Canadian Association Of Science Centres

What Canadian Association Of Science Centres does

The Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC), legally known as Association canadienne des centres de sciences, is a registered Canadian charity (#87543 9861 RR001) founded in 1984 and headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario. It operates as the largest national membership network of science engagement organizations in Canada, encompassing science centres, museums, aquariums, zoos, science and research hubs, affiliate members, and individual professionals. CASC reaches more than 10 million people annually through its member network and is led by CEO Dr. Marianne Mader with a board of 15+ directors and a staff of approximately 15-20.

CASC's portfolio includes national programs such as ScienceUpFirst/LaScienceDabord (a misinformation counter-messaging initiative with dedicated TikTok and social media infrastructure), GenAction (a youth climate engagement program that engaged 288,740+ youth through 45+ member organizations), Action to Impact (a flow-through funding program offering up to $100,000 per year for two years to member organizations), Science Literacy Week (annual October 6-12 celebration), CASCADE Awards (annual recognition by budget tier), the Annual CASC Conference, and the Niigani Miinigowiziiwin Accelerator Program launched in February 2026. The underlying technology consists of a bilingual (English/French) website platform (canadiansciencecentres.ca) with integrated membership management, job board, donation processing, and resource portals, alongside the ScienceUpFirst.com digital misinformation platform. The organization operates bilingually across English and French.

CASC's revenue model combines five streams: recurring membership dues from institutional and affiliate members; government grants from federal departments including Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED's Strategic Science Fund), Public Health Agency of Canada (Immunization Partnership Fund), and Environment and Climate Change Canada (Environmental Damages Fund); foundation grants (Drax Foundation, Digital Museums Canada); individual donations through its website; and conference/event registration revenue. The $14.2M ISED Strategic Science Fund grant awarded in December 2023 represents the largest single disclosed funding event. CASC's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by the annual conference, Science Literacy Week, CASCADE Awards, and the ScienceUpFirst public awareness campaign, with distribution executed through its member network rather than direct-to-consumer channels.

Name

Canadian Association Of Science Centres

Legal name

Association canadienne des centres de sciences

Website

https://canadiansciencecentres.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC) is Canada's largest national network of science engagement organizations, serving 45+ science centres, museums, aquariums, zoos, and research hubs that collectively reach 10 million+ people annually. It operates programs including ScienceUpFirst, GenAction, Action to Impact, and Science Literacy Week.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sudbury

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CASC generates revenue through annual membership fees from its network of science centres, museums, aquariums, zoos, science & research hubs, affiliate members, and individuals. Membership benefits include professional development, networking, reciprocal agreements, CASCADE Awards, and access to funding programs.
2. Government Grants: CASC receives funding from federal government departments including Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (Strategic Science Fund), Public Health Agency of Canada (Immunization Partnership Fund), and Environment and Climate Change Canada (Environmental Damages Fund). These grants support specific initiatives like Action to Impact and GenAction.
3. Foundation Grants: CASC and its member organizations receive grants from foundations such as the Drax Foundation for specific programs. The GenAction program was funded through Environment and Climate Change Canada's Environmental Damages Fund.
4. Donations: CASC accepts donations through its website, operating as a registered charity (# 87543 9861 RR001).
5. Conference & Event Revenue: The Annual CASC Conference generates revenue through registration fees and serves as a key member engagement and recruitment vehicle.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CASC operates as a national membership association that coordinates, advocates for, and supports Canada's network of science engagement organizations, including science centres, museums, aquariums, zoos, and science & research hubs. The association delivers a portfolio of programs such as ScienceUpFirst/LaScienceDAbord (misinformation counter-campaign), GenAction (youth climate action), Action to Impact (flow-through funding), Science Literacy Week, CASCADE Awards, and the Annual CASC Conference, collectively reaching more than 10 million people annually through its members.

Product overview

The Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC) is a national membership association serving as Canada's largest network of science engagement organizations, reaching more than 10 million people annually. CASC offers a portfolio of national programs including ScienceUpFirst (misinformation counter-campaign), GenAction (youth climate engagement), Action to Impact (flowthrough funding), Science Literacy Week (annual celebration), CASCADE Awards, Annual Conference, and the Niigani Miinigowiziiwin Accelerator Program. The association provides professional development through Communities of Practice, Resources & Reports, STEM Equity in Action initiatives, and Impact Evaluation Exchange frameworks. Rather than a unified software product, CASC functions as a coordination hub providing knowledge, representation, support, connectivity, and services for member science centres, museums, aquariums, zoos, and science hubs to thrive.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ScienceUpFirst: A national initiative that shares the best available science in creative ways to stop the spread of misinformation, working with independent scientists, researchers, health care experts and science communicators.
• LaScienceDabord
• GenAction
• Action to Impact

Products and services

• ScienceUpFirst / LaScienceDAbord A national initiative that shares science-backed information in creative ways to counter health misinformation. Works with a collective of independent scientists, researchers, healthcare experts, and science communicators to create and disseminate best-in-class information through social media amplification, downloadable resources, and community engagement grants. Operates bilingually as ScienceUpFirst (English) and LaScienceDAbord (French).
• GenAction / GénérationAction A youth climate action program rallying Canadian youth through camps, environmental school programs, and gamified learning activities. The program engaged over 288,740 youth across Canada including 45,000+ in camps, 140,000+ through environmental school programs, and 45,000 through gamified learning activities, while developing 46 bilingual educational resources for educators.
• Action to Impact Funding Program A flow-through funding program providing up to $100,000 per year for a maximum of two years to eligible CASC member organizations. Supports community-driven climate action and addressing science misinformation, targeting equity-deserving communities across Canada with a goal to reach over 65,000 equity-deserving youth and their families.
• Science Literacy Week An annual national celebration taking place from October 6-12 each year, bringing together STEM educators and engagement leaders from across Canada. Includes virtual classroom events such as #SemaineDeMerveilles in collaboration with Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants, engaging teachers and students across Canada and globally.
• CASCADE Awards Annual awards program recognizing excellence and achievements among CASC member organizations and individuals in science engagement. Categories are organized by member organization budget size: Category 1 ($1M+), Category 2 ($250K-$1M), and Category 3 ($50K-$250K).
• Annual CASC Conference CASC's flagship annual conference bringing together science engagement professionals from across Canada for networking, learning, collaboration, and the CASCADE Awards ceremony. Hosted in different cities across Canada each year (e.g., Sudbury, ON in 2026).
• Niigani Miinigowiziiwin Accelerator Program A collective and transformative learning journey designed to help CASC members build capacity and drive systemic change in informal STEM education across Canada through unprecedented partnerships and practices.
• Communities of Practice Peer learning communities where CASC members share knowledge, inspire each other, and collaborate on high-impact topics within the science engagement ecosystem. A structured professional development offering available to CASC member organizations and individuals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached over 10 million people annually through member network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants (EBTSOYP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaboration partner for #SemaineDeMerveilles (Week of Wonders) virtual classroom events during Science Literacy Week, engaging teachers and students across Canada and globally.
• Discovery CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in GenAction program, the collaborative youth climate action initiative. Discovery Centre partnered with CASC, Science North, and The Exploration Place for the EDF-funded climate engagement program.
• Science NorthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in GenAction program and ScienceUpFirst Community Engagement Grant recipient. Hosted Science Café events for newcomers and culturally diverse residents, and participated in Indigenous Youth STEM programming with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
• The Exploration Place Museum & Science CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in GenAction program. Received $80,000 grant from Drax Foundation to offer free school programs in northern BC 2023-2024.
• GenAction Participating Members (45+ organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner45+ CASC member organizations participate in GenAction, including Centre d'interprétation de l'eau de Laval, Centre des sciences de Montréal, Fraser River Discovery Centre, Indus Space, Ingenium, Johnson GEO CENTRE, Kids Code Jeunesse, Ocean School, Pacific Museum of Earth, Saskatchewan Science Centre, Science East, Science Timmins, Science World, TELUS Spark, and others.
• Gairdner FoundationminorOthersPartner organization listed on CASC's supporters page, recognizing excellence in science research.
• Canadian Space AgencyminorOthersFederal space agency partner listed on CASC's supporters page. Collaborated on Artemis II outreach event with astronaut Jeremy Hansen connecting with Canadians from aboard Orion spacecraft.
• ScienceUpFirst Partners and Coalition MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScienceUpFirst works with a collective of independent scientists, researchers, health care experts, and science communicators to create and share science-backed information. Includes partners from COVID-19 Resources Canada, University of Alberta Health Law Institute, and PC Recruitment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Alliance of Museums: The American Alliance of Museums is a larger, broader U.S. association covering all museum types, including science centres. While not a direct competitor (geography and broader scope), it shares the same membership association, advocacy, and professional development model as CASC at greater scale.
• Science Museum Group: Science Museum Group is a UK-based family of major science museums that serves as a model and potential comparator for how multi-site science engagement institutions operate at scale. While an operator rather than an association, it parallels CASC's role in coordinating science engagement programming nationally.

Emerging players

• National Science Teaching Association (NSTA): NSTA is a large U.S.-based association for science educators that overlaps with CASC's mission in promoting science literacy through professional development and conferences. It is more school-system focused but shares the membership-association, conference-driven model for the science engagement ecosystem.
• Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net): NISE Net is a U.S. informal science education network focused on nanoscale science, partnering with science centres and museums for content and program delivery. It is comparable to CASC's program-distribution model (GenAction, Action to Impact) in serving member institutions with national-level programs.

Direct peers

• Association of Children's Museums: The Association of Children's Museums (ACM) is a U.S. and international membership association for children's museums, with overlapping institutional members and a parallel operating model (membership dues, annual conference, awards). It is a segment-specific peer of CASC's children's museum members.
• Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC): ASTC is the U.S. national membership association for science centres and museums, the most direct functional analogue to CASC. Both operate as member-based associations serving informal science learning institutions, run annual conferences and awards programs, and advocate on behalf of the sector with federal stakeholders.
• Ecsite: Ecsite is the European Collaborative for Science, Industry and Technology Exhibitions, a pan-European membership network for science centres and museums. Like CASC, it organizes an annual conference, runs collaborative programs, and represents the sector to policymakers, differing primarily in geographic scope.

Regional players

• Canadian Museums Association: The Canadian Museums Association is the national membership body for Canadian museums, with significant overlap with CASC's museum and science centre members. Both organizations advocate to federal funders, run national programs, and serve shared institutional members in Canada.
• Asia Pacific Network of Science Education Centres (ASPAC): ASPAC is a regional network of science centres across the Asia-Pacific region with similar annual conference and capacity-building programs for science engagement institutions. It serves as a geographic peer, sharing the model of federating science centres regionally.

Others

• Informal Science Education (ISE) Research Community: InformalScience is a research and evaluation community supporting the informal science education field with resources and impact frameworks. It is comparable to CASC's Impact Evaluation Exchange function, providing research-backed tools to member institutions for measuring science engagement outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CASC_ACCS
• Facebookfacebook.com/CASC.ACCS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-association-of-science-centres
• Instagraminstagram.com/casc_accs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Canadian Association Of Science Centres