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MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION
SYRACUSE, NY · EIN 223158446 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · most.org
revenue
$1.5M
expenses
$1.9M
net assets
$-491K
employees
0
volunteers
25
program ratio
78%
mission · from form 990

DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISCOVERY CENTER OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

profile · synthesized from sources

Science museum in Syracuse, NY offering hands-on exhibits, planetarium shows, and STEM education programs for K-12 students and families. Operates the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) with daily interactive activities, career exploration events, and workforce development initiatives. Focuses on increasing access to science and technology learning through free admission programs and community partnerships.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Amazon Workforce Discovery
Year-round STEM workforce development program for K-12 students featuring rotating career themes, hands-on activities, and career fairs with local employers and colleges
Museums for All Household Membership
Reduced-cost $29 annual membership for households with EBT cards, providing access to free admission and other benefits
STEM Challenges
Annual series of team competitions including Catapult Challenge, Bridges Challenge, Robotics Challenge, and CNY Science & Engineering Fair with associated career days
Sensory-Friendly Time
Dedicated museum hours with reduced stimulation for learners who prefer a less intense environment, offered monthly
Summer Science Take-Home Projects
Free science projects available for families to take home during summer months, distributed at museum welcome area
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Hands-On STEM Education Programs 2 activities
    • Develop and expand science education facilities
      Developing the Discovery Center of Science & Technology to expand access to science education for Central New Yorkers through new interactive exhibits and expanded programming.
    • Run inclusion and equity-focused STEM initiatives
      Implements STEAM Explorers Inclusion Programs such as MACNY Future Women in STEM and KeyBank Future Innovators, providing hands-on science learning for underrepresented groups. Offers free STEM programming specifically designed for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in science and technology fields.
  • Public Astronomy & Space Science Education 2 activities
    • Operate hands-on science museum with interactive exhibits and programming
      Operates a 35,000-square-foot interactive science museum open Thursday through Sunday and during most school holidays, featuring permanent and temporary exhibits designed to engage learners of all ages. Offers free daily hands-on activities, sensory-friendly times, and accessibility accommodations including complimentary wheelchairs and a quiet Family Place area.
    • Operate planetarium and immersive theatre programming
      Operates a state-of-the-art planetarium and theatre featuring immersive visual and audio technology. Presents educational shows including "Syracuse Skies," "Mission: Moon," and "Animal Kingdom," with live presentations by science educators and content on astronomy, lunar exploration, and animal conservation.
  • Library-Provided Cultural Access Passes 2 activities
    • Provide member benefits and retail services
      Offers members free daily admission, free parking, discounted birthday parties and day camps, and discounted movie tickets. Operates a Science Shop with educational merchandise and a concessions stand offering coffee, snacks, and beverages, including online sales of specialty coffee blends.
    • Support community access through membership and affordability programs
      Offers a Library Membership program enabling libraries to lend temporary museum memberships to patrons. Provides a reduced-cost Museums for All membership for EBT cardholders and photo ID, available for in-person purchase.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver STEM education programs for K-12 students and educators
      Provides year-round, project-based STEM education programs for K–12 students and families, including free in-school sessions, traveling education units, and bi-monthly learning modules. Offers free Water Environments Activity Kits to teachers and supports educators with no-cost resources and professional development.
  • STEM Competition and Robotics Programs 1 activity
    • Host annual STEM competitions and career exploration events
      Organizes annual team competitions in catapults, bridges, robotics, and rockets; hosts the CNY Science & Engineering Fair and SUNY ESF Summer Science Week. Facilitates career education sessions through partnerships such as the Amazon Workforce Discovery initiative to connect youth with STEM career pathways.
  • Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
    • Host field trips and school group visits
      Provides field trip access to interactive exhibits including the Science Playhouse and STEAM Cafe for student groups of 10 or more, featuring hands-on science activities and ExploraDome shows. Programs are designed to support curriculum-aligned learning and group engagement.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.53M
Contributions & grants$1.35M88%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$40%
Other revenue$186K
expenses
Total expenses$1.92M
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising22%
Salaries & benefits$353K
Grants paid out$1.49M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$255K
Cash$54K
Investments$0
Liabilities$746K
Net assets$-491K
Liquid reserves0.3 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -2.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LAUREN KOCHIAN MOST PRESIDENT 18 $142K
board members · 20
  • ABBY SAVILLE — DIRECTOR
  • ALFRED BOUDREAU — TREASURER
  • AMIR GETHERS — DIRECTOR
  • ANDREW FLAMIK — CHAIR
  • BROOKE CAPRARA — DIRECTOR
  • JAMES LONG — DIRECTOR
  • JAMES NICOLL — DIRECTOR
  • JEAN SHARLOW — DIRECTOR
  • KATHLEEN METALLO-MASON — SECRETARY
  • LANDON LOEBER — DIRECTOR
  • LEAH CALDWELL — DIRECTOR
  • LINDA ERVIN — DIRECTOR
  • MARTIN HEWITT — DIRECTOR
  • MICHAEL BRUNNER — DIRECTOR
  • MICHAEL KERNAN — DIRECTOR
  • REBECCA SHIROFF — DIRECTOR
  • SARAH WEBER — VICE CHAIR
  • SHAWNI DAVIS — DIRECTOR
  • VICTORIA COIT — DIRECTOR
  • WAJIHA MAHMOUD — DIRECTOR
relationships · 39

Who they work with

  • Amazon Partner — Partners in the Amazon Workforce Discovery initiative to provide career education in environmental science and engineering
  • Amazon Partner — Serves as presenting sponsor for the Workforce Discovery initiative.
  • Association of Children’s Museums Network — Provides reciprocal benefits through the ACM network for Household Premier members, offering 50% off general admission at over 200 children’s museums.
  • Association of Science and Technology Centers Network — Participates in the ASTC Reciprocal Membership program, offering members free or discounted admission to over 350 science museums worldwide.
  • Budmen Industries Partner — Participates in STEM education events related to electrical engineering and robotics.
  • Cafe Kubal Partner — Supplies the special MOST Coffee House Blend for the museum's self-serve coffee station and retail sale.
  • Constant Contact Government — Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.
  • Crouse Health Partner — Participates in STEM career fairs and healthcare-focused education events.
  • Eastern Security Services Partner — Serves as the presenting membership sponsor for the MOST.
  • Empire State Museums Reciprocal Program Network — Offers reciprocal benefits through ESMRP for Household Premier members, providing free or discounted admission at over 30 New York State museums.
  • Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Partner — Collaborates on STEM education events focused on conservation and robotics.
  • Honest Engine Films Partner — Screen sponsor for the theatre.
  • Hueber-Breuer Partner — Collaborates on construction and civil engineering education events.
  • IBEW LU 43 Partner — Participates in STEM career fairs and supports electrical engineering programming.
  • INFICON Partner — Engages in electronics-focused STEM education for youth.
  • KeyBank Partner — Collaborates on the Future Innovators program.
  • LOTTE Biologics Partner — Supports hands-on STEM activities in biomedical science and medicine.
  • Lazar & Louge Families Partner — Closed captioning sponsor.
  • MACNY Partner — Collaborates on Future Women in STEM events and other workforce development programming.
  • MACNY Partner — Collaborates on the Future Women in STEM program.
  • MT Bank Partner — Ticket kiosk sponsor.
  • Margaritas Partner — Theatre seating sponsor.
  • Micron Partner — Strategic partner in museum initiatives and programming
  • MolinaCares Partner — Media Lab sponsor.
  • National Grid Partner — Naming sponsor of the theatre and ExploraDome.
  • National Grid Partner — Partner supporting the ExploraDome at the museum.
  • North American Reciprocal Museum Association Network — Offers reciprocal benefits through the NARM Association for Household Premier members, providing free or discounted admission at over 1,000 museums in North America.
  • Novelis Partner — Lobby sponsor.
  • OCC Partner — Film and planetarium sponsor.
  • Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection Partner — Collaborates on the development and distribution of the Water Environments Activity Kit for elementary students.
+ 9 more
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Arts-Integrated STEM (STEAM) Education
    methodology: arts-integration-in-stem
    By integrating arts into science education, the museum enhances engagement and deepens understanding because creative expression fosters interdisciplinary thinking and helps learners connect emotionally and cognitively with scientific concepts.
  • Community-Partnered Access Model
    methodology: community-partnered_access_model
    By delivering free, interactive programming through partnerships with community organizations, the museum increases STEM engagement among underrepresented students because co-located, trusted partnerships reduce logistical, financial, and cultural barriers to participation.
  • Hands-on, Interactive Learning Model
    methodology: experiential_learning
    By using interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and immersive experiences, the museum increases engagement and learning in science and technology because tactile and experiential methods make abstract STEM concepts accessible and memorable across age and ability levels.
  • Inclusive and Sensory-Friendly Programming
    methodology: inclusive_programming
    By designing programs and exhibits with sensory-inclusive features, the museum increases access and engagement for neurodiverse learners because reducing sensory overload and providing structured, predictable environments supports their participation in STEM learning.
  • Project-Based Learning with Workforce Integration
    methodology: project-based_learning_with_workforce_integration
    By combining project-based STEM learning with direct connections to local employers and workforce partners, the museum increases relevance and motivation because real-world applications and career exposure help students see the tangible value of science education.