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Jenn Vaughn was appointed CEO, and Bill Nye became Chief Ambassador<\/strong> We launched a new strategic vision to guide our next chapter<\/strong> To bring the strategic vision to life, we reorganized our teams<\/strong> New partnerships expanded our reach and resources<\/strong> We built a stronger foundation to grow our impact<\/strong>
Vaughn joined the Society in 1996 as an editorial assistant and rose through the ranks, serving as managing editor of The Planetary Report, director of publications, and chief operating officer. She has been key to shaping the organization\u2019s growth, from LightSail to the fight to save NASA science. Nye became chief ambassador and vice chairman of the board, and he continues to represent The Planetary Society publicly and in Congress. Members celebrated the transition at a live Q&A with both leaders in March.<\/p>\n
In 2026, The Planetary Society introduced \u201cTogether, We Explore,\u201d a new strategic vision that will shape our work through 2030. It rests on four goals: to inspire, mobilize, lead, and thrive. The vision is grounded in six core values: curiosity, humanity, optimism, independence, credibility, and effectiveness.<\/p>\n
Our new Programs department brings education and public outreach, science and technology projects, space policy and advocacy, and member engagement under one roof. Advancement, formerly Development, now also includes marketing and institutional communications. Administration, formerly Finance, now also covers human resources and systems administration.<\/p>\n
Partners helped us bring space to new audiences and raise support for our mission. Our Celestial Escape to Mauna Kea sweepstakes, run with TapKat and supported by Mauna Kea Resort, The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, Keck Observatory, and Hawaii Forest & Trail, drew 11,788 entries and raised $542,800. Through our partnership with Colossal, The Planetary Society was the beneficiary of America\u2019s Favorite Teacher and America\u2019s Favorite Student, national competitions that raised $4.8 million. The Heising-Simons Foundation awarded The Society a $500,000 grant to support our policy and advocacy work. For the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse, The Eclipse Company of Earth provided interactive maps that helped audiences around the world plan where to watch.<\/p>\n
Behind the scenes, we invested in the practices and tools that will carry The Planetary Society into its next chapter. We launched Momentum, a new fundraising newsletter that shows supporters how their generosity moves our mission forward. We adopted an organizational AI policy that guides staff in using new technologies thoughtfully and responsibly, consistent with our core value of credibility. And we optimized our Salesforce system to better connect with members and donors, giving us a platform built to scale as we grow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n