The Franklin Institute

What The Franklin Institute does

The Franklin Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit science museum founded in 1824 and headquartered at 222 North 20th Street in Philadelphia's Parkway Museums District. It operates more than 400,000 square feet of exhibit space across three floors and reaches over one million people annually with informal science learning experiences, making it the most visited museum in Pennsylvania and a top-five tourist destination in Philadelphia. Core offerings include permanent exhibits such as Wondrous Space, Body Odyssey, Your Brain, Sir Isaac's Loft, the Hamilton Collections Gallery, and the Fels Planetarium (the second-oldest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, presented by PNC Bank), supplemented by rotating traveling exhibitions like the 2026 world premiere of Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition. Educational programs include GSK Science in the Summer (a 40-year STEM enrichment program now expanding to the UK through OnSide), STEM Scholars, PACTS, Science of Soccer, and Traveling Science Shows, plus digital content such as the So Curious podcast and The Curious Cosmos with Derrick Pitts. The Franklin Institute Awards Program, among the nation's oldest science recognition programs, counts 125 Nobel laureates among its honorees.

Revenue is generated through a mix of ticket sales (general admission plus separately ticketed special exhibitions around $47 for adults), an annual membership subscription program, corporate partnerships and sponsorships (GSK, Boeing, Comcast NBCUniversal, PNC Bank, AMETEK), group visits and event rentals, traveling exhibition licensing, individual donations, and a Simons Foundation grant. Corporate partnership economics are notable, exemplified by Boeing's $3M lead sponsorship of Wondrous Space and an $8.5M total exhibit budget. The go-to-market is hybrid: physical museum visits anchor brand and direct revenue, while outbound community programs in mid-Atlantic classrooms, libraries, and community centers extend reach into underserved youth segments. The organization is led by President and CEO Larry Dubinski, with a leadership team that includes Chief Experience and Strategy Officer Abigail Bysshe and SVP of Science and Education Darryl Williams.

Name

The Franklin Institute

Legal name

The Franklin Institute

Website

https://fi.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1824

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Franklin Institute is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit science museum founded in 1824 that delivers hands-on exhibits, STEM education programs, and traveling exhibitions to over one million visitors annually. It serves families, school groups, underserved youth, and tourists, with revenue from admissions, memberships, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Museum & Informal STEM Education

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Science & STEM Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAH)

Keywords

• Science museum exhibits
• Interactive STEM education
• Planetarium presentations
• Traveling science exhibitions
• Youth STEM programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: Ticket sales for museum admission including access to three floors of hands-on science exhibits and experiences, with separate ticketing for special exhibitions like Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership offering free museum admission and exclusive discounts and experiences.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Partnerships with corporations like GSK (Science in the Summer), Boeing (Wondrous Space), and others supporting exhibit development and programs.
4. Group Visits and Events: Group visits programming for school groups, organizations, and special events including birthday parties and corporate events.
5. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the museum's educational mission. The Franklin Institute is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit registered in the U.S. under EIN: 23-1370501.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Franklin Institute operates a science museum in Philadelphia offering three floors of hands-on interactive exhibits, a planetarium, traveling exhibitions, and STEM education programs. Its portfolio includes permanent exhibits such as Wondrous Space, Body Odyssey, Your Brain, Sir Isaac's Loft, and the Hamilton Collections Gallery, alongside rotating exhibitions like Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition. The institution also delivers educational programs including GSK Science in the Summer, STEM Scholars, PACTS, and Traveling Science Shows for schools and community audiences.

Product overview

The Franklin Institute is a science museum offering a portfolio of interactive exhibits, educational programs, and digital content. Core permanent exhibits include Wondrous Space (space exploration), Body Odyssey (human biology), Your Brain (neuroscience), and Sir Isaac's Loft (physics). The museum hosts rotating traveling exhibitions such as the limited-time Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition. Educational programs include GSK Science in the Summer (STEM enrichment), STEM Scholars, PACTS, and Traveling Science Shows. The institute also produces podcasts including So Curious and The Curious Cosmos. The Franklin Institute Awards Program recognizes achievement in science and technology. The institution serves over 1 million visitors annually through its museum, outreach programs, and digital content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GSK Science in the Summer: A free STEM enrichment program celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026, offering hands-on science education for children across the U.S.
• Wondrous Space
• Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition
• Body Odyssey
• Your Brain

Products and services

• Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition An 18,000-square-foot immersive exhibition showcasing Universal Destinations & Experiences' theme parks with 8 galleries, 20 interactive experiences, and 100 artifacts featuring franchises including Harry Potter, Jurassic World, and Super Nintendo World. Premiered at The Franklin Institute in February 2026 in partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal.
• Wondrous Space A $8.5 million two-story, 7,500-square-foot immersive exhibit exploring space exploration, featuring interactive simulations, rover design stations, and artifacts from aerospace industry partners. Opened in November 2023.
• Body Odyssey An interactive journey through the human body surrounding the iconic Giant Heart exhibit, exploring health and well-being through hands-on experiences.
• Your Brain An award-winning exhibit exploring neuroscience and the human senses where visitors can engage with interactive displays about brain function and cognition.
• Sir Isaac's Loft A physics playground featuring falling objects, chain reactions, optical illusions, and a George Rhoads kinetic sculpture demonstrating Newton's laws through interactive experiments.
• Fels Planetarium Cutting-edge astronomical presentations in the second-oldest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, presented by PNC Bank.
• Hamilton Collections Gallery A treasure trove of rare artifacts from The Franklin Institute's collections surrounding the Baldwin 60000 locomotive.
• GSK Science in the Summer A free STEM enrichment program led by The Franklin Institute and supported by GSK, celebrating 40 years in 2026 with the 'Be A Chemist!' theme. Reached more than 400,000 children across the U.S., expanding internationally to the UK in partnership with OnSide.
• STEM Scholars Youth and community program providing STEM education and leadership development opportunities for underserved youth.
• PACTS Youth and community program focused on science education and outreach.
• Science of Soccer Youth and community program exploring the science behind sports, particularly soccer.
• Traveling Science Show Science shows presented at schools, libraries, community centers, and camps, bringing Franklin Institute's educational energy to external audiences.
• Franklin Institute Awards Program Among the nation's oldest and most prestigious recognition of achievement in science, technology, and industry, presenting Benjamin Franklin Medals, Bower Award, and Bower Award for Business Leadership. Includes 125 Nobel laureates among its honorees.
• So Curious Podcast Podcast series exploring the science of various topics including love, relationships, and human experience.
• The Curious Cosmos with Derrick Pitts Podcast featuring The Franklin Institute's Chief Astronomer exploring space-related topics and astronomy.
• Science Park Seasonal outdoor event featuring hands-on science activities and experiences at the museum.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million people reached annually with informal learning experiences
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• GSKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026GSK and The Franklin Institute partner on GSK Science in the Summer, a free STEM enrichment program celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026. The program has reached more than 400,000 children across the U.S. since its founding in Philadelphia. In 2026, the program launched a new 'Be A Chemist!' theme and announced its first international expansion to the UK.
• OnSidecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 June 2026OnSide is a UK-based youth charity that will host the GSK Science in the Summer program in newly formed GSK STEM Holiday Clubs as part of the program's first international expansion. The Franklin Institute will support OnSide in delivering the Be A Chemist! programming.
• Comcast NBCUniversalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2026Partnership for the world premiere of Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute. The 18,000-square-foot exhibition showcases Universal's theme park attractions, creative processes, and storytelling. Comcast NBCUniversal is partly motivated by its Philadelphia headquarters.
• MDSXmajorTechnology or Integration · 14 February 2026MDSX is a creative design firm that collaborated with The Franklin Institute and Universal Destinations & Experiences to develop Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition. MDSX also led creative development for the Wondrous Space exhibit.
• BoeingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023Boeing is the lead sponsor of the Wondrous Space exhibit with a $3M gift that paved the way for development of the exhibit. The exhibit aims to inspire future STEM leaders by illustrating the diversity of science and technology in the aerospace industry.
• AMETEK Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023AMETEK Inc. sponsors the Rover Design interactive station in the Wondrous Space exhibit. AMETEK's businesses are responsible for manufacturing technologies that enable space exploration, including AMETEK Pacific-Design Technologies (PDT) which keeps NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover thermally controlled.
• PNC BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPNC Bank presents the Fels Planetarium with cutting-edge astronomical presentations. The planetarium is the second-oldest in the Western Hemisphere.
• Pennsylvania Tourism OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Pennsylvania Tourism Office, housed within the Department of Community and Economic Development, provided funding to promote the Wondrous Space exhibit, supporting tourism in Pennsylvania.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Liberty Science Center: New Jersey-based interactive science center and planetarium serving the mid-Atlantic region; competes for the same school group, family, and tourism audiences as the Franklin Institute.
• Exploratorium: San Francisco hands-on science learning center with a strong focus on interactive exhibits, professional development for educators, and STEM public engagement—closely aligned with the Franklin Institute's experiential model.
• Museum of Science, Boston: Major U.S. science museum with hands-on exhibits, planetarium, and traveling exhibitions; competes for family tourism and STEM program funding on a similar scale to the Franklin Institute.
• Pacific Science Center: Seattle-based science center with IMAX, planetarium, and traveling exhibitions; comparable business model across admissions, memberships, group visits, and corporate partnerships.
• California Academy of Sciences: San Francisco-based science institution operating a planetarium, aquarium, and natural history exhibits under one roof with a similar membership/admissions/donation revenue model.
• Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh-based science center with a planetarium (Buhl), hands-on exhibits, and STEM outreach programs; a regional comparable for mid-Atlantic science museum operations and educational programming.
• Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago: Large-scale science museum offering interactive exhibits and rotating blockbuster exhibitions; one of the most-visited museums in the U.S. and a direct comparator for scale, exhibits, and group/school programming.
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Federally operated science and technology museum with planetarium-style exhibits, comparable audience (families, school groups, tourists), and similar reliance on corporate sponsorships and blockbuster exhibitions.

Broad incumbents

• American Museum of Natural History: Larger, broader natural history and science institution in New York; overlaps with the Franklin Institute in space, biology, and educational programming, but with significantly greater scale and endowment.

Regional players

• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: Astronaut-themed science attraction and a current artifact-lending partner to the Franklin Institute for the Wondrous Space exhibit; comparable in space-education programming but operates in a distinct geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thefranklin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheFranklinPhila
• Facebookfacebook.com/thefranklininstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/franklininstitute
• TikToktiktok.com/@franklininstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-franklin-institute

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Franklin Institute