationBasalt, CO 2022

    Young scholars

    $10,000
  47. Texas Instruments FoundationDallas, TX 2022

    Donations to colleges, universities and other organizations under "matching gifts program."

    $2,322
  48. Eric and Kathryn Fraint Charitable FundPrinceton, NJ 2022

    Supporting general operating services

    $1,800
  49. Levitties FoundationVillanova, PA 2022

    General purpose

    $1,500
  50. Shell USA Company FoundationHouston, TX 2022

    Mef

    $1,100
  51. Myers Vitkin Foundation IncScottsdale, AZ 2022

    General support

    $1,000
  52. Amazonsmile FoundationSeattle, WA 2022

    General support

    $648
  53. Bundy Family FoundationKey Largos, FL 2022

    Charity

    $500
  54. American Express FoundationNew York, NY 2022

    General support

    $100
  55. American Express FoundationNew York, NY 2022

    General support

    $75
  56. American Express FoundationNew York, NY 2022

    General support

    $75
  57. American Express FoundationNew York, NY 2022

    General support

    $75
  58. Peggy and Eric Johnson FoundationWilmington, DE 2021

    1M Peggy and Eric Johnson Telescope

    $1,250,000
  59. The Orr Family FoundationAustin, TX 2021

    Charitable

    $300,000
  60. William Randolph Hearst FoundationNew York, NY 2021

    Support for ongoing operations

    $150,000
  61. The Steele Foundation IncPhoenix, AZ 2021

    The Steele Learning Center Renovations

    $125,000
  62. BF FoundationBasalt, CO 2021

    Young scholars

    $40,000
  63. Geofamily FoundationFlagstaff, AZ 2021

    Globe public program development, training,consulting

    $28,400
  64. Op & We Edwards Foundation IncRed Lodge, MT 2021

    Philanthropic purpose

    $25,000
  65. Southwest Foundation for Education & Historical PreservationDenver, CO 2021

    Lampland dome exhibit

    $15,000
  66. The Ausolus TrustBoston, MA 2021

    Exempt purpose

    $10,000
  67. BF FoundationBasalt, CO 2021

    Pre-doc scholarship

    $10,000
  68. Peggy and Eric Johnson FoundationWilmington, DE 2021

    General & Unrestricted

    $10,000
  69. Mt Cuba Astronomical FoundationWilmington, DE 2021

    General

    $9,787
  70. Mona Private FoundationTucson, AZ 2021

    Program support

    $5,000
  71. Texas Instruments FoundationDallas, TX 2021

    Donations to colleges, universities and other organizations under "matching gifts program."

    $3,430
  72. Amazonsmile FoundationSeattle, WA 2021

    General support

    $739
  73. Levitties FoundationVillanova, PA 2021

    Charitable

    $500
  74. Myers Vitkin Foundation IncScottsdale, AZ 2021

    General support

    $300
  75. Shell USA Company FoundationHouston, TX 2021

    MG

    $100
  76. The Orr Family FoundationAustin, TX 2020

    Charitable

    $100,000
  77. Geofamily FoundationFlagstaff, AZ 2020

    Globe public program development, training,consulting and covid-19 response

    $26,220
  78. Op & We Edwards Foundation IncRed Lodge, MT 2020

    Philanthropic purpose

    $25,000
  79. BF FoundationBasalt, CO 2020

    Predoctoral student support

    $20,000
  80. Mt Cuba Astronomical FoundationWilmington, DE 2020

    General

    $15,924
  81. The Ausolus TrustBoston, MA 2020

    Exempt purpose

    $10,000
  82. GE Aerospace FoundationNorwalk, CT 2020

    Matching gifts

    $5,000
  83. John F Long Foundation IncPhoenix, AZ 2020

    Donation to support 501(c) charity organization.

    $2,000
  84. Amazonsmile FoundationSeattle, WA 2020

    General support

    $584
  85. IBM International FoundationArmonk, NY 2020

    Employee matching grant

    $500
  86. Bundy Family FoundationKey Largos, FL 2020

    Charity

    $200
  87. AbbVie FoundationNorth Chicago, IL 2020

    Matching grants

    $28
  88. JPMorgan Chase FoundationNew York, NY 2020

    General operating support

    $25
  89. The Orr Family FoundationAustin, TX 2019

    Charitable

    $100,000
  90. Don Nierling Mem FDN Tai XXXXX6008Chicago, IL 2019

    General

    $67,000
  91. BF FoundationBasalt, CO 2019

    Predoctoral student support

    $20,000
  92. Southwest Foundation for Education & Historical PreservationDenver, CO 2019

    Historic preservation endowed fund

    $15,000
  93. The Ausolus TrustBoston, MA 2019

    Exempt purpose

    $10,000
  94. Monica Heaney Nackard FoundationFlagstaff, AZ 2019

    Research & publice outreach

    $10,000
  95. Geofamily FoundationFlagstaff, AZ 2019

    Globe public program development and training

    $8,445
  96. Eric and Kathryn Fraint Charitable FundPrinceton, NJ 2019

    Supporting general operating services

    $1,000
  97. Shell USA Company FoundationHouston, TX 2019

    MG

    $500
  98. The Orr Family FoundationAustin, TX 2018

    Charitable

    $100,000
  99. Monica Heaney Nackard FoundationFlagstaff, AZ 2018

    Educate public

    $65,000
  100. Claire & John Radway FoundationMesa, AZ 2018

    science & education

    $33,000
  101. BF FoundationBasalt, CO 2018

    Predoctoral student support

    $20,000
  102. JPMorgan Chase FoundationNew York, NY 2018

    General operating support

    $150

Funders of similar organizations nearby

Foundations that gave to other science and technology organizations in Flagstaff, AZ and are not among Lowell Observatory’s funders above.

  1. Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable TrustIndianapolis, IN 1 grant Accepts applications $50,000 to similar organizations
  2. Targovnik Family FoundationParadise Valley, AZ 1 grant Preselected only $3,000 to similar organizations
  3. Tender Blessings FoundationLakewood Ranch, FL 1 grant Preselected only $150 to similar organizations

About this match

Funders write a recipient’s name and address, not its EIN. We matched these grants to EIN 86-0098918 by name and ZIP code, or by name, city and State against the IRS list of exempt organizations and our list of filers. Grants we could not tie to one organization are not counted here.