What Assemble does

Assemble, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community space for arts and technology education founded in 2011 by Nina Barbuto and headquartered at 4824 Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh's Garfield neighborhood. The organization delivers STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) programming for youth in grades K-12, with a portfolio that includes Assemble Afterschool (free, 3-6pm weekdays), Day Camps, Summer Camps, the Northgate Summer STEAM Camp (launched 2026 at Bellevue Elementary), Saturday Crafternoons, Youth Maker Nights, the paid Hack the Future teen program, and mobile "On the Go" programs delivered in schools and at community events. Curriculum themes span Afrofuturism, SFX Makeup, Rube Goldberg Machines, Sewable Circuits, Coding with Scratch, Creative Chemistry, Documentary Filmmaking, and others, and are aligned with NGSS and PA STEELS standards.

The operating model combines a physical community space (Penn Avenue studio and Unblurred Gallery) with mobile delivery, supported by 20+ staff including a Programs Manager, Development & Marketing Manager, Evaluation Manager, multiple Coordinators, teaching artists, and Ramp Up Fellows. Revenue is diversified across individual donations (including a "Unicorns" monthly giving program), corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants (Arconic Foundation, Heinz Endowments, Grable Foundation, United Way, and others), and earned income from program fees including birthday parties, space rental, adult craft nights, team building workshops (clients include Duolingo), and professional development for educators. The organization also runs the monthly Unblurred First Fridays gallery exhibition and an annual MakerDate fundraising event, and serves adult learners, corporate teams, K-12 educators, and local artists in addition to its primary youth audience. Programs are free for Garfield residents, with sliding-scale pricing and scholarships available for non-residents.

Name

Assemble

Legal name

Assemble, Inc.

Website

https://assemblepgh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Assemble is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) education to youth, adults, and educators in the Garfield neighborhood and broader Pittsburgh region through afterschool programs, camps, mobile delivery, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEAM Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coding, Game Design & Computer Science Camps (EDAMALAD), Arts & Design Camps (Visual Arts, Crafts, Design Thinking) (EDAMALAH), Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps (EDAMALAE), STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC)

Keywords

• STEAM education
• Nonprofit youth programs
• Maker education
• Community arts center
• Hands-on learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Individual Contributions: Individual donors contribute to the nonprofit mission. Monthly donor program called 'Unicorns' with quarterly updates and special perks. One-time donations accepted.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Companies sponsor Assemble programs with benefits including logo placement, social media recognition, VIP access, content collaboration opportunities, and employee engagement/volunteering.
3. Program Fees: Revenue from various programs including birthday parties, space rental, adult craft nights, team building workshops, professional development, and summer/day camps. Needs-based sliding scale pricing offered.
4. Foundation and Government Grants: Funding from foundations and government sources including Arconic Foundation, Heinz Endowments, RAD, United Way, Robert J. Coury Foundation, Grable Foundation, and others listed as grantors.
5. Space Rental: Rental fees for private events ($150), nonprofit events ($75), and Garfield residents ($50), with additional hourly charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Assemble is a nonprofit community space delivering hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) education programs for youth and adults. Its core offerings include afterschool programs, day camps, summer camps, teen programs, Saturday workshops, mobile "On the Go" programs delivered in schools, and adult learning services such as professional development, team building workshops, and craft nights. The organization supplements these with event services including birthday parties, grown-up parties, and space rental at its 4824 Penn Ave facility.

Product overview

Assemble is a nonprofit community space for arts and technology education offering a portfolio of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) programs. The core offering consists of youth programs including Assemble Afterschool, Day Camps, Summer Camps, Northgate Summer Camps, Hack the Future (teen program), Saturday Crafternoons, Youth Maker Nights, and Learning Parties. Complementing these are Assemble On the Go Programs, which include On the Go Curriculum, Assemble Assembly, and Make & Takes delivered in schools and community spaces. Adult programming includes Professional Development, Team Building Workshops, and Adult Craft Nights. The organization also offers event services including Kids Birthday Parties, Grown-up Parties + Events, and Space Rental. Additional offerings include the Unblurred Gallery monthly exhibition and MakerDate annual fundraising event. Programs are free for Garfield residents and available at low cost for others, with scholarships available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Unblurred Gallery: Monthly gallery exhibition at Assemble featuring local Pittsburgh artists on the first Friday of each month from 6-10pm.
• Hack the Future
• Saturday Crafternoons

Products and services

• Assemble Afterschool A STEAM program for kids in grades 1-8 that runs from 3:00 pm-6:00 pm at Assemble's Penn Avenue studio, featuring hands-on activities, creative inventions, visits from local artists/makers/technologists, snacks, and homework help. Free of charge.
• Day Camps STEAM-centered programs that fill in when school is out of session, featuring hands-on activities, creative inventions, and visits from local artists, makers, and technologists. Full Day $60 / Half Day $30 with scholarships and free Garfield resident spots.
• Summer Camps STEAM camps for kids entering grades 1-9 held at Assemble's 4824 Penn Ave location, running daily from 9am-4pm with pre- and post-care available. Free for Garfield residents; scholarships available for non-residents.
• Northgate Summer Camps Half-day Summer STEAM Camp at Bellevue Elementary in the Northgate School District for rising 1st-2nd and 3rd-5th graders, running Mon-Thurs 9am-12pm from June 29-August 6. Theme: 'Fantastical Pasts, Utopian Futures' focusing on fantasy and sci-fi. Limited free and 50% scholarship slots available.
• Hack the Future A paid teen program meeting on Fridays from 4-6pm that focuses on developing an intentional approach to the design process while centering student autonomy and agency. Teens receive stipends for participation.
• Saturday Crafternoons Weekly drop-in programs for youth ages 5-11 featuring hands-on projects led by guest expert artists, makers, or technologists, with snacks provided.
• Youth Maker Nights A free monthly workshop for students in grades 5-8 featuring hands-on STEAM projects led by Guest Experts in a community setting.
• Learning Parties Events featuring learning stations with activities led by local Guest Experts and organizations around a central theme, free and fun for learners of all ages.
• Assemble On the Go Programs Supplemental STEAM programs delivered in schools and community spaces all over Pittsburgh, including in-school electives, afterschool programs, Make n' Takes, and Assemblies.
• Assemble Assembly School assemblies featuring a rotating carnival of crafts, challenges, and STEAM activities with stations for each letter of the STEAM acronym.
• Make & Takes Activity booths at local community events, festivals, and fundraisers featuring hands-on STEAM crafts like Chromatography Flowers, Clay Seed Bulbs, UV Jewelry, and Paper Circuitry.
• Professional Development Specially crafted workshops for educators covering interdisciplinary learning, culturally responsive teaching, social emotional learning, and hands-on maker learning, starting at $600 with sliding scale pricing.
• Team Building Workshops Creative workshops for organizations including needle felting, clockmaking, book binding, sewable circuits, pop-up cards, Rube Goldberg machines, and blind design challenges. Sliding scale pricing.
• Adult Craft Nights Monthly adult learning workshops including Crafts with Two Frays Brewery, 18+ Queer Craft Nights, and 21+ Nights with local Guest Experts.
• Kids Birthday Parties Two-hour birthday workshops with Assemble teachers, goodie bags, accommodation for up to 20 children, priced at $300 (or $150 for Garfield residents).
• Grown-up Parties + Events Two-hour party workshops with customizable hands-on projects, goodie bags, accommodation for up to 20 adults, priced at $300 (or $150 for Garfield residents).
• Space Rental Community space rental at 4824 Penn Ave available M-F 6:30-10pm and Saturday mornings, with fees ranging from $50-$150 based on event type and nonprofit status. Studio fits 20 banquet, 45 lecture, 60 standing.
• Unblurred Gallery Free monthly gallery exhibition on the first Friday of each month from 6-10pm at Assemble's 4824 Penn Ave location, showcasing emerging local artists.

Quantifiable outcome

• Assemble Afterschool is FREE - making quality afterschool STEAM programming accessible to all
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Northgate School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Northgate Summer STEAM Camp 2026. Location hosted at Bellevue Elementary. Camp open to all youth, not limited to Northgate students. Theme: 'Fantastical Pasts, Utopian Futures' focusing on fantasy and sci-fi.
• Waldorf School of PittsburghsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer camp partnership bringing Assemble's STEAM programming to Waldorf School students.
• Winchester ThurstonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer camp partnership hosting Assemble programs for their students.
• Legacy Arts ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer camp partnership bringing STEAM education to Legacy Arts community members.
• BASE (Brothers And Sisters Emerging)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with BASE for summer camp programming serving youth in the community.
• Two Frays BrewerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts Adult Craft Nights including needle felting club and craft workshops. Located in Garfield neighborhood, down the street from Assemble. Community-based brewery supporting local arts education.
• Danny Devine StudiosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative studio partner for Northgate Summer Camps, contributing to camp programming and design.
• Pittsburgh Glass CenterminorOthersGuest expert partner providing glass art workshops and demonstrations for Assemble Day Camps.
• CMU Engineering AmbassadorsminorOthersUniversity student volunteers providing engineering workshops for Assemble Day Camps, connecting youth with STEM role models.
• PGH Glass CenterminorOthersContributed to Hack the Future's 'Water for Baby not Bot!' gallery exhibition on generative AI and human art.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Andy Warhol Museum: Pittsburgh arts institution offering youth education programs, teacher PD, and community workshops. Comparable in arts-education mission and PD offerings but at a much larger institutional scale.
• Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh's large, established STEAM education nonprofit serving youth and families with exhibits, camps, and school programs. Comparable in target audience (youth STEAM) and funding model, but with much broader scale and physical footprint.

Emerging players

• RAFT (Resource Area for Teaching): Nonprofit delivering hands-on STEAM learning resources, teacher training, and curriculum to schools — analogous to Assemble's On the Go mobile curriculum and Professional Development workshops, but at a larger national scale.

Direct peers

• Children's Museum of Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit combining hands-on STEAM/maker learning with arts programming for youth, including the MAKESHOP makerspace. Highly comparable to Assemble in mission, programming (afterschool, camps, maker education), and geography.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania: Regional nonprofit providing afterschool, summer, and STEAM programming for youth, particularly underserved communities. Comparable in target audience (youth, Garfield-area families), afterschool model, and nonprofit funding structure.
• Pittsburgh Glass Center: Nonprofit arts education organization in Pittsburgh offering hands-on classes, workshops, and community programs across crafts. Already a guest-expert partner of Assemble; comparable in nonprofit arts-education model and community-driven programming.
• Manchester Craftsmen's Guild: Pittsburgh nonprofit providing youth arts education (ceramics, digital filmmaking, design) to underserved youth — directly comparable to Assemble's youth-arts, accessibility-focused mission and youth development programs in the same metro.

Others

• TechShop (legacy) / Maker Space network: Network of community maker spaces offering access to tools, classes, and workshops — conceptually analogous to Assemble's maker-education model, especially Hack the Future and On the Go STEM/engineering curricula.

Regional players

• Frick Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh-based arts and education nonprofit offering youth and adult programs, gallery exhibitions, and teacher PD. Comparable in arts-education programming and community positioning, though more traditional museum-based.
• Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras: Pittsburgh nonprofit delivering structured arts education and ensemble programming to youth. Comparable in community-based arts education model and youth focus, though focused on music rather than multi-disciplinary STEAM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/assemblepgh
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/assemblepgh
• Facebookfacebook.com/assemblePGH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/assemble-a-community-space-for-arts-technology
• Instagraminstagram.com/assemblepgh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Assemble