Association Of Universities For Research

Washington, DC · Founded 1957

Operates world-class astronomical observatories and enables discovery in astrophysics research for the National Science Foundation and NASA

Primary audience

Scientists and Researchers

Work area

Scientific Research

Topic

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Contact

Charles Mountain

Website Contact

About Organization

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy operates and builds cutting-edge astronomical observatories for the National Science Foundation and NASA, enabling groundbreaking research in astrophysics and promoting public understanding of the universe. Based in Washington, DC and founded in 1957, the organization employs 1,581 staff members and manages operations with an annual revenue of $450.4 million as of 2023.

What They Focus On

Observatory Management

Operates and builds world-class astronomical telescopes and facilities for space-based and ground-based research

Astrophysics Research

Enables discovery and excellence in astronomical research through innovative technology and open data resources

Scientific Community

Unifies astrophysics communities through shared resources, grants, and collaborative research infrastructure

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2023)

$450.4M

+7% vs 2022

Expenses (2023)

$447.3M

+6.6% vs 2022

Assets (2023)

$125.9M

-16.6% vs 2022

Employees (2023)

1,581

+5% vs 2022

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Employees
2023	$450,393,254	$447,255,915	$125,924,044	1,581
2022	$420,912,916	$419,441,241	$150,950,841	1,506
2021	$380,284,932	$382,669,172	$108,725,911	1,497
2020	$356,078,449	$353,361,521	$116,722,418	1,461
2019	$356,989,521	$360,874,237	$105,391,244	1,475
2018	$369,877,759	$368,088,355	$81,265,370	1,428
2017	$370,717,987	$369,068,676	$79,842,050	1,403

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

01

Observatory Operations

Manages world-class telescopes and astronomical facilities for the National Science Foundation and NASA
02

Data Collection

Gathers astronomical observations and data from space-based and ground-based telescope instruments
03

Research Support

Provides grants, technical resources, and open data access to enable astrophysics research communities
04

Public Outreach

Promotes understanding of the universe and benefits of scientific exploration to broader audiences

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by Association Of Universities For Research

Space Telescope Science Institute

Manages science operations for the Hubble Space Telescope and supports astronomical research using space-based observations

NSF NOIRLab Operations

Operates ground-based optical and infrared telescopes enabling cutting-edge astronomical research and discovery

National Solar Observatory

Advances solar physics research through specialized telescopes and instruments for studying the Sun

Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Constructs and prepares operations for next-generation sky survey telescope for wide-field astronomical imaging

Research Grant Programs

Provides funding for scientific research using data from Hubble Space Telescope and other observatory facilities

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind Association Of Universities For Research.

Contact the team Contact

Patrick McCarthy

Director, NSF NOIRLab

Full-time

Compensation: $359,483

Jennifer Lotz

Director, Space Telescope Science Institute

Full-time

Compensation: $277,519

Lee Curtis

Chief of Staff

Full-time

Compensation: $150,961

Matt Mountain

AURA President

Christoph Keller

Director, NSF National Solar Observatory

Charles Mountain

President

Full-time

Compensation: $566,893

Nancy Levenson

Interim Director, Stsci

Full-time

Compensation: $392,185

Valentin Pillet

Director, Nso (Thru 7/24)

Full-time

Compensation: $331,690

Barbara Lam

VP Of Operations/CFO

Full-time

Compensation: $312,905

Zelijko Ivezic

Rubin Ops Construction Director

Full-time

Compensation: $292,232

Stuartt Corder

Norilab Deputy Director

Full-time

Compensation: $277,921

Thomas Rimmele

Nso - Assoc. Director - Dk

Full-time

Compensation: $274,842

Neill Reid

Associate Director - Science

Full-time

Compensation: $269,361

Robert Blum

Operations Director

Full-time

Compensation: $256,487

Jedediah McCormick

Associate Director - Admin

Full-time

Compensation: $195,285

Nanci Reich

Director - Corp Governance

Full-time

Compensation: $154,219

James Crocker

Director (Thru 6/24)

1 hrs/week

James Yeck

Director (Thru 6/24)

1 hrs/week

Jeff Hall

Director (Thru 6/24)

1 hrs/week

Maria Teresa Ruiz

Director (Thru 6/24)

1 hrs/week

Maura Hagan

Director (Thru 6/24)

1 hrs/week

Todd Hoeksema

Director (Thru 6/24)

1 hrs/week

Kenneth Sembach

Astronomer

Full-time

Compensation: $386,984

Heidi Hammel

VP For Science

Full-time

Compensation: $340,990

Jean Eisen

VP For Corporate Strategy

Full-time

Compensation: $296,165

Marc Postman

Acting Dep. Dir. - Stsci (Thru 2/24)

Full-time

Compensation: $296,162

Philip Puxley

VP For Special Projects

Full-time

Compensation: $295,373

Dana Lehr

VP Programs

Full-time

Compensation: $287,937

Victor Krabbendam

Vr Construction - Project

Full-time

Compensation: $277,130

Dave Liska

Assoicate Dir. Eng. & It (Thru 9/24)

Full-time

Compensation: $267,663

Inger Jorgensen

Cso (Thru 8/24)

24 hrs/week

Compensation: $184,820

Brenna Flaugher

Director

Dan Jaffe

Director

David Reitze

Director

Elizabeth Barton

Director

Emily Cobabe-Ammann

Director

James McAteer

Director

Jerome Oglesby

Director

Kelle Cruz

Director

Leopoldo Infante

Director

Megan Donahue

Director

Monica Rubio

Director

Roger Davies

Director

Sally Oey

Director

Willie Rockward

Director

Milestones

1957

AURA Founded

1957

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy established to advance astronomical research

1961

Tax-Exempt Status Granted

1961

Received IRS ruling recognizing nonprofit status for scientific research operations

2021

Major Revenue Growth

2021

Revenue increased from $356 million to $380 million supporting expanded observatory operations

2023

Record Operations Scale

2023

Reached $450 million in revenue with 1,581 employees managing multiple major observatories

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

Andrew Baker Vice Chair 0.50 hrs/week

Brenna Flaugher Director 0.50 hrs/week

Dan Jaffe Director 0.50 hrs/week

David Reitze Director 0.50 hrs/week

Elizabeth Barton Director 0.50 hrs/week

Emily Cobabe-Ammann Director 0.50 hrs/week

James McAteer Director 0.50 hrs/week

Jerome Oglesby Director 0.50 hrs/week

Karen Bjorkman Chair 0.50 hrs/week

Kelle Cruz Director 0.50 hrs/week

Leopoldo Infante Director 0.50 hrs/week

Megan Donahue Director 0.50 hrs/week

Monica Rubio Director 0.50 hrs/week

Roger Davies Director 0.50 hrs/week

Sally Oey Director 0.50 hrs/week

Willie Rockward Director 0.50 hrs/week

George Blumenthal University of California, Santa Cruz

James Bullock STIC Chair

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2023)

$5.8M

Highest Paid

$634K

Charles Mountain

Compensated Officers

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Charles Mountain	President	$566,893	$67,081	$633,974	40
Nancy Levenson	Interim Director, Stsci	$392,185	$57,951	$450,136	40
Kenneth Sembach	Astronomer	$386,984	$57,843	$444,827	40
Heidi Hammel	VP For Science	$340,990	$66,236	$407,226	40
Valentin Pillet	Director, Nso (Thru 7/24)	$331,690	$63,028	$394,718	40
Patrick Mccarthy	Noirlab Director	$359,483	$34,882	$394,365	40
Barbara Lam	VP Of Operations/CFO	$312,905	$62,446	$375,351	40
Dana Lehr	VP Programs	$287,937	$67,048	$354,985	40
Marc Postman	Acting DEP. DIR. - Stsci (Thru 2/24)	$296,162	$58,085	$354,247	40
Victor Krabbendam	Vr Construction - Project	$277,130	$71,232	$348,362	40
Philip Puxley	VP For Special Projects	$295,373	$37,891	$333,264	40
Neill Reid	Associate Director - Science	$269,361	$61,157	$330,518	40
Stuartt Corder	Norilab Deputy Director	$277,921	$51,105	$329,026	40
Jean Eisen	VP For Corporate Strategy	$296,165	$32,487	$328,652	40
Thomas Rimmele	Nso - ASSOC. Director - Dk	$274,842	$53,041	$327,883	40

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Charles Mountain	President/Director	$547,450	$62,973	$610,423	40
Kenneth Sembach	Stsci Director	$388,031	$54,159	$442,190	40
Patrick Mccarthy	Noilab Director	$372,797	$32,352	$405,149	40
Heidi Hammel	VP For Science	$319,505	$62,329	$381,834	40
Nancy Levenson	Stsci Deputy Director	$326,239	$53,822	$380,061	40
Barbara Lam	CFO/VP Of Operations	$292,976	$59,982	$352,958	40
Valentin Pillet	Nso Director	$284,336	$63,028	$347,364	40
Dana Lehr	VP Programs	$277,067	$62,228	$339,295	40
Victor Krabbendam	Vr Construction - Project	$264,895	$67,063	$331,958	40
Marc Postman	Stsci Associate Director	$267,377	$54,171	$321,548	40
Thomas Rimmele	Nso - ASSOC. Director - Dk	$264,564	$50,626	$315,190	40
Neill Reid	Stsci Associate Director Of Science	$256,957	$57,208	$314,165	40
Philip Puxley	VP For Special Projects	$278,674	$34,305	$312,979	40
Gerard Kirss	Associate Director Until May 2023	$255,801	$55,375	$311,176	40
Zelijko Ivezic	Rubin OPS Construction Director	$280,953	$28,452	$309,405	40

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Charles Mountain	President/Director	$531,908	$60,939	$592,847	40
Kenneth Sembach	Stsci Director	$379,090	$52,948	$432,038	40
Patrick Mccarthy	Noirlab Director	$349,097	$30,852	$379,949	40
Heidi Hammel	VP For Science	$311,397	$60,395	$371,792	40
Valentin Pillet	Nso Director	$285,333	$58,705	$344,038	40
Barbara Lam	CFO/VP Of Operations	$277,291	$57,482	$334,773	40
Nancy Levenson	Stsci Deputy Director	$281,383	$52,550	$333,933	40
Jermery Weirich	VP For Corporate Strategy	$293,076	$30,091	$323,167	40
Dana Lehr	VP Programs	$262,218	$59,955	$322,173	40
Victor Krabbendam	Vr Construction - Project	$255,297	$66,062	$321,359	40
Thomas Rimmele	Nso - ASSOC. Director - Dk	$268,037	$49,044	$317,081	40
William O'Mullane	Project MGR - Vr Construct	$276,608	$35,233	$311,841	40
Donald Hough	Stsci ASSOC. Director, Admin.	$251,361	$57,428	$308,789	40
Neill Reid	Stsci Associate Director Of Science	$246,185	$55,936	$302,121	40
Marc Postman	Stsci Associate Director	$248,093	$51,888	$299,981	40

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Charles Mountain	President/Director	$571,998	$61,515	$633,513	40
Kenneth Sembach	Stsci Director	$383,429	$52,813	$436,242	40
Valen Schnader	VP For Operations And Chief Of Staff	$339,737	$53,313	$393,050	40
Heidi Hammel	VP For Science	$315,946	$60,268	$376,214	40
Patrick Mccarthy	Nso Director	$343,978	$27,531	$371,509	40
Nancy Levenson	Stsci Deputy Director	$287,477	$52,958	$340,435	40
Valentin Pillet	Nso Director	$282,018	$55,323	$337,341	40
Dana Lehr	VP Programs	$273,222	$63,271	$336,493	40
Jermery Weirich	VP For Corporate Strategy	$305,222	$29,633	$334,855	40
Simon Craig	SR. Systems Engineer	$288,085	$31,093	$319,178	40
Victor Krabbendam	Vr Construction - Project Manager	$251,888	$63,784	$315,672	40
Donald Hough	Stsci ASSOC. Director, Admin.	$259,459	$56,052	$315,511	40
Philip Puxley	VP For Special Projects	$277,305	$35,212	$312,517	40
Neill Reid	Stsci ASSOC. Director For Science	$251,473	$57,294	$308,767	40
William O'Mullane	Project MGR - Vr Construction	$283,266	$25,231	$308,497	40

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Charles Mountain	President/Director	$505,384	$50,734	$556,118	40
Kenneth Sembach	Stsci Director	$358,164	$45,628	$403,792	40
Valen Schnader	VP For Operations And Chief Of Staff	$307,510	$45,930	$353,440	40
Heidi Hammel	VP For Science	$298,906	$50,734	$349,640	40
Philip Puxley	VP For Special Projects	$288,541	$34,886	$323,427	40
Valentin Pillet	Nso Director	$270,224	$42,903	$313,127	40
Nancy Levenson	Stsci Deputy Director	$266,413	$44,587	$311,000	40
Simon Craig	SR. Systems Engineer	$281,308	$26,886	$308,194	40
Jennifer M Lotz	Noirlab - Gemini Director	$268,152	$38,812	$306,964	40
William O'Mullane	Project MGR - Vr Construction	$271,946	$32,366	$304,312	40
Jermery Weirich	VP For Corporate Strategy	$267,744	$28,091	$295,835	40
Heather Marshall	IT&C Group Manger	$271,013	$22,556	$293,569	40
Paul Jeffers	IT&C Execution Manger	$262,586	$27,638	$290,224	40
Victor Krabbendam	Vr Construction - Project Manager	$245,700	$42,378	$288,078	40
Dana Lehr	VP Programs	$247,141	$39,354	$286,495	40

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Individual Political Donors

People from this organization who contributed to political campaigns

$4K Total Given

Democratic $3,610 (100%)

5 Contributions

$722 Avg Each

Top Individual Donors

2 Individual Donors

Matt Mountain 3 contributions • $833 avg

$2,500

Jean Toal Eisen 2 contributions • $555 avg

$1,110

Quick Insights

🏆

Most Active Donor Matt Mountain with 3 contributions

💰

Highest Avg per Contribution Matt Mountain at $833 each

🎯

Top Recipient ACTBLUE — $2,500

Data from Federal Election Commission • Individual contributions only

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$41.0M Grants Given

50 Organizations

Top Grantees

50 total

University Of Arizona TUCSON, AZ

$2.7M

University Of California - Berkeley BERKELEY, CA

$2.7M

Gmto Corporation Inc. PASADENA, CA

$2.5M

Wiyn Consortium Inc. TUCSON, AZ

$2.3M

University Of Texas At Austin AUSTIN, TX

$1.9M

California Institute Of Technology PASADENA, CA

$1.7M

University Of Colorado At Boulder BOULDER, CO

$1.6M

University Of California - Santa Cruz SANTA CRUZ, CA

$1.4M

University Of Chicago CHICAGO, IL

$1.1M

Soar Consortium TUCSON, AZ

$1.0M

+40 more grantees

University Of Arizona University Of California - Berkeley Gmto Corporation Inc. Wiyn Consortium Inc. University Of Texas At Austin California Institute Of Technology University Of Colorado At Boulder University Of California - Santa Cruz University Of Chicago Soar Consortium University Of California - Los Angeles University Of Washington The Johns Hopkins University University Of Massachusetts - Amherst University Of Michigan Princeton University University Of Hawaii Arizona State University University Of Minnesota - Twin Cities Carnegie Institution Of Washington Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory University Of California - Davis University Of Wisconsin - Madison University Of California - Santa Barbara Rutgers The State University Of New Jersey Eureka Scientific Inc. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology University Of Notre Dame Northwestern University Seti Institute

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Lobbying Activity

Lobbying Disclosure Act registrations

Self-Lobbying

7 Registrations

6 Clients

Yes Self-Lobbying

Clients 6 total

Association Of Universities For Research In Astronomy, Inc..

2 filings

Self

American Association Of University Professors

1 filing

American Association Of University Women

1 filing

Association Of University Centers On Disablities

1 filing

Association Of University Programs In Occupational Health And Safety

1 filing

National Association Of University Forest Resource Programs

1 filing

Source: Senate Office of Public Records — Lobbying Disclosure Act

Contact

Get in touch with Association Of Universities For Research

Email

[email protected]

Phone

(202) 483-2101

Social

Visit Website

1331 Pennsylvania Ave NW 1475 Washington, DC 20004

Association Of Universities For Research

What They Focus On

Financial Information

How They Work

Observatory Operations

Data Collection

Research Support

Public Outreach

Programs and Initiatives

Space Telescope Science Institute

NSF NOIRLab Operations

National Solar Observatory

Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Research Grant Programs

Team & Leadership

Patrick McCarthy

Jennifer Lotz

Lee Curtis

Matt Mountain

Christoph Keller

Charles Mountain

Nancy Levenson

Valentin Pillet

Barbara Lam

Zelijko Ivezic

Stuartt Corder

Thomas Rimmele

Neill Reid

Robert Blum

Jedediah McCormick

Nanci Reich

James Crocker

James Yeck

Jeff Hall

Maria Teresa Ruiz

Maura Hagan

Todd Hoeksema

Kenneth Sembach

Heidi Hammel

Jean Eisen

Marc Postman

Philip Puxley

Dana Lehr

Victor Krabbendam

Dave Liska

Inger Jorgensen

Brenna Flaugher

Dan Jaffe

David Reitze

Elizabeth Barton

Emily Cobabe-Ammann

James McAteer

Jerome Oglesby

Kelle Cruz

Leopoldo Infante

Megan Donahue

Monica Rubio

Roger Davies

Sally Oey

Willie Rockward

Milestones

AURA Founded

Tax-Exempt Status Granted

Major Revenue Growth

Record Operations Scale

Associated People

Board of Directors

Executive Compensation

Individual Political Donors

Top Individual Donors

Quick Insights

Partners & Funders

Top Grantees

Related Organizations

Tax-Exempt Affiliates

Lobbying Activity

Clients 6 total

Contact

Email

Phone