INVESTMENT: $1,500,000

VISION: The green heart of the Society’s headquarters.

FUNCTION: An outdoor sanctuary designed for serendipitous connections, peer-to-peer mentorship, and quiet reflection.

IMPACT: A high-visibility representation of our mission to nurture scientific talent in the open air of the nation’s capital.

INVESTMENT: $1,000,000

VISION: The threshold of discovery. A soaring, double-height entrance serving as the first physical touchpoint for the Society’s global community.

FUNCTION: This gateway anchors the arrival experience through immersive digital storytelling, fostering an immediate sense of connection and movement.

IMPACT: From local students to world leaders, this prestigious space establishes the Society as a welcoming, world-class home for science.

INVESTMENT: $400,000

VISION: A sweeping architectural centerpiece that serves as the connective tissue between the historical foundation of the Lobby and the future-focused STEM Innovation Hub.

FUNCTION: Designed as a social landscape, the Grand Staircase encourages spontaneous interactions between world-class experts and aspiring students.

IMPACT: This Grand Staircase transforms a functional necessity into a kinetic conduit, ensuring that discovery is never static.

INVESTMENT: $7,000,000

VISION: The premier stage for national STEM discourse and global scientific engagement.

FUNCTION: A technologically advanced forum designed for high-stakes dialogue, this versatile space is engineered to host global summits, Nobel-level symposia, and the Society’s world-class competitions.

IMPACT: By establishing a permanent destination in the nation’s capital, we move from being a guest at external venues to a host of the global conversation.

INVESTMENT: $7,000,000

Engineered for maximum flexibility, this modular venue transforms to meet the evolving needs of our global STEM community — from intimate mentorship circles to large-scale public exhibitions. Designed for rapid reconfiguration, the center serves as a dynamic, interactive stage where students, educators, and the local public can engage directly with the groundbreaking research of our finalists, bringing live science to the heart of Washington, D.C.

INVESTMENT: $7,000,000

The observation deck of discovery, a dramatic architectural overlook that offers a bird’s-eye view of the National Science Convening Center below. This second-floor mezzanine provides a seamless transition, physically linking the stage to the sandbox. It allows visitors to move effortlessly from the prestigious atmosphere of the Convening Center into the high-energy, hands-on environment of the STEM Innovation Hub. The mezzanine allows visitors to witness the evolution of an idea as it moves from inspiration to impact.

INVESTMENT: $5,000,000

VISION: The R&D Lab for the future of science education.

FUNCTION: A versatile intellectual sandbox for prototyping new educational models, intensive teacher training, and student experimentation

IMPACT: The Hub addresses the STEM pipeline challenge by providing a dedicated space to develop and scale national education initiatives, while simultaneously offering fully equipped maker spaces for hands-on student experimentation.

INVESTMENT: $200,000–$350,000 (5 available)

VISION: This suite of specialized maker spaces is designed to move students beyond the conceptual stage into the physical world of prototyping.

FUNCTION: Each high-performance lab is outfitted with professional-grade infrastructure — from 3D printers and robotics stations to advanced circuitry benches.

IMPACT: By providing a dedicated environment for hands-on creation, these labs bridge the gap between a student’s spark of genius and a viable, global solution.

INVESTMENT: $200,000

VISION: A high-capacity repository designed to house the raw materials of invention.

FUNCTION: This space serves as the essential central storage and inventory hub for the STEM Innovation Labs, providing immediate access to supportive educational components.

IMPACT: The Treasure Chest Room removes the barriers between a student’s big idea and their ability to build, allowing for an uninterrupted flow of creativity and engineering.

INVESTMENT: $3,000,000

VISION: A world-class environment for the synthesis and dissemination of evidence-based journalism.

FUNCTION: A state-of-the-art production ecosystem, including a dedicated Podcast and Video Studio, that empowers journalists to broadcast high-fidelity stories to a global audience.

IMPACT: Equips the Science News team with the technical agility to lead the global conversation on science for generations to come.

INVESTMENT: $500,000

VISION: The intellectual memory of the Society, preserving the 100-year archive of Science News.

FUNCTION: Home to a curated repository of books and research authored by the Society’s most distinguished alumni.

IMPACT: A sanctuary for researchers and a physical bridge between the original signal of discovery and the cumulative impact of our alumni network.

INVESTMENT: $250,000

VISION: A state-of-the-art multimedia production suite designed to translate complex scientific discovery into compelling global narratives.

FUNCTION: This acoustically engineered studio provides the professional-grade infrastructure  for high-fidelity podcast recording, live-streamed interviews and cinematic video production.

IMPACT: This studio amplifies the reach of Science News and Science News Explores.

INVESTMENT: $500,000

VISION: The refueling station for our greatest asset — our people.

FUNCTION: A modern, communal space on the Fourth Floor designed for staff to recharge, hold informal team huddles and build internal community.

IMPACT: Recognizes that world-changing ideas often start over a cup of coffee or a shared meal, providing the comfort and professional amenities our team deserves.

INVESTMENT: $350,000

VISION: The leadership threshold, this space serves as the primary reception area for the Board of Trustees, executive leadership and high-level dignitaries.

FUNCTION: Provides the first impression for those entering the Boardroom and the reception and waiting area for executive briefings.

IMPACT: Anchors the governance of the Society, creating a professional and prestigious environment for the decision-makers who steward our mission.

INVESTMENT: $250,000

VISION: The leadership core of the Society, serving as the daily headquarters for the President & CEO and the executive team.

FUNCTION: Designed for high-level management and the stewardship of the Society’s most critical relationships, this integrated suite features the CEO’s Office and a private Executive Conference Room.

IMPACT: This refined, focused environment provides the ideal setting for high-stakes scientific partnerships and confidential donor meetings.

INVESTMENT: $75,000

VISION: The prelude to strategy, a sophisticated and welcoming transition space located outside the Boardroom.

FUNCTION: This lounge serves as the primary gathering point for Trustees and global partners, providing a professional setting for the informal dialogues that often precede formal board action.

IMPACT: By facilitating these pre-session connections, the lounge ensures that every official meeting begins with alignment and rapport.

INVESTMENT: $500,000

VISION: The strategic anchor of the headquarters, where long-term plans are refined and our mission is achieved.

FUNCTION: A sophisticated environment designed for our Board of Trustees. Equipped with advanced A/V capabilities, the Boardroom connects our leadership with scientific and philanthropic partners across the globe.

IMPACT: This space embodies leadership  and reaffirms the Society’s role as a permanent and powerful force in the scientific community.

INVESTMENT: $250,000 (3 available)

VISION: The crossroads of collaboration.

FUNCTION: A dedicated internal architectural feature bridging the Newsroom, Operations, and Executive suites to create a seamless intellectual flow.

IMPACT: By removing physical barriers, this feature encourages spontaneous interactions and sustains a culture of transparency and shared mission.

INVESTMENT: $5,000–$100,000

VISION: A dynamic ecosystem of private offices, conference rooms and specialized breakout spaces designed to maximize productivity, discovery and execution.

FUNCTION: Spaces with employee satisfaction and mindfulness as a core component, encouraging both collaboration and deep focus.

IMPACT: Empowers our team with the physical autonomy to choose the right environment for the task at hand — accelerating project timelines and fostering a culture of high-impact delivery.

INVESTMENT: $10,000

VISION: A high-traffic installation that celebrates the 80,000 individuals who have participated in Society competitions since 1942.

FUNCTION: A combination of digital touchscreens and physical plaques that allow visitors to search for names by year, competition or field of study.

IMPACT: It serves as a visual neural network, showing every student who enters that they are part of a massive, prestigious lineage of discovery.

INVESTMENT: $1,000

VISION: A permanent installation within the Society Garden and Exterior Plaza.

FUNCTION: High-quality, laser-engraved bricks or pavers integrated into the garden’s walking paths.

IMPACT: An accessible way for the local D.C. community and alumni families to honor a mentor, a student or a love for science in our green heart sanctuary.

INVESTMENT: $10,000,000

THEME: Public engagement and global convening.

VISION: As the front door to the Society, this floor welcomes the world through the Plaza and Garden and the Grand Lobby.

ANCHOR: It houses the National Science Convening Center, the premier stage for global STEM discourse and public exhibitions.

IMPACT: Your investment ensures the Society remains a permanent convening power, bringing the greatest minds of our time together in one space.

INVESTMENT: $2,000,000

THEME: Strategic excellence and professional culture.

VISION: This level houses the expert team that designs and executes our educational programs and premier competitions.

ANCHOR: Organic collaborative spaces and traditional work areas that facilitate both team building and deep focus.

IMPACT: Your support sustains the human capital behind the mission, creating a world-class environment for collaborative engagement.

* * * COMMITTED * * * 

INVESTMENT: Outright Purchase

VISION: A landmark in the heart of the nation’s capital, this building serves as the home for the Society and a global beacon for the science.

FUNCTION: Beyond its brick and mortar, the National Headquarters is the center of gravity for our global community.

IMPACT: The Donor’s transformative gift allowed the outright purchase of the new building, securing the Society’s independence and influence for the next century.