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HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION

Cite this

Plain text HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION. Strategy Studio, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2017–2024. https://strategystudio.org/org/463550618. Retrieved 2026-10-19.

APA Strategy Studio. (n.d.). HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2017–2024]. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://strategystudio.org/org/463550618

MLA “HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION.” Strategy Studio, tax years 2017–2024, https://strategystudio.org/org/463550618. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Retrieved 2026-10-19; covers tax years 2017–2024. Data: Strategy Studio, CC BY 4.0.

2024 · Form 990 · revenue $1.2M · expenses $1.1M · assets $796K

EIN
46-3550618
Address
5892 PERTH ST, AURORA, CO 80019-2229
Website
WWW.HIGHERORBITS.ORG
NTEE code
U20
Subsection
501(c)(3)
Ruling year
2015
Cross-check
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

Mission

HIGHER ORBITS IS A NON-PROFIT WITH THE MISSION TO INSPIRE AND ENGAGE HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH THE USE OF SPACEFLIGHT, IN HANDS-ON, PROJECT BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH (STEAM) AND PREPARE THEM FOR FUTURE ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUCCESS BY BUILDING CONFIDENCE, PERSEVERANCE, TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP, CRITICAL THINKING, CREATIVITY, AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).

People paid by the organization

1 person paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.

NameLatest titleYearsLatest year payTotal pay from hereOrganizations
Michelle Lucas PRESIDENT2017-2024 $0$130,250 1

Officers and directors, no compensation reported

14 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.

NameLatest titleYearsHrs/wk (latest)CompensationOrganizations
Austin Braun BOARD MEMBER2023-2024 1 $0 reported 1
Jason Artner BOARD MEMBER2023-2024 1 $0 reported 1
Jennifer Ginsburg BOARD MEMBER2024 1 $0 reported 1
Kim Despain BOARD MEMBER2023-2024 1 $0 reported 1
Marissa Gonzalez BOARD MEMBER2023-2024 1 $0 reported 1
Natalie Christian BOARD MEMBER2020-2024 1 $0 reported 1
Nicole Stott BOARD MEMBER2023-2024 1 $0 reported 1
Phil Smith BOARD MEMBER2023-2024 1 $0 reported 1
Richard Pruss BOARD MEMBER2023-2024 1 $0 reported 1
Sean Wilson BOARD MEMBER2023-2024 1 $0 reported 1
Victoria Mechtly BOARD MEMBER2023-2024 1 $0 reported 1
Jason Hopkins BOARD MEMBER2024 1 $0 reported 1
Jenni Ginsburg (former) BOARD MEMBER2023 1 $0 reported 1
Katie Kubitskey (former) SECRETARY2017 2 $0 reported 1

People by year

2024 · 13 people listed · none paid · 0 employees · 0 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
AUSTIN BRAUN BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
JASON ARTNER BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
JENNIFER GINSBURG BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
KIM DESPAIN BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
MARISSA GONZALEZ BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
NATALIE CHRISTIAN BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
NICOLE STOTT BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
PHIL SMITH BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
RICHARD PRUSS BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
SEAN WILSON BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
VICTORIA MECHTLY BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
JASON HOPKINS BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
MICHELLE LUCAS PRESIDENT60 $0$0$0 $01
2023 · 12 people listed · none paid · 0 employees · 0 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
AUSTIN BRAUN BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
JASON ARTNER BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
JENNI GINSBURG BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
KIM DESPAIN BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
MARISSA GONZALEZ BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
NATALIE CHRISTIAN BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
NICOLE STOTT BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
PHIL SMITH BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
RICHARD PRUSS BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
SEAN WILSON BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
VICTORIA MECHTLY BOARD MEMBER1 $0$0$0 $01
MICHELLE LUCAS PRESIDENT60 $0$0$0 $01
2021 · 1 person listed · 1 paid, $75K · 0 employees · 45 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
MICHELLE LUCAS PRESIDENT60 $75,000$0$0 $75,0001
2020 · 2 people listed · 1 paid, $37K
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
MICHELLE LUCAS PRESIDENT/TREASURER/PROGRAM DIR60 $36,750-$0 $36,7501
NATALIE CHRISTIAN SECRETARY2 $0-$0 $01
2017 · 2 people listed · 1 paid, $18K
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
MICHELLE LUCAS PRESIDENT50 $18,500-$0 $18,5001
KATIE KUBITSKEY SECRETARY2 $0-$0 $01

Highest-paid independent contractors

No independent contractors reported.

Who gave

Contributor names are not public for this form type.

Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.

Finances

Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.

RevenueExpensesAssetsNet assetsContributionsProgram revenueOfficer payEmployeesVolunteers
2024 · Form 990 period ending 2024-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$1,158,465$1,074,574 $795,653$775,047 $143,262$984,005 $000
2023 · Form 990 period ending 2023-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$998,789$1,202,045 $723,749$691,156 $159,000$839,023 $000
2021 · Form 990 period ending 2021-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$1,658,940$674,293 $1,099,476$1,023,976 $1,034,438$617,533 $75,000045
2020 · Form 990EZ period ending 2020-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$181,972$145,400 $121,751$39,329 $49,099$132,864 ---
2017 · Form 990EZ period ending 2017-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$187,330$164,279 $33,862$33,862 $143,933$43,395 ---

Funders of this organization

2 grantors reported grants to this organization, $40,100 in all, tax years 2023 to 2024. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV

GrantorTypeMatchYears givenGrantsTotalLatest yearLatest year's amountGrants
THE HS LOPEZ FAMILY FOUNDATION Private foundation Fuzzy filed as “HIGHER ORBITS FOUNDATION” 2023 1$35,000 2023$35,000
show
CHARITIES AID FOUNDATION AMERICA DAF sponsor Exact 2024 1$5,100 2024$5,100
show

Similar organizations

Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)

OrganizationStateNTEELatest revenueLatest expensesTop-paid titleTop payWhy similar
SPACE FOR HUMANITYCOU20 $929,414$1,040,783 EXECUTIVE DI$150,000 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x, same state
PARTNERSHIP FOR CLEAN COMPETITION RESEARCH COLLABORATIVECOU20 $1,770,212$662,560 Head of Research Programs$27,687 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x, same state
ORIENT LAND TRUSTCOU20 $1,650,184$1,799,276 EXECUTIVE DI$83,034 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x, same state
OPENREVIEW FOUNDATIONMAU20 $1,628,726$22,168 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
CLIMATE SOLUTIONS FOUNDATION INCDCU20 $770,000$1,023,460 BOARD CO-CHAIR$120,000 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
FOUNDATION FOR ANIMAL CARE ANDEDUCATIONCAU20 $2,180,950$2,662,289 President$0 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
IF FOUNDATIONDCU20 $1,490,355$4,217,058 CO-CEO$277,954 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
ARIZONA HYDROLOGICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATIONAZU20 $852,354$93,035 President$0 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
ELEMENTARY INSTITUTE OF SCIENCECAU20 $1,329,443$1,801,556 Executive Dir.$149,049 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x, similar mission
VIRGINIA BIOSCIENCES HEALTH RESEARCH CORPORATIONVAU20 $676,190$5,292,252 PRESIDENT & CEO$200,000 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
SCIENCE FOR AMERICA INCMAU20 $659,896$4,409,039 COO & TREASURER$369,488 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
GLACIER PEAK INSTITUTEWAU20 $971,211$1,054,307 Executive Dir.$87,360 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
HEALTHY BRAINS GLOBAL INITIATIVE INCCAU20 $1,709,559$1,673,257 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER$576,261 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
RHODE ISLAND NATURAL HISTORY SURVEYRIU20 $701,102$573,714 President and director$0 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
THE CENTER FOR THE RESEARCH OF EARLY CHRISTIAN DOCUMENTSTXU20 $1,044,092$1,181,217 CEO/Executive Director$161,146 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
PASADENA BIOSCIENCE CENTER INCCAU20 $711,638$811,257 Director$0 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
HOROLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INCNYU20 $1,481,171$1,643,853 EXECUTIVE DIREC$196,875 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
HUMAN POTENTIAL LAB INCCTU20 $747,585$665,334 Chief Communications Officer$165,260 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
SCIENCE ATL INCGAU20 $1,358,008$1,379,958 EXECUTIVE CO-DIRECTOR$102,124 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
SHEVCHENKO SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY INCNYU20 $940,787$761,313 Secretary$12,000 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR CNS DRUG DEVELOPMENT INCCAU20 $597,294$491,673 CFO/SECRETARY$260,138 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
TREOBYTES INCCAU20 $1,649,155$1,125,359 Executive Director$157,772 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
QUEST SCIENCE CENTERCAU20 $713,386$759,744 CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER$144,955 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
COVINGTON LIFE SCIENCES PARTNERS INCKYU20 $1,107,434$196,931 BOARD MEMBER$0 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x
IDAHO DAIRY ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION LEAGUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION INCIDU20 $971,769$305,411 DIRECTOR$0 Same NTEE code U20, revenue within 2x

Who funds organizations like this

Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).

GrantorTypeTotal givenGrantsOrganizations fundedYearsWhich ones
GS DONOR ADVISED PHILANTHROPY FUND FOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT INC DAF sponsor$19,521,40026 62017–2024 TRICONTINENTAL LTD; HOROLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INC; THE CENTER FOR THE RESEARCH OF EARLY CHRISTIAN DOCUMENTS; CLIMATE IMPACT LAB INC and 2 more
GORDON E AND BETTY I MOORE FOUNDATION Private foundation$16,279,31726 22011–2024 CHABOT SPACE & SCIENCE CENTER FOUNDATION; BUCKMINSTER FULLER INSTITUTE
JOHN TEMPLETON FOUNDATION Private foundation$15,493,85033 12016–2024 WORLD SCIENCE FOUNDATION
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING DAF sponsor$12,200,78670 182014–2024 SCIENCE FOR AMERICA INC; BUCKMINSTER FULLER INSTITUTE; FOUNDATION FOR ANIMAL CARE ANDEDUCATION; IQM RESEARCH INSTITUTE and 14 more
ONE8 FOUNDATION Private foundation$9,068,0004 12020–2024 MIND RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC
APHORISM FOUNDATION Private foundation$9,000,0002 12023–2024 SCIENCE FOR AMERICA INC
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND DAF sponsor$8,402,80899 282016–2024 BUCKMINSTER FULLER INSTITUTE; CLIMATE IMPACT LAB INC; FOUNDATION FOR ANIMAL CARE ANDEDUCATION; TECHNOVATION and 24 more
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC DAF sponsor$6,474,48445 152019–2024 MIND RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC; TECHNOVATION; EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE INC; SCIENCE ATL INC and 11 more
SIMONS FOUNDATION INC Private foundation$5,500,0003 12020–2021 WORLD SCIENCE FOUNDATION
THE SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$5,406,57820 42011–2024 ELEMENTARY INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE; TREOBYTES INC; DATA SCIENCE ALLIANCE; FOUNDATION FOR ANIMAL CARE ANDEDUCATION
ST LOUIS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INCORPORATED DAF sponsor$5,184,93119 12010–2024 ST LOUIS SCIENCE CENTER FOUNDATION
SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$3,450,80334 102010–2024 TECHNOVATION; OPENREVIEW FOUNDATION; SCIENCE FOR AMERICA INC; BUCKMINSTER FULLER INSTITUTE and 6 more
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR DAF sponsor$3,174,52144 182015–2024 SOLVING FOR SCIENCE; TECHNOVATION; SPACE FOR HUMANITY; THE CITIZEN SCIENTISTS LEAGUE INC and 14 more
THE ERIC AND WENDY SCHMIDT FUND FOR STRATEGIC INNOVATION Private foundation$2,370,8005 32020–2023 SCIENCE FOR AMERICA INC; BUCKMINSTER FULLER INSTITUTE; WORLD SCIENCE FOUNDATION
IMPACTASSETS INC DAF sponsor$2,135,0002 22024–2024 BUCKMINSTER FULLER INSTITUTE; EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE INC

The full list · all similar organizations

Where the money went

Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.

2024 · Form 990 · $1,074,574 spent · pay $0 · grants $0 · events $248
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other (as described)DIRECT EXPENSE TRANSFER $540,000$540,000-- 50.3%
Other (as described)DIRECT EXPENSES $118,596$72,883-$45,713 11.0%
Fees: management $105,000$105,000-- 9.8%
Travel $104,199$103,534-$665 9.7%
Other (as described)APPEARANCE FEE $59,750$59,750-- 5.6%
Office expenses $37,252$13,414$22,453$1,385 3.5%
Other (as described)DIRECT CONTRACTORS $30,825$30,825-- 2.9%
All other expenses $30,049$28,200$1,849- 2.8%
Interest $27,889-$27,889- 2.6%
Advertising and promotion $19,236$19,236-- 1.8%
Information technology $1,530-$1,530- 0.1%
Conferences, conventions and meetings $248--$248 0.0%
Total$1,074,574100%

View the filing

2023 · Form 990 · $1,202,045 spent · pay $0 · grants $0 · events $2,019
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other (as described)DIRECT EXPENSE TRANSFER $720,000$720,000-- 59.9%
Other (as described)DIRECT EXPENSES $134,629$114,845-$19,784 11.2%
Fees: management $91,667$91,667-- 7.6%
Travel $75,587$73,375-$2,212 6.3%
Other (as described)APPEARANCE FEE $49,750$49,750-- 4.1%
Other (as described)DIRECT CONTRACTORS $43,735$43,735-- 3.6%
All other expenses $34,291$22,901$11,390- 2.9%
Office expenses $29,261$8,836$19,548$877 2.4%
Advertising and promotion $17,057$17,057-- 1.4%
Information technology $4,049-$4,049- 0.3%
Conferences, conventions and meetings $2,019--$2,019 0.2%
Total$1,202,045100%

View the filing

2021 · Form 990 · $674,293 spent · pay $0 · grants $0 · events $1,532
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other (as described)DIRECT EXPENSE TRANSFER $360,000$360,000-- 53.4%
Other (as described)DIRECT EXPENSES $79,796$73,718-$6,078 11.8%
Fees: management $75,000$75,000-- 11.1%
Other (as described)DIRECT CONTRACTORS $47,747$47,747-- 7.1%
Travel $36,681$35,179-$1,502 5.4%
All other expenses $29,578$27,244$2,334- 4.4%
Other (as described)APPEARANCE FEE $22,425$22,425-- 3.3%
Office expenses $14,755$577$13,407$771 2.2%
Advertising and promotion $3,088$3,052-$36 0.5%
Information technology $2,773-$2,773- 0.4%
Conferences, conventions and meetings $1,532--$1,532 0.2%
Insurance $918$459$459- 0.1%
Total$674,293100%

View the filing

2020 · Form 990EZ · $145,400 spent · pay $36,750 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalShare
Other expenses (detail on Schedule O) $97,749 67.2%
Salaries, other pay and benefits $36,750 25.3%
Occupancy, rent, utilities, maintenance $10,687 7.4%
Printing, publications, postage $114 0.1%
Fees to independent contractors $100 0.1%
Total$145,400100%

View the filing

2017 · Form 990EZ · $164,279 spent · pay $18,500 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalShare
Other expenses (detail on Schedule O) $144,039 87.7%
Salaries, other pay and benefits $18,500 11.3%
Printing, publications, postage $1,500 0.9%
Fees to independent contractors $240 0.1%
Total$164,279100%

View the filing