COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

TERRA SCIENCE & EDUCATION INC
SYRACUSE, NY · EIN 273215060 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B90 · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · terraed.org
revenue
$3.3M
expenses
$2.6M
net assets
$6.8M
employees
8
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

TERRA SCIENCE AND EDUCATION, INC. IS A NON-PROFIT, EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION PROMOTING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AT THE SECONDARY AND POST-SECONDARY LEVELS, BY PROVIDING SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOSTERING LEARNING AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, BY WORKING WITH SCIENTISTS AND EDUCATORS.

profile · synthesized from sources

TERRA SCIENCE & EDUCATION INC is a nonprofit organization promoting science and technology education at the secondary and post-secondary levels. It provides educational support services by funding capacity-building projects in K-12 schools and educational nonprofits, with a focus on hands-on STEM learning, technology integration, and environmental science. The organization primarily serves schools in New York State and institutions using its affiliated software platforms.

named programs · 1 · from sources

What they call their work

Capacity Building Grants
Provides $1,000–$5,000 grants to K-12 schools and educational nonprofits for projects that build long-term STEM capacity, such as robotics labs, outdoor classrooms, water quality testing, and renewable energy systems.
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • STEM Competition and Robotics Programs 4 activities
    • Operates regional science and engineering fairs
      Sponsors and manages six regional science and engineering fairs across New York and New Jersey, serving over 36 counties and providing middle and high school students with opportunities to conduct and present authentic research.
    • Organizes Environmental Challenge for middle school students
      Runs an annual science fair and career exploration event for seventh and eighth grade students in the Syracuse City School District, relying on over 100 volunteers to support operations.
    • Organizes GENIUS Olympiad international student competition
      Hosts an annual international high school project competition focused on environmental issues, attracting approximately 2,000 students from over 80 countries and 45 U.S. states. The competition integrates STEM, art, and business disciplines to address environmental challenges.
    • Supports student research publication and presentation
      Facilitates student submission of collaborative research to the GENIUS Olympiad and the peer-reviewed, open-access International Journal of High School Research, which publishes high school research quarterly. Also hosts information on collaborative projects online to support international partnerships.
  • Teacher & Classroom Innovation Grants 2 activities
    • Funds student and teacher participation in STEM fairs
      Provides grants to support finalist students and teachers from partner fairs to attend ISEF or GENIUS Olympiad, and funds school-based science fairs through teacher stipends and expense reimbursements.
    • Provides capacity-building grants for K–12 STEM education
      Offers grants of $1,000–$5,000 to K–12 schools and educational nonprofits in select New York counties for sustainable projects such as robotics clubs, lab equipment, technology upgrades, and outdoor learning environments.
  • Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
    • Delivers mobile and school-based STEM programming
      Operates the Terra STEM Scholars in Schools Program, connecting STEM experts with K–12 classrooms, and delivers the Terra Traveling STEM Show to summer camps. Also provides hands-on activities and curriculum resources for classroom and fair use.
  • Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
    • Facilitates international marine biology research programs
      Partners with the Gerace Research Center in San Salvador, Bahamas to provide research opportunities for high school students and teachers, including logistical support, field snorkeling, and cultural experiences as part of a field-and-classroom model.
  • Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 1 activity
    • Hosts Terra Urban Education Conference
      Organizes an annual professional development conference for K–12 educators in Central New York, held at Syracuse University, offering CTLE credits and ongoing since 2014.
  • Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
    • Offers college scholarships and financial support for students
      Provides renewable college scholarships up to $1,000 annually and performance-based awards for SANY students, including college readiness scholarships tied to Regents exam results. Distributed $28,000 to 37 recipients in 2025 and $6,750 in 2024.
  • Educational Technology Access and Support 1 activity
    • Provides digital education platforms and tools
      Offers free access to the Schoolia platform for school enrollment management and hosts an online learning system with assessment, intervention, and study tools aligned to state exams, including Google Classroom integration and automated progress tracking.
  • Research and Scholarly Fellowship Support 1 activity
    • Provides grant development services for education and science projects
      Offers grant writing and development support for science, engineering, and education initiatives, with team members having served as PIs or Co-PIs on over $15 million in funded projects, including successful proposals for programs like Terra Maker Valley.
  • Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
    • Provides teacher professional development and training
      Offers year-round training and support for teachers in research mentorship, STEM project preparation, Scientific Review Committee compliance, and use of the STEM Wizard digital platform. Also partners with The Henry Ford Foundation to deliver invention education PD and conducts in-service workshops in the Bahamas.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.27M
Contributions & grants$167K5%
Program service revenue$3.11M95%
Investment income$8810%
Other revenue$708
expenses
Total expenses$2.58M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$550K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$10.72M
Cash$813K
Investments$0
Liabilities$3.90M
Net assets$6.82M
Liquid reserves3.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +8.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DR FEHMI DAMKACI PRESIDENT 26 $60K
relationships · 30

Who they work with

  • Daegu Science High School Partner — Partner school in Daegu, South Korea with which a collaborative research program was established in 2012.
  • Dutchess County Regional Science Fair Partner — Terra Science and Education is the sponsor of the Dutchess County Regional Science Fair as a Terra Partner Fair.
  • East Syracuse-Minoa School District Partner — Partner in multiple grant proposals including Teacher Ecosystems for STEM Enrichment and NY Ecosystem Consortium, and participant in the Terra STEM Scholars Program.
  • ExamTree.com Network — Platform whose client schools are eligible for Terra Science and Education grants
  • GENIUS Olympiad Network — Hosts final student research presentations through a selective, peer-reviewed process.
  • GENIUS Olympiad Network — Terra Fairs are affiliated with GENIUS Olympiad, and Terra funds selected students to attend.
  • Gerace Research Center Partner — Collaborates with Terra Science and Education to host high school teachers and students for marine biology research programs in San Salvador, Bahamas.
  • Gerace Research Center of the University of the Bahamas Partner — Collaborates to offer immersive, hands-on marine ecology experiences for educators and students in San Salvador, Bahamas.
  • Google Classroom Partner — Platform integrates with Google Classroom to support class management and assignment sharing.
  • Grace Research Center Partner — Hosts Terra's marine biology research program for high school students and teachers in the Bahamas.
  • Hwa Chong Institution Partner — Partner school in Singapore with which a student research collaboration program was initiated in 2006.
  • ISEF Network — Regional fairs are affiliated with ISEF, an international STEM fair network.
  • International Journal of Highschool Research Network — Provides a peer-reviewed publication outlet for student research conducted through the program.
  • LeMoyne College Partner — Hosts the Environmental Challenge at its Event Center during the third week of May.
  • New York State Department of Education Government — Recognizes Terra Science and Education as an official CTLE credit provider.
  • Rochester Institute of Technology Partner — Hosts the GENIUS Olympiad, an international high school environmental project competition founded and organized by Terra Science and Education.
  • Rochester Institute of Technology Partner — Hosts the GENIUS Olympiad, which is organized by Terra Science and Education.
  • Rochester Museum and Science Center Partner — Partner in the Making Invent-Story grant proposal focused on integrating makerspaces and science fairs.
  • SANY Charter School Partner — Collaborates with SANY Charter Schools to identify eligible students and administer scholarship programs.
  • STEM Learning Ecosystems Network — Member of the international STEM Learning Ecosystem network, collaborating with various stakeholders to improve community-level STEM instruction.
  • SUNY Oswego Partner — Partner in the Ecological Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering for Teachers grant proposal.
  • Schoolia.com Network — Platform whose client schools are eligible for Terra Science and Education grants
  • Schoolia.com Partner — Platform partner providing enrollment management services developed in collaboration with Terra Science & Education Inc.
  • Syracuse Academy of Science Partner — Partner in the Terra Maker Valley program and participant in the Terra STEM Scholars in Schools Program.
  • Syracuse City School District Partner — Collaborates with Terra Science and Education to implement the Environmental Challenge for its seventh and eighth grade students.
  • Syracuse City School District Partner — Partner in the Terra Maker Valley program and participant in the Terra STEM Scholars in Schools Program.
  • Syracuse University Partner — Hosts the Terra Urban Education Conference at the Syracuse University Sheldon Hotel.
  • TEDSolutions.com Network — Platform whose client schools are eligible for Terra Science and Education grants
  • The Henry Ford Foundation Partner — Collaborates to provide professional development for teachers in invention education and support K-12 student innovation across New York.
  • Ying TRSEF Partner — Hosts the Maker Hall overview, a resource for interactive and low-cost STEM activities used by Terra Science and Education.
strategies · 4

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.

  • Equity-Driven STEM Access and Capacity Building
    methodology: equity_focused_stem_engagement
    By focusing on underserved and underrepresented populations and funding reusable, scalable educational resources, TERRA increases long-term STEM engagement and equity because targeted support and sustainable infrastructure enable broader access and institutionalization of high-impact practices in schools.
  • Invention-Centered STEM Education
    methodology: invention_based_learning
    By integrating invention, entrepreneurial thinking, and innovation into K–12 learning, TERRA cultivates lifelong problem-solving skills because framing science as a creative, solution-oriented process deepens student ownership and transferable skill development.
  • Teacher Empowerment through Mentorship and Leadership Development
    methodology: teacher_research_mentorship
    By providing sustained research mentorship and training teachers to independently lead student research initiatives, TERRA creates a scalable model for high-quality STEM education because empowered educators become multipliers of impact within their schools and communities.
  • Youth-Led Experiential Learning with Global Collaboration
    methodology: project_based_learning
    By engaging high school students in project-based, inquiry-driven environmental problem solving and connecting them through hybrid virtual and in-person international collaboration, TERRA fosters deeper scientific engagement and cross-cultural innovation because authentic, youth-led experiences combined with global perspectives enhance motivation, critical thinking, and real-world solution development.