• Visit
    • Calendar
    • After Dark Thursdays
    • Buy Tickets
    • Exhibits
    • Museum Galleries
    • Artworks on View
    • Hours
    • Getting Here
    • Visitor FAQ
    • Event Rentals
    • Field Trips
  • Education
    • Professional Development Programs
    • Free Educator Workshops
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
    • Learning About Learning
    • Community Programs
    • Educator Newsletter
  • Explore
    • Browse by Subject
    • Activities
    • Video
    • Exhibits
    • Apps
    • Blogs
    • Websites
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Partnerships
    • Global Collaborations
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Arts at the Exploratorium
    • Contact Us
  • Join + Support
    • Donate Today!
    • Membership
    • Join Our Donor Community
    • Engage Your Business
    • Attend a Fundraiser
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
    • Donor & Corporate Member FAQ
    • Host Your Event
    • Volunteer
  • Store
  • Visit
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Calendar
      • Today
      • This Week
      • Online
      • After Dark Thursday Nights
      • Arts
      • Conferences
      • Cinema Arts
      • Free + Community Events
      • Fundraising Events
      • Kids + Families
      • Members
      • Special Hours
      • Private Event Closures
    • Prices
    • Hours
    • Getting Here
    • Museum Map
    • Free Admission and Reduced Admission
    • Accessibility
    • Tips for Visiting with Kids
    • How to Exploratorium
    • Exhibits
    • Tactile Dome
    • Artworks on View
    • Cinema Arts
    • Kanbar Forum
    • Black Box
    • Museum Galleries
      • Bernard and Barbro Osher Gallery 1: Human Phenomena
        • Tactile Dome
          • 1971 Press Release
        • Black Box
        • Curator Statement
      • Gallery 2: Tinkering
        • Curator Statement
      • Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Reflections
        • Curator Statement
      • Gordon and Betty Moore Gallery 4: Living Systems
        • Curator Statement
      • Gallery 5: Outdoor Exhibits
        • Curator Statement
      • Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6: Observing Landscapes
        • Wired Pier Environmental Field Station
        • Curator Statement
    • Restaurant & Café
    • School Field Trips
      • Getting Here
        • Bus Routes for Field Trips and Other Groups
      • Admission and Tickets
      • Planning Guide
      • Reservations
        • Field Trip Request Form
      • Resources
    • Event Rentals
      • Full Facility & Gallery Bundles
      • Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery & Terrace
      • Moore East Gallery
      • Bechtel Central Gallery & Outdoor Gallery
      • Osher West Gallery
      • Kanbar Forum

      • Weddings
      • Proms and School Events
      • Daytime Meetings, Events, & Filmings
      • Happy Hour on the Water

      • Rentals FAQ
      • Event Planning Resources
      • Rental Request Form
      • Download Brochure (pdf)
    • Groups / Tour Operators
      • Group Visit Request Form
    • Exploratorium Store
    • Contact Us
  • Education
    • Black Teachers and Students Matter
    • Professional Development Programs
      • Free Educator Workshops
      • Professional Learning Partnerships
      • Teacher Institute
        • About the Teacher Institute
        • Summer Institute for Teachers
        • Teacher Induction Program
        • Leadership Program
        • Teacher Institute Research
        • CA NGSS STEM Conferences
          • NGSS STEM Conference 2020
        • Science Snacks
          • Browse by Subject
          • Special Collections
          • Science Snacks A-Z
          • NGSS Planning Tools
          • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Digital Teaching Boxes
        • Meet the Teacher Institute Staff
        • Resources for Supporting Science Teachers
      • Institute for Inquiry
        • What Is Inquiry?
        • Watch and Do Science
        • Inquiry-based Science and English Language Development
          • Educators Guide
            • Conceptual Overview
              • Science Talk
              • Science Writing
            • Classroom Video Gallery
              • Magnet Investigation
              • Snail Investigation
            • Teacher Professional Development
            • Project Studies
            • Acknowledgments
          • Conference: Exploring Science and English Language Development
            • Interviews with Participants
            • Plenary Sessions
            • Synthesis, Documentation, and Resources
        • Workshops
          • Participant Portal
          • Fundamentals of Inquiry
            • Summary Schedule
          • BaySci Science Champions Academy
          • Facilitators Guides
          • Commissioned Workshops
        • Resource Library
        • Meet the IFI Staff
      • Resources for California Educators
      • K-12 Science Leader Network
      • Resources for Supporting Science Teachers
      • Field Trip Explainer Program
      • Cambio
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
      • Learning Toolbox
      • Science Snacks
      • Digital Teaching Boxes
      • Science Activities
      • Tinkering Projects
      • Recursos gratuitos para aprender ciencias
      • Videos
      • Exhibits
      • Publications
      • Apps
      • Educator Newsletter
      • Exploratorium Websites
    • Educator Newsletter
    • Advancing Ideas about Learning
      • Visitor Research and Evaluation
        • What we do
        • Reports & Publications
        • Projects
        • Who we are
      • Center for Informal Learning in Schools
    • Community Programs
      • High School Explainer Program
      • Xtech
      • Community Educational Engagement
      • California Tinkering Afterschool Network
        • About
        • Partners
        • Resources
        • News & Updates
        • Further Reading
  • Explore
    • Browse by Subject
      • Arts
      • Astronomy & Space Sciences
        • Planetary Science
        • Space Exploration
      • Biology
        • Anatomy & Physiology
        • Ecology
        • Evolution
        • Genetics
        • Molecular & Cellular Biology
        • Neuroscience
      • Chemistry
        • Combining Matter
        • Food & Cooking
        • Materials & Matter
        • States of Matter
      • Data
        • Data Collection & Analysis
        • Modeling & Simulations
        • Visualization
      • Earth Science
        • Atmosphere
        • Geology
        • Oceans & Water
      • Engineering & Technology
        • Design & Tinkering
        • Real-World Problems & Solutions
      • Environmental Science
        • Global Systems & Cycles
        • Human Impacts
      • History
      • Mathematics
      • Nature of Science
        • Measurement
        • Science as a Process
        • Size & Scale
        • Time
      • Perception
        • Light, Color & Seeing
        • Listening & Hearing
        • Optical Illusions
        • Scent, Smell & Taste
        • Tactile & Touch
      • Physics
        • Electricity & Magnetism
        • Energy
        • Heat & Temperature
        • Light
        • Mechanics
        • Quantum
        • Sound
        • Waves
      • Social Science
        • Culture
        • Language
        • Psychology
        • Sociology
    • Browse by Content Type
      • Activities
      • Blogs
        • Spectrum
          • Arts
          • Behind the Scenes
          • News
          • Education
          • Community & Collaborations
          • Science
        • Eclipse
        • Studio for Public Spaces
        • Tangents
        • Resonance See & Hear Blog
        • Fabricated Realities
        • Tinkering Studio: Sketchpad
        • Exploratorium on Tumblr
      • Exhibits
      • Video
      • Websites
      • Apps
        • Total Solar Eclipse
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Land Acknowledgment
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Impact Report
    • Awards
    • Our History
      • 50 Years 1969–2019

    • Leadership Cabinet
    • Board of Trustees
    • Board of Trustees Alumni
    • Staff Scientists
    • Staff Artists

    • Arts at the Exploratorium
      • Artworks on View
      • Artist-in-Residence Program
      • Cinema Arts
        • History and Collection
        • Cinema Artists-in-Residence
        • Resources and Collaborating Organizations
        • Kanbar Forum
      • Center for Art & Inquiry
        • Begin Here
          • Lessons
            • Bob Miller/Light Walk
            • Ruth Asawa/Milk Carton Sculpture
          • Workshops
      • Resonance
        • About the Series
        • See & Hear
        • Past Seasons
      • Over the Water
      • Black Box
      • Upcoming Events
      • Temporary Exhibitions
      • Arts Program Staff
    • Teacher Institute
    • Institute for Inquiry
    • Explainer Programs
    • Studio for Public Spaces
    • Exhibit Making
    • Partnerships
      • Building Global Connections
        • Global Collaborations
          • Projects
          • Approach
          • People
          • Impact
      • Partnering with Science Agencies
        • NASA
        • NOAA
      • Partnering with Educational Institutions
      • Osher Fellows

    • Job Opportunities
    • Become a Volunteer

    • Contact Info
    • Newsletter
    • Educator Newsletter
    • Blogs
    • Follow & Share
    • Press Office

    • FY21 Audit Report
    • 990 FY20 Tax Return
    • Use Policy
      • Privacy Policy
      • Intellectual Property Policy
  • Join + Support
    • Donate Today!
    • Membership
      • Membership FAQ
      • Member Benefits
      • After Dark Membership
      • Member Events
      • May Is for Members
    • Join Our Donor Community
    • Engage Your Business
      • Corporate Membership
      • Luminary Partnerships
    • Attend a Fundraiser
      • Wonder Funday
      • Science of Cocktails
      • Party at the Piers
        • Event Leadership and Host Committee
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
    • Donor & Corporate Member FAQ
    • Volunteer
      • How to Apply
      • Application for Internships
      • Our Contract
      • Application for Individuals
  • Press Office
    • Press Releases
    • News Coverage
    • Events Calendar
    • Photographs
    • Press Video
    • Press Kits
    • Press Visits
    • Exploratorium Logos
    • Recent Awards
    • Praise for the Exploratorium
    • Join Our Press List
  • Store

Masks and vaccinations are recommended. Plan your visit 

Visitor FAQ Buy Tickets Donate Today
Exploratorium
Exploratorium
  • Visit
    • Calendar
    • After Dark Thursdays
    • Buy Tickets
    • Exhibits
    • Museum Galleries
    • Artworks on View
    • Hours
    • Getting Here
    • Visitor FAQ
    • Event Rentals
    • Field Trips
  • Education
    • Professional Development Programs
    • Free Educator Workshops
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
    • Learning About Learning
    • Community Programs
    • Educator Newsletter
  • Explore
    • Browse by Subject
    • Activities
    • Video
    • Exhibits
    • Apps
    • Blogs
    • Websites
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Partnerships
    • Global Collaborations
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Arts at the Exploratorium
    • Contact Us
  • Join + Support
    • Donate Today!
    • Membership
    • Join Our Donor Community
    • Engage Your Business
    • Attend a Fundraiser
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
    • Donor & Corporate Member FAQ
    • Host Your Event
    • Volunteer
  • Store
  • Person enjoying the giant mirror exhibit

    Join our donor community

    Create a legacy of curiosity when you get involved as an annual supporter.

  • People inside the Infinity Room

    Join our donor community

    Create a legacy of curiosity when you get involved as an annual supporter.

  • People holding hands at an exhibit

    Join our donor community

    Create a legacy of curiosity when you get involved as an annual supporter.

  • People in the shop

    Join our donor community

    Create a legacy of curiosity when you get involved as an annual supporter.

Jump to  

Donor FAQ Support levels Leave a legacy Donors' event calendar Find a resource Contact us
Donor FAQ Support levels Leave a legacy Donors' event calendar Find a resource Contact us
DONATE TODAY!
Choose my gift amount

Find your support level and benefits

Choose the support level, premium membership benefits, and exclusive opportunities that are right for you.

Or choose another gift amount.

​Innovator ($1,000 and above)

Become an Innovator →
System is currently unavailable. Please check back later to join.

In addition to all the benefits of membership, you'll enjoy:

  • Unlimited access to the Exploratorium with your VIP membership card, plus two guest passes to share. All donors at the Innovator level are permitted up to 10 guests per day.
  • Unlimited access for up to 10 guests to After Dark, our adults-only Thursday evening event series
  • Priority ticketing for select programs, such as unique After Dark experiences or daytime workshops
  • Exclusive virtual content, including early access to popular series and special donors-only programming
  • Invitations to exclusive events and programs, such as the State of the Exploratorium, an interactive evening showcasing the impact of donor support
  • Priority invitations to our annual fundraising events: Party at the Piers, Afterglow, Science of Cocktails, and Wonder Funday
  • Invitations to special family events, such as Pi Day
  • Breaking news about exhibitions, new exhibits, and expeditions
  • Recognition on our donor rosters
  • Reciprocal admission to other institutions through the Association of Science and Technology Centers passport program. (Please note: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, admissions procedures at ASTC institutions may be altered. Please plan ahead.)

The fair market value of goods and services received is $146.

If you choose to give through your donor-advised fund, then please remember tangible benefits or services may not be extended. Please consult your fund advisor with any questions.​

Catalyst Circle ($2,500 and above)

Join the Catalyst Circle →
System is currently unavailable. Please check back later to join.

In addition to Innovator-level benefits, you'll also enjoy:

$5,000 and above

  • Access to the Richard & Rhoda Goldman Fund Room, an exclusive space for Catalyst Circle donors at the $5,000 level and above, for select programs
  • Opportunity to engage with a volunteer program of your choice

$2,500–$4,999

  • Invitations to exclusive events, including preview receptions for temporary exhibitions, opportunities to hear from thought leaders such as Michael Lewis and Heather Dewey-Hagborg, and other behind-the-scenes experiences that provide an insider perspective on the Exploratorium
  • Access to a dedicated concierge who can align your philanthropic interests with our programs and events
  • Advance admission to our programs and learning opportunities

The fair market value of goods and services received is $146.

If you choose to give through your donor-advised fund, then please remember tangible benefits or services may not be extended. Please consult your fund advisor with any questions.

Director's Circle ($10,000 and above)

Join the Director's Circle →
System is currently unavailable. Please check back later to join.

As a donor in the Director's Circle, your generous support directly impacts millions of people—young and old, locally and around the world—who benefit from our programs, exhibits, and educational resources.

In addition to all Catalyst Circle and Innovator-level benefits, you'll enjoy:

$10,000 and above

  • Invitations to premier events, such as the Director's Dinner, where you can exchange ideas with experts and thought leaders and enjoy entertainment that highlights the intersections of art, science, and human perception
  • Customized group visits or special insider tours with the opportunity to mingle with scientists, artists, and Exploratorium thought leaders at private gatherings

The fair market value of goods and services received is $146.

If you choose to give through your donor-advised fund, then please remember tangible benefits or services may not be extended. Please consult your fund advisor with any questions.

Leadership Circle ($25,000 and above)

Join the Leadership Circle →
System is currently unavailable. Please check back later to join.

As a donor in the Leadership Circle, you join a distinguished group of Exploratorium patrons. In addition to knowing your gift supports innovative, hands-on, and inquiry-based education, you will enjoy exclusive privileges when you visit the Exploratorium, including priority access to museum programs and thought leaders, and personalized concierge services.

In addition to all Director's Circle, Catalyst Circle, and Innovator-level benefits, you'll enjoy:

$50,000 and above

  • Recognition at one of our programs or preview receptions
  • A meeting with the Chair of the Board to discuss which of our programs best align with your philanthropic priorities and plans
  • The chance to see the transformative impact of your support by meeting with thought leaders from one of our unique programs

$25,000–$49,999

  • A private meeting with our Executive Director
  • The opportunity for your family and friends to experience an inquiry-based workshop, program, or event that aligns with your interests
  • Preferred access to the Museum Rentals Calendar for your private events

The fair market value of goods and services received is $146.

If you choose to give through your donor-advised fund, then please remember tangible benefits or services may not be extended. Please consult your fund advisor with any questions.

Exploratorium Trust ($100,000 and above)

Join the Exploratorium Trust →
System is currently unavailable. Please check back later to join.

As an Exploratorium Trust donor, you join a distinguished group of Exploratorium patrons. Counted among our most generous donors, members of the Trust empower the Exploratorium to better carry out its mission of empowering people to think for themselves—both locally and globally. Your insight, inspiration, and engagement are essential ingredients to our success.

In addition to the benefits of all other donor levels, Exploratorium Trust donors also receive:

  • The opportunity for exclusive recognition with an Exploratorium program, including a special preview reception
  • Invitations to intimate gatherings with fellow philanthropists who are transforming learning worldwide

The fair market value of goods and services received is $146.

If you choose to give through your donor-advised fund, then please remember tangible benefits or services may not be extended. Please consult your fund advisor with any questions.

Charity Navigator
 

How we're helping visitors dive into oceans of data

Our society increasingly collects data sets so massive they're hard for the public to comprehend. The Living Liquid project develops computer-generated visualizations that allow visitors to explore and ask questions about scientific data on the plankton and predators that populate our oceans.

Explore our reach

Donors' event calendar

Save the date for exclusive donor events and our signature fundraisers. Discover new ideas and connect with other investors in the Exploratorium's mission.

Daytime Member & Donor Hours

Every Sunday morning, enjoy exclusive access to the Exploratorium.

Oct
1

An epic playdate and vital fundraiser for science education all rolled into one.
Wonder Funday
An epic playdate by the Bay

Help support free field trips for Title I schools at this epic playdate and vital fundraiser for science education all rolled into one.

Glowing cocktails in the dark next to chemical flasks
Science of Cocktails @ After Dark

Sip your science at a very Exploratorium pop-up experience: Science of Cocktails @ After Dark.

May
5

Party at the Piers

Mark your spring calendar for 2023’s Party at the Piers.

More ways to join in

People having fun in with shadow wall

Become a member

Another way to enjoy great value and privileges—and support our work. See if membership is right for you.

Volunteer teaching students about color

Volunteer with us

Get involved behind the scenes, individually or as a corporate or service group.

2022 Impact Report: See discovery in action

right arrow

2021 Impact Report

Learn more about us

  • Our mission, vision, and values
  • What makes us different
  • Our history
  • Fact sheet
  • FY21 Audit Report
  • 990 FY20 Tax Return
  • Senior leadership
  • Board of Trustees
  • Board of Trustees Alumni
  •  Contact us
  • The Exploratorium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our tax ID #: 94-1696494

Thank you to our generous supporters. We couldn’t do it without you!

Questions? We’d love to hear from you.

General Inquiries

Claire Amaral
415.528.4526
development@ exploratorium.edu

Donor FAQ

Corporate Engagement

Estelle Davis
415.528.4840
edavis@ exploratorium.edu

Corporate Member FAQ

Mailing Address: Exploratorium, Pier 17, Suite 100, San Francisco, CA 94111-1455

Exploratorium
Visit
Join
Give

Pier 15
(Embarcadero at Green Street)
San Francisco, CA 94111
415.528.4444

Contact Us

  • Plan Your Visit
  • Calendar
  • Buy Tickets
  • Getting Here
  • Store
  • Event Rentals
  • About Us
  • Become a Member
  • Donate
  • Jobs
  • Volunteer
  • Press Office
  • Land Acknowledgment

Get at-home activities and learning tools delivered straight to your inbox

The Exploratorium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our tax ID #: 94-1696494
© 2023 Exploratorium | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Your California Privacy Rights |