More than 125 years ago, a visionary founder, determined donor, masterful architect, and skilled trades workers built Yerkes Observatory. Brilliant scientists put it on the galaxy’s map. In 2020, a dedicated group of locals saved it for future generations. Now we look to you.

Between 2025 and 2033, our goal is to raise $76 million to ensure Yerkes is a global leader in astronomy, science education, arts, culture, landscape, and ecology. Highlights from this nine-year timeline can be found on the next pages, with much more to come.

Your gift will help ensure our ambitious plans stay on track, funding our timeline as we set a course for education, discovery, and inspiration.

Together, we will make Yerkes Observatory a global beacon of creativity, curiosity, and discovery—a place where science, art, and nature come together to unlock the universe’s mysteries. With your support, Yerkes will continue to inspire generations to see beyond the visible, think beyond the known, and imagine beyond the possible.

You will help build a thriving, collaborative community of astronomers, artists, educators, and explorers. At Yerkes, knowledge isn’t just pursued—it’s shared. We bring people together to deepen our understanding of our planet, our universe, and one another.

With your support, Yerkes will grow beyond our galaxy, together—not just in what we discover but in how we connect, inspire, and transform the way we see the cosmos and our place within it.