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Firefly Scientists Foundation

Organization summary

Type of Nonprofit

Designated as a Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn't provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

Category: Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations / Private Grantmaking Foundations (NTEE)

Donations to this organization are tax deductible.

Summary charts: organization finances over time

Revenue
$3.88M (2023)

Expenses
$4.74M (2023)

Total Assets
$71.8M (2023)

Total Liabilities
$0 (2023)

Source: Form 990 tax filings from 2014 to 2023

Tax Filings by Year

Form 990 is an information return that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly with the IRS. Nonprofit Explorer has IRS digitized Form 990 data for filings processed in 2012 and later. If this organization filed an amended return, it may not be reflected below. Duplicate download links may indicate a resubmission or amendment to this organization's original return. Form 990 data is from the IRS.

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2023

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990-PF
Revenue
$3,875,605
Expenses
$4,742,571
Net Income
-$866,966
Net Assets
$71,785,701
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions Received $0
Interest Revenue $0
Dividends $2,039,582
52.6%
Sales of Assets $1,835,438
47.4%
Other Income $585
0.0%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Charitable Disbursements $3,998,691
84.3%
Compensation of Officers* $0
* Officer compensation may be included in charitable disbursements, so Percent of Total Expenses may add up to greater than 100%.
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $71,785,701
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $71,785,701
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Other
Daniel Werl (Secretary) $80,003 $0
Karen Lunde (Research Analyst) $80,000 $0
Miriam G Wilhelm (Director) $0 $0
Scott Mortensen (Director & Admin Officer) $0 $0
Melanie Broida Werl (President And Director) $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2022

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990-PF
Revenue
$2,362,624
Expenses
$5,093,792
Net Income
-$2,731,168
Net Assets
$72,656,586
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions Received $0
Interest Revenue $0
Dividends $1,177,974
49.9%
Sales of Assets $1,184,650
50.1%
Other Income $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Charitable Disbursements $4,373,413
85.9%
Compensation of Officers* $0
* Officer compensation may be included in charitable disbursements, so Percent of Total Expenses may add up to greater than 100%.
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $72,656,586
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $72,656,586
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Other
Alexa Broida (Grant Specialist) $96,751 $0
Daniel Werl (Secretary) $72,127 $0
Karen Lunde (Research Analyst) $67,166 $0
Miriam G Wilhelm (Director) $0 $0
Scott Mortensen (Director & Admin Officer) $0 $0
Melanie Broida Werl (President And Director) $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2021

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990-PF
Revenue
$8,066,324
Expenses
$5,079,136
Net Income
$2,987,188
Net Assets
$75,388,702
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions Received $0
Interest Revenue $0
Dividends $2,522,768
31.3%
Sales of Assets $5,543,556
68.7%
Other Income $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Charitable Disbursements $4,432,809
87.3%
Compensation of Officers* $10,000
0.2%
* Officer compensation may be included in charitable disbursements, so Percent of Total Expenses may add up to greater than 100%.
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $75,388,702
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $75,388,702
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Other
Alexa Broida (Grant Specialist) $93,500 $0
Daniel Werl (Secretary) $69,420 $0
Karen Lunde (Research Analyst) $65,000 $0
Melanie Broida Werl (President And Director) $10,000 $0
Miriam G Wilhelm (Director) $0 $0
Scott Mortensen (Director) $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2020

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990-PF
Revenue
$3,349,872
Expenses
$4,061,178
Net Income
-$711,306
Net Assets
$72,403,458
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions Received $0
Interest Revenue $2
0.0%
Dividends $1,431,100
42.7%
Sales of Assets $1,918,770
57.3%
Other Income $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Charitable Disbursements $3,727,582
91.8%
Compensation of Officers* $0
* Officer compensation may be included in charitable disbursements, so Percent of Total Expenses may add up to greater than 100%.
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $72,403,459
Total Liabilities $1
Net Assets $72,403,458
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Other
Daniel Werl (Secretary) $55,000 $0
Miriam G Wilhelm (Director) $0 $0
Scott Mortensen (Director) $0 $0
Melanie Broida Werl (President And Director) $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2019

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990-PF
Revenue
$3,273,046
Expenses
$4,352,060
Net Income
-$1,079,014
Net Assets
$73,065,117
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions Received $0
Interest Revenue $11
0.0%
Dividends $1,849,478
56.5%
Sales of Assets $1,423,557
43.5%
Other Income $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Charitable Disbursements $3,846,600
88.4%
Compensation of Officers* $0
* Officer compensation may be included in charitable disbursements, so Percent of Total Expenses may add up to greater than 100%.
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $73,065,118
Total Liabilities $1
Net Assets $73,065,117
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Other
Miriam G Wilhelm (Director) $0 $0
Scott Mortensen (Director) $0 $0
Melanie Broida Werl (President And Director) $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2018

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990-PF
Revenue
$2,038,648
Expenses
$4,151,509
Net Income
-$2,112,861
Net Assets
$74,144,132
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions Received $0
Interest Revenue $959
0.0%
Dividends $1,242,200
60.9%
Sales of Assets $795,489
39.0%
Other Income $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Charitable Disbursements $3,873,000
93.3%
Compensation of Officers* $5,000
0.1%
* Officer compensation may be included in charitable disbursements, so Percent of Total Expenses may add up to greater than 100%.
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $74,144,515
Total Liabilities $383
Net Assets $74,144,132
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Other
Melanie Broida Werl (President And Director) $5,000 $0
Miriam G Wilhelm (Director) $0 $0
Scott Mortensen (Director) $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2017

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990-PF
Revenue
$2,192,018
Expenses
$4,151,747
Net Income
-$1,959,729
Net Assets
$76,257,017
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions Received $0
Interest Revenue $2,750
0.1%
Dividends $1,115,232
50.9%
Sales of Assets $1,074,036
49.0%
Other Income $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Charitable Disbursements $4,000,000
96.3%
Compensation of Officers* $5,000
0.1%
* Officer compensation may be included in charitable disbursements, so Percent of Total Expenses may add up to greater than 100%.
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $76,257,400
Total Liabilities $383
Net Assets $76,257,017
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Other
Melanie Broida Werl (President And Director) $5,000 $0
Kathleen A Steen (Director) $0 $0
Sing Fook Lo (Director) $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2016

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990-PF
Revenue
$185,871
Expenses
$4,040,594
Net Income
-$3,854,723
Net Assets
$78,208,277
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions Received $0
Interest Revenue $195
0.1%
Dividends $185,671
99.9%
Sales of Assets $5
0.0%
Other Income $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Charitable Disbursements $2,364,600
58.5%
Compensation of Officers* $5,000
0.1%
* Officer compensation may be included in charitable disbursements, so Percent of Total Expenses may add up to greater than 100%.
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $78,208,660
Total Liabilities $383
Net Assets $78,208,277
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Other
Melanie Broida Werl (President And Director) $5,000 $0
Kathleen A Steen (Director) $0 $0
Sing Fook Lo (Director) $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2015

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990-PF
Revenue
$82,291,067
Expenses
$517,695
Net Income
$81,773,372
Net Assets
$82,063,000
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions Received $0
Interest Revenue $20,458
0.0%
Dividends $404,248
0.5%
Sales of Assets $81,866,361
99.5%
Other Income $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Charitable Disbursements $515,000
99.5%
Compensation of Officers* $0
* Officer compensation may be included in charitable disbursements, so Percent of Total Expenses may add up to greater than 100%.
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $82,063,000
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $82,063,000
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Other
Kathleen A Steen (Director) $0 $0
Sing Fook Lo (Director) $0 $0
Melanie Broida Werl (President And Director) $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2014

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990-PF
Revenue
$134,761
Expenses
$0
Net Income
$134,761
Net Assets
$134,761
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions Received $0
Interest Revenue $12
0.0%
Dividends $134,749
100.0%
Sales of Assets $0
Other Income $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Charitable Disbursements $0
Compensation of Officers* $0
* Officer compensation may be included in charitable disbursements, so Percent of Total Expenses may add up to greater than 100%.
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $134,761
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $134,761

Document Links

About This Data

Nonprofit Explorer includes summary data for nonprofit tax returns and full Form 990 documents, in both PDF and digital formats.

The summary data contains information processed by the IRS during the 2012-2019 calendar years; this generally consists of filings for the 2011-2018 fiscal years, but may include older records. This data release includes only a subset of what can be found in the full Form 990s.

In addition to the raw summary data, we link to PDFs and digital copies of full Form 990 documents wherever possible. This consists of separate releases by the IRS of Form 990 documents processed by the agency, which we update regularly.

We also link to copies of audits nonprofit organizations that spent $750,000 or more in Federal grant money in a single fiscal year since 2016. These audits are copied from the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.

Which Organizations Are Here?

Every organization that has been recognized as tax exempt by the IRS has to file Form 990 every year, unless they make less than $200,000 in revenue and have less than $500,000 in assets, in which case they have to file form 990-EZ. Organizations making less than $50,000 don’t have to file either form but do have to let the IRS they’re still in business via a Form 990N "e-Postcard."

Nonprofit Explorer has organizations claiming tax exemption in each of the 27 subsections of the 501(c) section of the tax code, and which have filed a Form 990, Form 990EZ or Form 990PF. Taxable trusts and private foundations that are required to file a form 990PF are also included. Small organizations filing a Form 990N "e-Postcard" are not included in this data.

Types of Nonprofits

There are 27 nonprofit designations based on the numbered subsections of section 501(c) of the tax code. See the list »

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