Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation | Foundation Profile

GrantBay analyzes IRS Form 990-PF data to help grant seekers find fit funders like Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation. Data shown is extracted from Form 990-PF filings.

EIN: 20-5012202

Foundation Overview

Based in Wilmington, DE, Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation has awarded 42 grants totaling $5,776,823 to organizations in Arizona, California and 12 other states across the US. Individual grants range from $5,150 to $580,000, with a median award of $112,080.5.

Latest Tax Year
2023
Total Giving (all years)
$5,776,823
Total Assets
$19,611,932
Median Grant (all grants)
$112,080.5

Latest Form 990-PF Snapshot

Total Grants
5
Median Grant
$50,000
% Median Grant Decline
-59% (vs previous year)
Data extracted from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Last filing year: February 2026

Foundation Intelligence

Advanced analytics and strategic insights to help nonprofit organizations assess grant opportunities and optimize their application strategies

New Applicant Friendliness
Growth-Minded: 60%

3 of 5 recipients (60%) were new grantees. Foundation actively seeks new partnerships to expand impact. Fresh approaches and innovative programs receive serious consideration.

Geographic Focus
California

Grants are geographically diversified with 26% in California and funding distributed across 14 total locations. This foundation values broad geographic impact and diverse community partnerships. Within California, funding concentrates in Santa Cruz (45%), Pasedena (45%), Pasadena (9%).

Funding Trajectory
+14%

Stable funding levels with 14% change over 3 years indicate consistent grant-making capacity and predictable philanthropic resources. This stability suggests reliable ongoing funding opportunities.

Program Areas
General Purposes

Highly focused on general purposes with 100% of funding dedicated to this sector. This specialization indicates deep expertise and committed investment in the field.

Where is The Money Going?

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Grants & Funding

Analyzing past grantees provides valuable insights into Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation's funding preferences, organizational priorities, and grant making patterns. This historical data helps potential applicants understand the foundation's strategic focus and identify successful funding approaches.

Name Amount Location Purpose Year
California Institute Of Technology $391,866 Pasedena, CA, US General 2023
Mt Cuba Astronomical Observatory - Vernon Lecture $26,316 Wilmington, DE, US General 2023
University Of Texas At Austin $50,000 Austin, TX, US General 2023
Wm Keck Observatory $411,745 Kamuela, HI, US General 2023
University Of Notre Dame $50,000 Notre Dame, IN, US General 2023
California Institute Of Technology $316,100 Pasedena, CA, US General 2022
Lowell Observatory $116,200 Flagstaff, AZ, US General 2022
The Regents Of The University Of California $107,961 Santa Cruz, CA, US General 2022
Wm Keck Observatory $180,000 Kamuela, HI, US General 2022
Yale Astronomy $50,000 New Haven, CT, US General 2022
Texas A&m University $168,325 College Station, TX, US General 2022
University Of Arizona $121,060 Tucson, AZ, US General 2022
California Institute Of Technology $316,100 Pasedena, CA, US General 2022
Lowell Observatory $116,200 Flagstaff, AZ, US General 2022
The Regents Of The University Of California $107,961 Santa Cruz, CA, US General 2022
Wm Keck Observatory $180,000 Kamuela, HI, US General 2022
Yale Astronomy $50,000 New Haven, CT, US General 2022
Texas A&m University $168,325 College Station, TX, US General 2022
University Of Arizona $121,060 Tucson, AZ, US General 2022
California Institute Of Technology $316,100 Pasedena, CA, US General 2022
Lowell Observatory $116,200 Flagstaff, AZ, US General 2022
The Regents Of The University Of California $107,961 Santa Cruz, CA, US General 2022
Wm Keck Observatory $180,000 Kamuela, HI, US General 2022
Yale Astronomy $50,000 New Haven, CT, US General 2022
Texas A&m University $168,325 College Station, TX, US General 2022
University Of Arizona $121,060 Tucson, AZ, US General 2022
Lowell Observatory $9,787 Flagstaff, AZ, US General 2021
Observatories Of The Carnegie Institution For Science $100,000 Pasadena, CA, US General 2021
The Regents Of The University Of California $78,660 Santa Cruz, CA, US General 2021
The Research Corporation Of The University Of Hawaii $41,030 Honolulu, HI, US General 2021
Wm Keck Observatory $580,000 Kamuela, HI, US General 2021
New Mexico State University $5,150 Las Cruces, NM, US General 2021
North East Kansas Amateur Astronomers $28,700 Topeka, KS, US General 2021
Winona State University $12,302 Winona, MN, US General 2021
California Institute Of Technology $194,427 Pasedena, CA, US General 2020
Great Basin National Park Foundation $60,000 Reno, NV, US General 2020
Lowell Observatory $15,924 Flagstaff, AZ, US General 2020
The Regents Of The University Of California $31,780 Santa Cruz, CA, US General 2020
Wm Keck Observatory $207,161 Kamuela, HI, US General 2020
University Of Louisville Research Foundation Inc $41,137 Louisville, KY, US General 2020
Embry-riddle Aeronautical University $50,000 Daytona Beach, FL, US General 2020
Rutgers The State University Of New Jersey $211,900 Piscataway, NJ, US General 2020

Foundations Similar to Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation

Discover 5 foundations with comparable assets ($18,413,181-$20,114,944), similar grant patterns, and geographic focus in DE that may also align with your organization's funding needs and grant seeking strategy.

Foundation Name Total Assets Typical Grant Size Service Area Similarity Match

EIN: 13-6086299 | 50 grants awarded
$19,610,601
(≈ Similar)
$125,000
median grant
Wilmington, DE
Same state
100%
Excellent match

EIN: 35-6890246 | 42 grants awarded
$19,794,689
(≈ Similar)
$96,750
median grant
Greenville, DE
Same state
100%
Excellent match

EIN: 27-3785123 | 78 grants awarded
$19,885,727
(≈ Similar)
$63,000
median grant
Wilmington, DE
Same state
99%
Excellent match

EIN: 51-6170516 | 29 grants awarded
$20,114,944
(≈ Similar)
$88,012
median grant
Wilmington, DE
Same state
99%
Excellent match

EIN: 82-2408949 | 14 grants awarded
$18,413,181
(≈ Similar)
$196,050
median grant
Wilmington, DE
Same state
97%
Excellent match

Contact Information

Official contact details for Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation as registered with the IRS. These details are essential for grant applications, correspondence, and due diligence processes.

EIN 20-5012202
Website http://www.mtcubaastrofnd.org
Address 1 WALKERS MILL RD Wilmington, DE 19807-2134

Key People (5)

Board members, trustees, and key staff who oversee Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation's grant making decisions and strategic direction. Understanding leadership composition can provide insights into foundation priorities and potential networking opportunities.

Chairman/treasurer Theodore H Ashford
Secretary Theodore H Ashford Iii
President Daniel D Friel Jr
Trustee Dave Groski
Trustee Mark Piro

Forms 990-PF

IRS Form 990-PF filings provide comprehensive financial information, grant details, and operational data. These documents are essential resources for understanding foundation capacity, giving patterns, and strategic priorities.

Form 990-PF Research Tips
  • Review Part XV for detailed grant recipient information and funding purposes
  • Check Part I for total assets, annual giving amounts, and payout requirements
  • Examine Part VIII for key personnel compensation and board structure
  • Look for trends across multiple years to understand giving patterns

About This Foundation Profile

This comprehensive foundation profile for Mt Cuba Astronomical Foundation is powered by Grant Bay's advanced foundation research platform. Our system analyzes IRS Form 990-PF filings, grant histories, and philanthropic patterns to provide nonprofit organizations with actionable intelligence for grant seeking success.

Data Sources & Accuracy

All information is derived from official IRS filings and public records. Grant Bay processes thousands of Form 990-PF documents to extract grant details, financial data, and organizational information. Data accuracy depends on foundation reporting quality and IRS filing completeness.

Research Applications

Use this profile for prospect research, grant strategy development, application preparation, and relationship building. Combine this data with additional research on foundation priorities, application processes, and board member backgrounds for comprehensive grant seeking strategies.

Data Currency: Last updated February 2026 based on IRS Form 990-PF filings. Foundation information reflects most recent available tax year data.