Can people make donations to NASA's budget?

[R1]

I didn't think so at first, but I just found this web page:<br />http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?t=NPD&c=1210&s=1F<br /><br />If I understand it, it said NASA can accept money donations, the document not <br />expiring until 2010 .<br /><br /><br /><font color="yellow">What is the mailing address </font>for donations by cash, check or money order?<br /><br />I figure if I donate $9 a month or so, NASA would get far more than what the government <br />allows NASA to have out of my federal tax money.<br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[qso1]

From what you have linked to, it appears to me that they can. I don't know the address where donations can be made but thats largely because I didn't think you could do this. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[spacy600]

mail it here:<br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov/centers/hq/about/mailing_tips.html<br /><br />From your link<br />a. Officials-in-Charge of Headquarters Offices and NASA Center Directors must promptly forward all gifts or donations, given as cash, check, or money order, to the OFFICE OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (OCFO), NASA Headquarters, for deposit in the Gifts and Donations trust fund (80X8980).<br /><br />Don't know what $9 a month will do, but<br />If you convince some other people...<br />You could get famous for saving NASA.

 

[R1]

thanks, spacy600 and qso1,<br /><br />so <font color="yellow">please help me and spell out everything the envelope should say</font> for me and for the <br />scientific public right to be aware. This is really great news to me if we are reading their<br />policy document correctly. There's too many words and codes, though, so someone<br />please spell everything out the way the envelope should read.<br /><br /><br />(I agree, my $9/month alone is not much,<br />I am merely illustrating how little the Federal government supports NASA<br />out of my IRS money, in that my $9/month donation would surpass my 'federally-tampered' allowance to NASA by a large amount.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[j05h]

you have to be careful. This may only be an archive of proposed rules. Acceptance of cash donations is not something NASA or any agency could mandate on it's own, so this should have been voted on by the House and Senate. It looks like it was submitted in 99, so you could check thomas.loc.gov and see for that year and 2000.<br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[R1]

now it is probably against SDC rules to raise money for anything, so I'm not<br />at all saying anyone should donate, but I think we really need to know what's going on with this.<br /><br />One thing that puzzles me right now is why does it say it will be forwarded to a trust fund?<br />I don't understand how NASA operates from a trust fund, this sounds like it could be something<br />for space program victims or something like that. Would this be the correct way for me to<br />donate to the actual NASA operating budget? And is there a way for me to know if this is a real web site?<br />I heard many rumors years ago of false charity web sites for tsunami relief and what not.<br /><br /><br /><br />edit: thanks, JO5H, I just saw your post. thanks.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[R1]

I can not find any details on actual donations to NASA's operating budget, I did find this link<br />to the NSS (National Space Society), (National Space Institute 1974/ L5 Society 1975):<br />https://www.nss.org/donations/donation_form.html<br /><br />So I wonder, why the devil is the government allowing such difficulty in allowing people to donate<br />directly to NASA's explorations to exist ?! (I am not even searching for a tax deduction or shelter,<br />just a way for the people to donate. Period.)<br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Silly boy <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />The government want to use your money for what it wants to, not what you want it to do. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[R1]

You are very correct,<br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> but I cannot understand why take an extra [evil] step further so as to block private people from making <br />deposits to the NASA budget through their lack of good action. <br /><br />It's a wicked, giant, passive aggressive leap against mankind, it's like an embargo, it's a closed door.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacy600]

Write a letter and ask.<br />send it to NASA HQ<br />Send it to your Congressperson<br />Send it to both Senators.<br /><br />or just keep posting here and wonder why.

 

[j05h]

<i>> but I cannot understand why take an extra [evil] step further so as to block private people from making<br />deposits to the NASA budget through their lack of good action.<br /><br />It's a wicked, giant, passive aggressive leap against mankind, it's like an embargo, it's a closed door. </i><br /><br />You are reading WAY to much into this. NASA is a Federal agency, not Starfleet, not a charity. NASA is given direction and cash from the federal coffers via Congress. They would be at risk also taking private donations due to conflicts of interest. It would lead to issues like whether to rename the VAB the "Bill Gates Memorial Processing Center" or the "John1R Vehicle Highbay"? It's a very slippery slope. <br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[R1]

These are good points, I need to learn all I can. This is especially<br />true if I am to write congressmen and others.<br /><br />Donation forms could clearly state that no names will be associated with any funds from anyone<br />and not tax deduction, nothing...just like an anonymous gift.<br /><br />I don't see this case being much different from perhaps a chinese emperor wondering why we<br />don't put his picture on a savings bond or something, since China is accumulating tons of our debt instruments.<br />No, the government is quick to sell tons of bonds and t-bills to anyone, I guess. I don't know of any person<br />insisting on certain subjective names and pictures by lending the US money. If this is too great of a worry or<br />fear I suppose it could be done with 'Space Program' savings bonds, just as we now have 'Patriot Bonds' to help<br />us wage a war? The space program issue could even be zero interest, or even a small amount like half the rate<br />of the patriot bonds, the major difference being that this incurs them debt, what about a zero or negative interest 'Space Program'<br />bond (donation-interest savings bond)? For example, I buy a $100 space bond, and each year it is worth 5% less? The<br />longer I keep it, the longer the space program benefits. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[R1]

with the patriot bonds, we don't insist on naming cruise missiles after us, or missions, such as<br />the John1R Baghdad mission #5, or the John1R cruise missile#40, nor do I get to even choose on <br />building a bullet proof Humvee as opposed to a standard one. <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[hansolo0]

Personally, I think your donation would be better served to someone like Burt Rutan or Elon Musk of SpaceX IMHO. Why give it to the gov't to waste?

 

[j05h]

<i>> would be better served to someone like Burt Rutan or Elon Musk of SpaceX IMHO. Why give it to the gov't to waste?</i><br /><br />Bingo.<br /><br />You can be assured that any donations to NASA would either end up in the General Fund or at least have significant overhead costs applied to it. <br /><br />The new.space companies at least can put cash to immediate work. This is a case of mammals vs dinosaurs. <br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[hk8900]

But before they made their IPOs and get listed in the stock market, we simply cannot put any money(maybe invest) in those companies even we want to contribute to the development of space.

 

[Swampcat]

<font color="yellow">"But before they made their IPOs and get listed in the stock market, we simply cannot put any money(maybe invest) in those companies even we want to contribute to the development of space."</font><br /><br />That's true for SpaceX and Scaled Composites, but there are other companies out there that you can invest in. SpaceDev, Orbital Sciences and Spacehab are some that come to mind.<br /><br />Joining organizations such as The Planetary Society, The Mars Society or The National Space Society are good ways to support space exploration and development. The Planetary Society in particular spends at least some of their funds on actual space-oriented missions. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[MannyPim]

I agree that joining space advocacy organizations is a very positive thing that we can ALL do.<br />I would add the Space Frontier Foundation to your list:<br /><br />website: http://www.space-frontier.org/ <br /><br />Although a small group as compared wiht the NSS or the Planetary Society, the Space Frontier Foundation has an impressive track record of "doers" and leaders in the commercial space sector. <br /><br />Another point to make is that investing in a private company is not like donating to NASA. Not only will a private compnay make much better use of the money (more "bang for the buck") but if you invest in a winner, you stand to make a profit for yourself as well. <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="2" color="#0000ff"><em>The only way to know what is possible is to attempt the impossible.</em></font> </div>

 

[itsfullofstars]

I was thinking of something similar myself recently, ‘how can I make a donation to space exploration?’ Living in the UK is quite depressing when it comes to space science, HELL!! There is even only one piece of space junk we can claim to have made!! (I think that is probably a good thing tho’)<br /><br />Although I would never donate my hard earned cash to a government run agency, as this would be a guaranteed way to p*&& my money up the wall, I did think about sending an email to the X-prize foundation asking for a public prize pot to be set up. A Paypal account would be ideal for me to donate to every month.<br /><br />If anybody agrees, I suggest you send a similar e-mail.<br />

 

[aphh]

IMO, some space 2.0 companies at the moment do a lot more per any coin spent, so my advice would be to invest in a space company. It's risky, but atleast you'll have the shares, so it's not just a donation.<br /><br />If you buy the shares from some other shareholder it is likely that the company does not benefit from it. But to make an investment in a company like SpaceDev, that has both private manned program and moon program in the making, would require significant amount.<br /><br />Tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands. So pooling resources with other space enthusiasts would be the way to go.<br /><br />If we really wanted to get off the ground, we should give money to the companies that make it happen. Donating to a bureau just allows the bureau to hire more clerks.

 

[j05h]

The other option besides buying into new.space or Big Aero companies is to join one of the space societies. As a long-time member of the Planetary Society, it is the best personal connection you can make with space: they fly limited hardware developed with Society member funding including "microdots", CDs, the microphone on Mars Phoenix (or MPL?) and many other achievable projects. National Space Society is mostly a "booster" organization, but does good work. SFF, Mars Society and Mars Drive are also doing interesting work, and all these groups function on grass-roots effort. <br /><br />This is different from owning shares in aerospace companies. With stock ownership (but not being an employee), you are placed at arm's length from their efforts. This is not a bad thing, it's how modern capitalism works best. Joining a space society can be much more hands-on and often has faster results. If you are itching to wrench satellites without working for Hughes or Boeing or attending a high-end tech school, you can join your national AMSAT group. <br /><br />If you want to make a difference for NASA, join ProSpace to participate in the annual March Storm. March Storm places space enthusiasts in front of their Congressional members for space/tech information sessions:<br /><br />http://www.prospace.org/<br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[observer7]

I work at NASA HQ, and I just happen to know the Deputy CFO. I asked him about contributions to NASA and found out that there are a number of contributions received every year. They are put into a trust account and then distributed during the normal budget allocation cycle.<br /><br />Gifts can be "earmarked" (just like the regular budget) to a specific project. These gifts are allocated to the respective program or project during the budget process.<br /><br />I'm looking into getting the current fund balance, and latest distribution information, but it may or may not be available to me (as a lowly contractor, sometimes I can get info, sometimes I can't).<br /><br />So it seems that if we can convince Bill Gates to send a couple of billion for development of a Mars mission that we can make some real progress.<br /><br />I won't argue the point about government vs. private sector. IMO, NASA is currently the only proven enterprise for developing space programs. They do great work when the politicians stay out of the way.<br /><br />-- <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">"Time exists so that everything doesn't happen at once" </font></em><font size="2">Albert Einstein</font> </div>