The Greater Good Science Center

What The Greater Good Science Center does

The Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) is a nonprofit research and education center housed within the University of California, Berkeley, founded in 2001. It operates under UC Berkeley's 501(c)(3) status and translates peer-reviewed psychology, sociology, and neuroscience research into accessible content and applied tools for audiences including K-12 educators, parents and families, health professionals, workplace leaders, researchers, and bridge-builders. Its core offering is an integrated content-and-program portfolio comprising the award-winning Greater Good Magazine, the Science of Happiness Podcast (hosted by founding faculty director Dacher Keltner), Greater Good in Action (GGIA) and Greater Good in Education (GGIE) — research-backed practice databases — plus annual Research and Journalism Fellowships and communities of practice.

GGSC does not develop proprietary technology platforms; its IP is its content library and brand equity. Distribution is multi-channel: owned digital properties (greatergood.berkeley.edu, ggia.berkeley.edu, ggie.berkeley.edu), the edX online learning marketplace (Bridging Differences course), major podcast platforms (with a 2026 Daily Beast/Daylight Media partnership), and physical products through retail partners W.W. Norton (The Science of Happiness Workbook, 2025) and Holstee (The Daily Flourish journal, 2026; Greater Good Toolkit for adults and kids).

Revenue is a multi-stream nonprofit mix: individual donations (the primary funding source, tiered from $50 to $1,000+), private foundation and government grants (notably a $3.13M NIH award in 2021, $750K from California Volunteers in 2022, and multi-year John Templeton Foundation commitments), earned income from paid virtual events/courses ($59–$99 for programs such as Bridging for Belonging), and product royalties/sales through retail partners. Leadership is a tripartite structure — Executive Director Jason Marsh, Founding Faculty Director Dacher Keltner (UC Berkeley psychology professor), and Science Director Emiliana Simon-Thomas — supported by program directors in education, workplaces, and bridging differences, plus a development team embedded at UC Berkeley.

Name

The Greater Good Science Center

Legal name

The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley

Website

https://ggsc.berkeley.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Greater Good Science Center is a UC Berkeley-based nonprofit that translates psychology, sociology, and neuroscience research on well-being into accessible content, courses, podcasts, and physical products serving educators, parents, health professionals, workplace leaders, and bridge builders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Well-being Research and Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Wellbeing Digital Curriculum (EDAFACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mindfulness, Stress Management & Resilience Training (EDAMAIAD), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Health & Wellbeing Curriculum (EDAGAAAF), Mindfulness, Meditation & Stress Management Education (EDAAAHAD)

Keywords

• Well-being research
• Positive psychology education
• Social-emotional learning
• Mindfulness resources
• Happiness research translation

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute one-time or recurring donations at various levels ($50-$1,000+). Donors receive benefits including the Greater Impact monthly newsletter, annual report, invitations to webinars with leadership, access to Research Fellows presentations, and invitations to special receptions. This is described as the primary funding source.
2. Foundation and Government Grants: GGSC receives grants from private foundations and government entities including California Volunteers ($750,000 for bridging differences program), National Institutes of Health ($3.13 million for Network for Emotional Well-being), John Templeton Foundation (intellectual humility and love initiatives), Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Acton Family Giving, Unlikely Collaborators, and others.
3. Products and Publications Sales: GGSC sells published products including The Daily Flourish journal (collaboration with Holstee), The Science of Happiness Workbook (W.W. Norton, 2025), and Greater Good Toolkits (physical card sets). Available through Holstee's website and wherever books are sold.
4. Events and Course Fees: Revenue from paid virtual programs including the Bridging for Belonging summer educator program ($59-$99), and potentially other course fees through the OpenLearn platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Greater Good Science Center translates UC Berkeley research on well-being, happiness, social-emotional learning, mindfulness, compassion, and bridging differences into accessible educational products for the public. Its core offerings include the Greater Good Magazine, the Science of Happiness podcast, online courses, research-based books and workbooks, educator and family toolkits, and programs such as Greater Good in Education (GGIE), Greater Good in Action (GGIA), the Research Fellowship Program, and Bridging for Belonging.

Product overview

The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley offers a multi-platform portfolio of educational products and services focused on the science of well-being, compassion, and social-emotional health. The core offerings include Greater Good Magazine (an award-winning online publication), the Science of Happiness Podcast (award-winning audio program), Greater Good in Education (GGIE) platform for schools, and Greater Good in Action (GGIA) catalog of research-based practices. The organization also produces physical products including The Daily Flourish journal, The Science of Happiness Workbook (with W.W. Norton), and the Greater Good Toolkits (for adults and children) in partnership with Holstee. Educational services include online courses (Bridging Differences on edX), virtual learning communities, an annual Research Fellowship program, events, workshops, and consulting services. The portfolio is unified by its foundation in peer-reviewed psychological research translated into actionable tools for diverse audiences including educators, health professionals, workplace leaders, and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Greater Good Magazine A free online magazine (with some print issues) that translates peer-reviewed research on happiness, social-emotional learning, mindfulness, compassion, and bridging differences for educators, parents, health professionals, workplace leaders, and the general public.
• Science of Happiness Podcast A free podcast produced with PRX and distributed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, presenting research-based practices and interviews with scientists on happiness, connection, and well-being.
• Greater Good in Education (GGIE) A free online resource hub for K-12 and higher-education educators that provides research-backed practices, articles, and tools to integrate social-emotional learning and well-being into teaching.
• Greater Good in Action (GGIA) A free website of research-backed practices that helps individuals apply findings from the science of happiness and well-being in their daily lives.
• Bridging Differences Online Course An online course offered via edX that teaches evidence-based practices for bridging political and other differences, based on GGSC's research synthesis.
• Online Course on the Science of Happiness An online course, also offered through the OpenLearn virtual learning environment, that teaches the science and practices of well-being, happiness, and human connection.
• Research-Based Books and Workbooks Trade books published through imprints such as W.W. Norton that synthesize GGSC research, including titles such as The Science of Happiness Workbook.
• Greater Good Toolkit A paid toolkit of research-based practices for educators, families, and individuals to apply GGSC findings in classrooms and at home, distributed via Holstee.
• Greater Good Toolkit for Kids A child-focused toolkit of research-backed well-being practices for families and classrooms, distributed via Holstee.
• Research Fellowship Program A fellowship program that supports and develops emerging researchers and writers translating well-being science for public audiences.
• Bridging for Belonging Summer Program An intensive summer program under the Bridging Differences initiative that builds skills and community for participants working to bridge divides.
• Speaking and Workshops Fees-for-service speaking engagements and workshops delivered by GGSC staff and faculty for organizations, conferences, and schools.
• Consulting Services Consulting engagements for schools, workplaces, and other organizations applying GGSC's research to their programs and culture.
• The Daily Flourish A guided journal based on GGSC research, offering structured prompts for gratitude, connection, and well-being; sold via the Holstee partnership.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Science of Happiness course has been completed by hundreds of thousands of learners on edX
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

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

• Daily Beast / Daylight MediasupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Daily Beast partnered with Daylight Media to grow shows including The Science of Happiness Podcast, expanding distribution to new audiences through their media network.
• W. W. NortoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025W.W. Norton published The Science of Happiness Workbook (2025) bringing insights from GGSC's popular Science of Happiness course and podcast into a hands-on resource. Written by GGSC staff including Kira M. Newman, Jill Suttie, and Shuka Kalantari. Available wherever books are sold.
• Sacramento County Office of EducationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CalHOPE Student Support Partnership between UC Berkeley and Sacramento County Office of Education won the 2023-2024 Chancellor's Campus-Community Partnership Award. Partnership also included School of Social Welfare and University Extension.
• Othering & Belonging Institute (UC Berkeley)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022GGSC and Othering & Belonging Institute partnered on $750,000 California Volunteers grant for bridging differences training programs. Joint curriculum development by faculty including Dacher Keltner (GGSC), john powell (OBP director), and Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton (Psychology).
• UC Berkeley Graduate School of JournalismcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Co-sponsorship of Reporting Fellowship on Latino Well-Being with UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. GGSC and journalism school collaborate on fellowship supporting graduate students to report on well-being research affecting Latino communities.
• UCSF and Harvard (Network for Emotional Well-being)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021GGSC founding Faculty Director Dacher Keltner and Science Director Emiliana Simon-Thomas collaborate with leading researchers from UCSF and Harvard on The Network for Emotional Well-being: Science, Practice, and Measurement. This UC Berkeley, UCSF, Harvard team is one of six teams nationwide working to foster conceptual consensus and enhance synergy across emotional well-being studies.
• HolsteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGSC collaborates with Holstee (celebrated design firm) on product development including The Daily Flourish journal (12-week journaling journey through 60 unique prompts), Greater Good Toolkit (30 practice cards), and Greater Good Toolkit for Kids (28 practice cards for different developmental stages). Each product grounded in cutting-edge psychological research from over 100 scientists.
• WholeSchool MindfulnesssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerArgos Gonzalez, GGSC Education Advisory Board member, serves as Director of Community Partnerships and Professional Development at WholeSchool Mindfulness, connecting GGSC resources with mindfulness education networks.
• Hunter College (CUNY)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerArgos Gonzalez, GGSC Education Advisory Board member, lectures in the School of Education at Hunter College, connecting GGSC research with future educators.
• EdXcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEdX hosts GGSC's Bridging Differences online course, providing global distribution through the world's leading online learning marketplace. Verified Track provides additional guidance for developing programs on college campuses.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• VIA Institute on Character: VIA is a research-based nonprofit promoting character strengths and well-being, closely aligned with GGSC's science-of-happiness and well-being mission and similar funding model.
• Mindful Schools: Mindful Schools delivers mindfulness and SEL training to K-12 educators and students; it overlaps directly with GGSC's educator communities of practice and Greater Good Schools program.
• Positive Psychology Center (University of Pennsylvania): Penn's Positive Psychology Center, founded by Martin Seligman, is an academic research hub that translates positive psychology research into practice, the same model GGSC follows at UC Berkeley.
• Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (RULER): Yale's CEI develops the RULER SEL framework for schools and is an academic research center translating emotion science into K-12 practice, mirroring GGSC's bridging of psychology research to educators.
• Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute: SIYLI translates mindfulness and emotional intelligence research into workplace leadership training, directly comparable to GGSC's Greater Good Workplaces offering and speaking/workshop services.
• CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning): CASEL is the leading K-12 SEL framework and resource organization; GGSC's GGIE platform and educator programs directly overlap with CASEL's mission to advance evidence-based social-emotional learning in schools.

Broad incumbents

• Calm: Calm is a leading consumer and enterprise meditation/sleep app and a broad incumbent in the mindfulness and well-being space where GGSC operates through content and educator programs.
• Happify Health: Happify delivers science-based digital well-being programs to employers and health plans, overlapping with GGSC's workplace and healthcare professional audiences and competing for similar B2B mindshare.
• Headspace Health: Headspace is a venture-backed commercial meditation and mental health platform with consumer and B2B/employer offerings; it competes for the same workplace and consumer well-being audiences GGSC serves, but at far greater scale.

Others

• Greater Good in Education (GGIE) — internal: GGIE is GGSC's own K-12 SEL platform; included as an ecosystem reference point rather than a competitor, illustrating how GGSC packages research for educator audiences versus external SEL providers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubegreatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts
• Xx.com/GreaterGoodSC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about The Greater Good Science Center