Raising the funds to realize our vision is the most important near-term goal. We have designed a campaign called “Inspire Innovation” that we hope will include members of the community at all levels of ability to give.
Funds raised will benefit three areas of focus. The largest focus is to create inspiring exhibits and learning spaces at the Discovery Center. The second is to expand our reach by taking science into the community.
Our signature event is the Magic of Science Fair and Family Festival. The 2023 Magic of Science Fair and Family Festival was a great success! The 2024 Magic of Science Fair and Family Festival is happening June 8, 2024, and will again be located at the TUNE Center at HCC, 510 Thomas Run Road in Bel Air, Md. We also will have exhibits at the Maryland and Chesapeake Houses – the rest stops on I-95.
The third focus area is an endowment for future growth and special programs. An important part of our mission is to provide free access to programs and resources for underserved communities.
Dream Big
We are dreaming big for the Discovery Center and our fundraising goals are lofty as well. We are working to raise $500,000 by June 2022 to complete Phase 1 – the Discovery Preview Center – and $4 million by the end of 2024 to build out Phase 2 – an operational Discovery Center. We are anticipating raising over $30 million by the time we open the fully-scaled science center in 2026.
From the corporate and philanthropic community, we are soliciting gifts ranging in size from $1000 to $300,000. For some of the larger amounts, we can spread the pledge over three years. We will work with the benefactors to design a benefits package that best suits them. More information can be found on the Business Partnerships page.
For individuals and families, we welcome you to join as Founding Members and Founding Families. This offer is open until the end of 2022. Your name will be included on our list of founding members in perpetuity!”