	Score (out of 100)	Rating
Overall Score & Rating	83.60
Financial	77.01
Accountability & Transparency	97.00

This rating was published 08/01/2018 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.

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The Planetary Society, founded in 1980 by Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray, and Louis Friedman, inspires and involves the world's public in space exploration through advocacy, projects, and education. Today, The Planetary Society is the largest and most influential public space organization group on Earth and is dedicated to exploring the solar system and seeking life beyond Earth. The Planetary Society leads by example: through private ventures, such as the solar sail; through public-private partnerships, such as the Mars Microphone; through promoting grand and ambitious adventures, such as human missions to Mars. We continue to find more ways for members of the public to participate directly in humanity's evolution into a multi-planet species - as we inspire the people of Earth to explore other worlds and seek other life.

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Results Information

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This results data is current as of November 2017, when it was provided to us by GlobalGiving. Results information published on this organization’s rating page has no effect on its rating at this time. Further, the availability of GG Rewards information has no effect on Charity Navigator's evaluation of GlobalGiving. All CN ratings are calculated based solely on the methodology outlined here.

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Financial

77.01

Accountability & Transparency

97.00

This rating was published 08/01/2018 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.

Why isn't this based on more recent data?

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	Program Expenses (Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs and services it delivers)	65.8%
	Administrative Expenses	14.9%
	Fundraising Expenses	19.2%
	Fundraising Efficiency	$0.24
	Working Capital Ratio (years)	0.41
	Program Expenses Growth	8.0%
	Liabilities to Assets	19.3%

All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by The Planetary Society on recent 990s filed with the IRS.

Joint Cost Allocation Adjustment applied. Learn more.

All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by The Planetary Society on recent 990s filed with the IRS.

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Information Provided on the Form 990
	Independent Voting Board Members
	No Material diversion of assets
	Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
	Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
	Documents Board Meeting Minutes
	Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
	Conflict of Interest Policy
	Whistleblower Policy
	Records Retention and Destruction Policy
	CEO listed with salary
	Process for determining CEO compensation
	Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?
	Donor Privacy Policy
	Board Members Listed
	Audited Financials
	Form 990
	Key staff listed

Charity Name & State	Overall Score	Overall Rating
The Planetary Society (CA)	83.60
Institute of Noetic Sciences (CA)	86.67
The Rodale Institute (PA)	93.64
Long Now Foundation (CA)	90.03
American Association for the Advancement of Science (DC)	88.83

REVENUE
Contributions
Contributions, Gifts & Grants	$2,072,617
Federated Campaigns	$0
Membership Dues	$2,280,994
Fundraising Events	$6,196
Related Organizations	$0
Government Grants	$0
Total Contributions	$4,359,807
Program Service Revenue	$0
Total Primary Revenue	$4,359,807
Other Revenue	$150,874
TOTAL REVENUE	$4,510,681

*EXPENSES (Adjusted)*
Program Expenses	$3,204,591
Administrative Expenses	$936,536
Fundraising Expenses	$1,371,077
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES	$5,512,204

Payments to Affiliates	$0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year	$-1,001,523

Net Assets	$2,236,174

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name	Amount Spent	% of Program Expenses
Education & Communication	$1,877,939	53.5%
Membership	$766,136	21.8%
Science & Technology	$437,822	12.5%
Space Policy	$426,707	12.2%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE	Date Published	Overall Score
CN 2.1
2017-09	08/01/2018	83.60
2016-09	03/01/2018	87.91
2015-09	03/01/2017	89.87
2014-09	06/01/2016	83.27

CN 2.0
2014-09	03/01/2016	87.85
2014-09	02/01/2016	87.71
2014-09	11/01/2015	85.73
2013-09	03/01/2015	73.92
2013-09	12/01/2014	72.55
2012-09	10/01/2013	79.00
2011-09	08/01/2012	85.64
2010-09	09/20/2011	84.35

CN 1.0
2009-09	11/01/2010	77.19
2008-09	09/01/2009	72.47
2007-09	10/01/2008	70.52
2006-09	05/01/2007	68.66
2005-09	07/01/2006	67.58
2004-09	07/01/2005	67.62
2003-09	08/01/2004	70.03
2002-09	04/01/2004	90.25

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN	95-3423566
Name in IRS Master File	THE PLANETARY SOCIETY
NTEE Code	A33
NTEE Classification	Printing, Publishing
NTEE Type	Arts, Culture and Humanities
Classification	Educational Organization
Subsection	501(c)(3) (View the list of codes)
Activities	(120) Publishing activities (124) Study and research (non-scientific) (125) Giving information or opinion (see also Advocacy)
Foundation Status	Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility	Contributions are deductible
Affiliation	Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name	[Not Applicable]
Ruling Date	March, 1980
Filing Requirement	990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End	September
IRS Forms 990 (provided courtesy of Foundation Center)	(Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!) September, 2017 September, 2016 September, 2015 September, 2014 September, 2013

The data displayed in this profile is provided by the IRS for free in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

Compensation	% of Expenses	Paid to	Title
$155,429	2.81%	William Nye	Chief Executive Officer

Charity Name & State	Overall Score	Overall Rating
The Planetary Society (CA)	83.60
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (DC)	86.83
Carnegie Institution for Science (DC)	90.78
Lowell Observatory (AZ)	86.75
Earthwatch Institute (MA)	86.69

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

The Planetary Society

Your place in space

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