IRS 990 Nonprofit Profile

The Da Vinci Discovery Center Of Science And Technology INC

Mission: the da vinci discovery center of science and technology, inc. (da vinci science center or center) is a pennsylvania nonprofit corporation whose mission is to bring science to life and lives to science. service area: the da vinci science center is located in pennsylvania's lehigh valley, approximately 65 miles north of philadelphia, pa., and 90 miles west of new york, n.Y. its primary service area is eastern pennsylvania and western new jersey-home to 3.8 million people. need: the lehigh valley has a thriving stem economy in need of a skilled workforce. according to the u.S. department of labor, by 2025, approximately 63% of pa jobs will require some form of postsecondary education or training, and stem jobs will account for 91%. a significant number of new jobs will require a basic understanding of math and science. schools need support preparing students for future high skill, high wage jobs. when tested in 2023, 74.2% of grade 4 students and 57.0% of grade 8 students in pennsylvania ranked proficient or above in science as measured by the pennsylvania system of school assessment (pssa) tests, while in the science center's service region, results from pssa test scores were mixed with proficiency scores as low as 15.7% in urban schools. testing has consistently shown science proficiency scores dropping significantly between 4th and 8th grades, with many reasons contributing to why students disengage with stem over time. a growing body of research underscores that science capital, defined as an individual's scientific knowledge combined with how they think about science, who they know with an interest or career in science, and what sort of everyday engagement they have with science, is key to why students stay engaged with and succeed in stem. in order to provide students with the science capital needed to participate and succeed in stem post high school, we must help students understand what science is and how it works, be able to recognize its value in everyday life, know the transferrable nature of scientific ways of thinking to other career pathways, engage themselves and their families in science outside of school, increase positive family attitudes about science, and allow them to know people in science roles. many groups traditionally excluded from avenues of stem learning such as women, people of color, and those living in low-income households, will continue to remain underrepresented in stem professions and will not see these careers as being "for them" unless we can address all these factors. response to need: da vinci science center programs are designed to help students acquire science capital and develop skills to meet regional needs for a scientifically and mathematically literate workforce. through engaging programs and experiences in classrooms and outside of school, the science center stimulates interest and appreciation for science and technology in young people, and the adults who influence them. the science center provides inquiry-based science learning experiences for individuals of all ages, connects people with the wonders of science in all aspects of their lives, integrates stem with the arts (steam) to provide an environment for innovation to flourish, and highlights 21st-century science and technology careers. the science center encourages active learning, curiosity, creativity, and imagination - traits inspired by leonardo da vinci and the transformative figures who have succeeded him into the modern age. programs and services: to strengthen interest and achievement in science, the da vinci science center offers a variety of steam learning experiences for students, teachers, families, and individuals of all ages. scholarships are available to ensure that finances are not a barrier to participation in science center programs. the center constructed a brand new, state-of-the-art 21st century science center, da vinci science center at ppl pavilion, in downtown allentown, pa. the new facility opened in may 2024 with 4 times the capacity of its old facility at the cedar crest location. the old facility closed in april 2024 after serving children and families for 19 years. until its closure in april 2024, the da vinci science center's cedar crest location in allentown continued to attract visitors and program participants at a pace with prior record years. the new facility is a world-class science center designed for all ages with a particular focus on expanding exhibit experiences engaging teens and intentionally built in downtown allentown to serve the 55,000+ residents who live within a one-mile radius, many of whom in low-to moderate-income households where 25% of adults lack a high school diploma. museum exhibits were designed in partnership with area businesses and organizations, teaching the sciences of engineering and physics through manufacturing, and individual and community health through studies of the human body, medical technology, public health, environmental conservation, and sustainability. all exhibits are connected to high-demand jobs and local industry. educational programming is aligned with governor shapiro's priorities supporting investments in education, economic development, and supporting the education to workforce pipeline, especially for vulnerable pennsylvanians. the da vinci steam learning center on the lower level of the new facility features four fully-equipped classrooms, a fab lab, a media production studio, a science kitchen and a little learner's lab, creating new learning opportunities for area residents. the isaacman next generation science institute, launched in 2022, is impacting students throughout the greater lehigh valley as da vinci educators provide professional development to teachers and school districts throughout the region. da vinci educators introduce the pa steels (science, technology, engineering, environmental literacy and sustainability) standards, and provide modeling through co teaching, coaching, and student programs to help teachers implement the standards with fidelity. pa steels are closely aligned with the next generation science standards developed through a collaborative process involving a consortium of states and informed by the national research council's framework for k-12 education. the pa steels (science, technology, engineering, environmental literacy and sustainability) standards must be adopted statewide by 2025-26. as recognized experts in next generation science teaching and learning, da vinci educators are working closely with formal and informal educators throughout the region to support the transition to pa steels standards. among the most innovative achievements in 2024 is the creation of pennsylvania's first stream (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and math) academy in partnership with the allentown school district (asd). this strategic partnership establishes the science center as a second campus for central elementary school and provides daily access to the museum for hands-on learning experiences in classrooms and on the exhibit floor, as well as additional learning opportunities for students and teachers at central elementary. the partnership extends beyond central elementary, impacting prek-12 students and families across the district, including a free family membership for all enrolled asd students. asd students are also among the first to participate in da vinci's steam career pathways program, a laddered career exploration program for middle and high school students exposing them to careers and providing the opportunity to earn skill-based digital badges. students who complete a series of badges which culminate in a paid internship and personal project earn the career pathways certificate. this program supports da vinci's emphasis on helping to build a school to career education pipeline in support of high demand careers in the greater lehigh valley. while this program has started with students from asd, it will ultimately be offered to students across the region. workforce initiatives link students with practicing steam professionals, including the women in science and engineering (wise)initiative which connects practicing female steam professionals with one another and aspiring future scientists to help build and sustain a female steam workforce; need and interest-based scholarships funded by the center's linny fowler steam scholarship fund: this philanthropic fund provides 1) scholarships to students for summer camp, after school programs/science clubs, school's out science camps, and other experiences, and 2) free school field trips to the science center and outreach programs in schools. these scholarships provide students opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (steam) subjects and careers. discounted admission and memberships for those who demonstrate financial need: the science center provides discounts of 75% to 85% on day admission passes and family

Filing year

2023

Total revenue

$21.6M

Total expenses

$6.7M

Program expenses

$4.9M

Administration

$1.3M

Fundraising

$573K

Program share of expenses

72%

EIN

232824084

Location

Allentown, PA

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