What Johnson STEM Activity Center does

Johnson STEM Activity Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in a 20,000 square foot facility at 275 Decatur St. SE in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded by Dr. Lonnie Johnson — the inventor of the Super Soaker, a former NASA engineer, and a National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee — the center delivers hands-on STEM programming to K-12 students from underserved communities in the Atlanta metropolitan area, with formal program activity dating to 2005 and incorporation as a 501(c)(3) in 2007. The center reports growing from six middle-school students in 2005 to over 10,000 cumulative participants by 2019, with 54 Title 1 Atlanta Public Schools located within a 10-mile radius serving as the primary institutional pipeline.

The core program portfolio includes Robotics (with a competition field, design/build, and maker space), Coding and Game Design (JAVA, Python, C++, SolidWorks, CAD), a Virtual Reality Creator's Zone launched in 2022, and Science on a Sphere — a NOAA-developed six-foot sphere displaying NASA satellite data, launched in 2025 and one of only two such installations in Georgia. Ancillary revenue-generating offerings include three tiers of guided tours ($20–$30 per person, with Premium access to Dr. Johnson), event-space rentals for corporate and community gatherings, twice-yearly keynote speaking engagements with Dr. Johnson, internship sponsorships, and a summer camp. The JSAC STEMCast podcast extends reach into media and thought leadership.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit structure: a modest earned-revenue layer (tour fees, event rentals, internship sponsorships) sits on top of a donations and grants foundation that includes support from the Forever Young Foundation, Georgia Power, Meta, Delta Community, Clark Atlanta University, and the David, Helen, and Marian Woodward Fund. Geographic scope is concentrated in Atlanta and the broader Georgia market, with no disclosed international or multi-state expansion. Revenue, headcount, and financial figures are not publicly disclosed in the available sources.

Name

Johnson STEM Activity Center

Legal name

Johnson STEM Activity Center

Website

https://johnsonstem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Johnson STEM Activity Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Atlanta that delivers hands-on robotics, VR, coding, and Science on a Sphere STEM programming to underserved K-12 students, funded by tours, event rentals, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM & Coding Learning Centers (Robotics, Programming, Engineering) (EDANAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics) (EDAAAFAL), STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

Keywords

• STEM education programs
• Robotics instruction
• Coding and game design
• Virtual reality learning
• Science on a Sphere

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tour Fees: Revenue from educational tours and experiences including Basic Guided Tours ($20/person), Activity Bundle Tours ($25/person), and Premium Package Tours ($30/person) with exclusive access to Dr. Lonnie Johnson.
2. Event Space Rentals: Revenue from renting event venues including the 8-80 Arena, Creator's Zone, SOS Room, and Main Stage for various group sizes.
3. Donations and Philanthropic Support: Individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, and support from partners including Forever Young Foundation, Georgia Power, and others to fund STEM programs.
4. Internship Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors can sponsor interns and provide career fair and job shadowing opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Johnson STEM Activity Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers hands-on STEM education at its 20,000 square foot facility in Atlanta, Georgia. Core programs include robotics, coding and game design, virtual reality, and Science on a Sphere (SOS), serving students ages 5-100 with a focus on underserved communities. Supplementary paid offerings include tiered guided tours, event space rentals, speaker engagements, and summer camps.

Product overview

Johnson STEM Activity Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of educational STEM programs at its 20,000 square foot facility in Atlanta, Georgia. The core offerings include the Robotics Program (the most popular program with design/build areas, maker space, and competition field), Coding and Game Design (JAVA, Python, C++, video game creation), Virtual Reality (VR), and Science on a Sphere (SOS) — one of only two SOS installations in Georgia. Supplementary offerings include three tiers of guided tours (Basic, Activity Bundle, and Premium Package with Dr. Lonnie Johnson), event space rental, speaker requests, summer camp, and the JSAC STEMCast podcast. The organization serves students from elementary through high school, particularly targeting underserved communities in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JSAC STEMCast: A podcast driving conversations about how STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) are all around us, featuring distinguished guests exploring their careers and experience with STEM.

Products and services

• Robotics Program Hands-on robotics program where students learn design, engineering, physics, math, and computer programming, with access to design/build areas, innovation and maker space, computer lab, competition field, and one-on-one mentorship for ages 5-100.
• Coding and Game Design Program teaching JAVA, Python, C++, SolidWorks, and CAD where students create their own video games using engines utilized in games such as Rocket League and Hogwarts Legacy, and work with the Pepper humanoid robot to learn AI technology.
• Virtual Reality Program VR program using headsets for fully immersive three-dimensional learning where students design, explore, create and interact with digital environments, including walking through the International Space Station, learning Physics, and virtually dissecting animals.
• Science on a Sphere (SOS) Six-foot diameter sphere developed by NOAA that displays archived and real-time data from NASA satellites, covering meteorology, sustainability and climate change, oceanography, marine ecosystems, astronomy, and planetary science.
• Basic Guided Tour One-hour personally guided tour of the STEM Center offering behind-the-scenes access to learn about STEM, robotics, VR, video game design, and computer programming, priced at $20 per person for ages 5-100.
• Activity Bundle Tour Two-hour interactive experience including Basic Guided Tour plus at least two hands-on activities such as robotics, video game design, VR, or Science on a Sphere, priced at $25 per person.
• Premium Package Tour Three-hour guided interactive tour including Activity Bundle Tour plus private talk and Q&A with Dr. Lonnie Johnson with photo opportunities, priced at $30 per person.
• Event Space Rental Venue rental services accommodating groups from less than a dozen to several hundred people, with spaces including the 8-80 Arena, Creator's Zone, SOS Room, and Main Stage for corporate events, conferences, team building, and community gatherings.
• Speaker Request Service Speaking engagements with founder Dr. Lonnie Johnson available twice a year, offered as keynote speaker or panel participant.
• Summer Camp Seasonal summer camp program offering STEM education and activities for students at the Atlanta facility.
• JSAC STEMCast Podcast Podcast driving conversations about how STEM is all around us, featuring distinguished guests who share their careers and experiences with STEM fields.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of JSAC graduates declared a STEM major in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides the Science on a Sphere (SOS) technology - a six-foot diameter educational sphere displaying archived and real-time data. JSAC is one of only two SOS installations in Georgia.
• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA satellites provide real-time data displayed on Science on a Sphere. Dr. Lonnie Johnson is a former NASA engineer and rocket scientist.
• Clark Atlanta UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partnership supporting STEM education initiatives.
• Johnson Energy StoragesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated entity developing advanced green energy technologies, aligned with Dr. Johnson's mission to save the planet.
• SAMM Staffing & ConsultingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting JSAC's operations and mission.
• 48in48supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization that has provided pro-bono marketing support as evidenced by their logo on the JSAC website footer.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bricks 4 Kidz: Franchised STEM enrichment programs using building and robotics for K-12 students, comparable to JSAC's hands-on, after-school STEM enrichment model.
• Black Girls CODE: Nonprofit providing technology and computer science education to girls of color, sharing JSAC's focus on closing the STEM access gap for underrepresented minority youth through hands-on programming.
• STEM NOLA: New Orleans-based nonprofit delivering STEM education and engagement programs to underserved K-12 students, closely paralleling JSAC's mission, target demographic, and community-driven model.
• Maker Ed: Nonprofit supporting maker-centered STEM education in K-12 settings; directly comparable to JSAC's maker space, design/build areas, and emphasis on hands-on creation by students.

Broad incumbents

• Code.org: Major nonprofit expanding access to computer science in K-12 schools nationwide; comparable to JSAC's coding and game-design programs but scales primarily through teacher training and curriculum rather than physical facilities.
• iD Tech: Large operator of STEM summer camps and after-school programs including coding, robotics, and game design for K-12 students; overlaps directly with JSAC's coding, robotics, and summer-camp offerings but at national commercial scale.
• FIRST Inspires (FIRST Robotics): Global nonprofit running K-12 robotics competitions and STEM programs at massive scale; overlaps with JSAC's robotics curriculum and competition-field programming but operates a much broader, decentralized network.

Others

• National Inventors Hall of Fame: Organization that inducted Dr. Lonnie Johnson; operates Camp Invention, a STEM summer camp for K-12 students with a comparable curriculum focus to JSAC's summer programming.
• VEX Robotics: Provider of robotics kits and the VEX competition platform used widely in K-12 schools; comparable as an enabler of the robotics programming that JSAC delivers, though not a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Iridescent (Curiosity Machine): STEM education nonprofit focused on underserved families, combining hands-on engineering with mentorship — a delivery model and equity mission that closely mirrors JSAC's approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ActivityStem
• Facebookfacebook.com/johnsonSTEMac

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 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 Johnson STEM Activity Center