Institute for Learning Innovation
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersBeaverton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Institute for Learning Innovation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Institute for Learning Innovation
- Legal name
- Institute for Learning Innovation
- Website
- https://instituteforlearninginnovation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Institute for Learning Innovation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Research and Evaluation Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- EdTech & Digital Learning Policy Research (EDADADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Project- & Inquiry-Based Digital Learning Modules (EDAFACAD), Virtual Field Trips & Experiential Learning Environments (Museums, Geography, History) (EDAFAJAG)
Keywords
Where Institute for Learning Innovation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beaverton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Institute for Learning Innovation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Grants and Funding: Primary revenue source from federal agencies, particularly the National Science Foundation, which funds research projects, program evaluations, and initiatives in informal STEM learning and family learning spaces.
- Research and Evaluation Consulting: Fee-for-service research, evaluation, and consulting engagements with museums, science centers, libraries, and educational organizations seeking to improve learning outcomes and program effectiveness.
- Professional Learning Services: Training, workshops, and capacity-building services delivered to partner organizations to build staff expertise in evaluation, program design, and learning sciences.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Institute for Learning Innovation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Institute for Learning Innovation is a nonprofit research and evaluation organization that partners with museums, science centers, libraries, schools, and community organizations to study how, when, where, and why people learn over their lifetimes. It sells four core service lines — Research & Evaluation, Learning Programs & Experiences, Organizational Learning, and Partnership & Ecosystem Development — alongside named programs such as the Portal to the Public national network, STEM 360, Family-Centered STEAM in Rural Communities, and the NeuroInclusive Learning Network. Its deliverables are mixed-methods studies, evaluation reports, professional development, organizational capacity-building, and selected immersive VR learning tools (e.g., ThermoVR and Expedition VRctica) developed in collaboration with academic partners.
Product overview
The Institute for Learning Innovation offers a portfolio of research, evaluation, and consulting services focused on learning science and free-choice learning. Core service areas include Research & Evaluation (mixed-methods research supporting organizations), Learning Programs & Experiences (evidence-based program design and professional learning), Organizational Learning (systems for continuous improvement), and Partnership & Ecosystem Development (building learning ecosystems). Key frameworks and programs include Portal to the Public (a national network for scientist-public engagement), STEM 360 (classroom-community STEM ecosystems), Family-Centered STEAM programs, NeuroInclusive Learning Network (autism-inclusive practices), and VR-based learning tools like ThermoVR and Wisconsin Polar Science VR. The organization operates as a nonprofit consultancy rather than a software product company, providing professional services to museums, libraries, schools, and community organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Portal to the Public: A research-informed approach and national network that helps people connect with the science happening in their own communities. It supports informal science education organizations in creating meaningful face-to-face opportunities for public audiences to engage with working scientists.
- NeuroInclusive Learning Network
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 95% of museum visitors report experiencing some level of benefit across all four domains of well-being (personal, intellectual, social, physical)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Institute for Learning Innovation
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Institute for Learning Innovation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Institute for Learning Innovation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
34 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Da Vinci Science CentercorePartner in five-year evaluation of Central Elementary STREAM Academy partnership, examining connected learning ecosystem.
- Central Elementary STREAM AcademycorePartner in museum-school learning ecosystem evaluation, collaborating with Da Vinci Science Center on integrated STREAM education.
- Space Science Institute (NCIL)coreLead organization for rural libraries STEAM learning project, with ILI as research and evaluation partner studying how different supports strengthen local learning ecosystems.
- American Library AssociationcorePartner in rural libraries STEAM project, supporting professional development and program implementation for library-based science learning.
- Education Development CentersupportingPartner in rural libraries STEAM learning project, contributing to research on library capacity for informal science education.
- Various Informal Science Education OrganizationscoreNetwork of museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, research centers, and universities implementing Portal to the Public framework across North America.
- Science Museums NationwidecoreOrganizations across North America that have adopted Portal to the Public framework, with dozens having formal partnerships with ILI for implementation support.
- The Franklin InstitutecoreLead partner in Leap into Science national network, coordinating family science programs combining books and hands-on activities across 30 states.
- National Girls Collaborative ProjectsupportingPartner in Leap into Science, leveraging statewide and regional networks to reach families in libraries, museums, and community spaces.
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistorycorePartner in Lineage initiative for Deep Time exhibition, studying how exhibit formats support family collaboration and science learning.
- Twin Cities Public TelevisionsupportingPartner in Lineage project, contributing to research on family learning through exhibits and VR activities.
- Schell GamessupportingTechnology partner in Lineage project, developing VR exhibit activities for family learning about paleontology.
- Virginia Air and Space Science CentercoreLead partner in STEM 360 initiative since 2016, coordinating classroom-community STEM experiences for middle-grade students in Virginia.
- High Desert MuseumcoreLead partner in Family-Centered STEAM in Rural Communities project, co-designing culturally sustaining, place-based STEAM programs with families in rural Oregon communities. ILI serves as research partner.
- Wild Center (NY)corePartner in Family-Centered STEAM in Rural Communities project, one of four informal learning sites developing multi-day family learning experiences.
- Caddo Mounds State Historic Site (TX)corePartner in Family-Centered STEAM in Rural Communities project, exploring culturally sustaining approaches to family learning.
- Oregon Coast AquariumcorePartner in Family-Centered STEAM in Rural Communities project, bringing marine science and coastal conservation to rural family learning.
- Reimagine ResearchsupportingResearch partner in Family-Centered STEAM in Rural Communities project, collaborating on culturally sustaining program evaluation.
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)corePartner in National Parks Science Challenge, developing mobile-supported learning experiences for science engagement in urban national parks.
- California Science CentercorePartner in Multi-Modal Science Effects Study (MISCES), examining contributions of science education delivery media on youth and adult science interest.
- Franklin InstitutecorePartner in Multi-Modal Science Effects Study (MISCES), collaborating on large-scale research examining science learning across delivery media.
- Arizona Science CentercorePartner in Multi-Modal Science Effects Study (MISCES), contributing to national research on science center effects and informal learning.
- Field Day Lab at University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreDevelopment partner for ThermoVR virtual reality thermodynamics laboratory and Expedition VRctica immersive polar science experiences.
- University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreAcademic partner for Wisconsin Polar Science VR project, researching embodied learning in immersive STEM experiences.
- Wisconsin Department of Public InstructionsupportingPartner in Wisconsin Polar Science VR project, supporting rural library programming and school connections.
- Pueblo Collab LLCcoreCommunity-centered consulting partner examining power dynamics and equitable partnerships in informal STEM learning.
- Texas Southern UniversitycoreLead institution for Equity, Innovation, and STEAM working conference, with ILI providing facilitation and documentation.
- The Innovation CollaborativecorePartner in equity-centered STEAM working conference, advancing research-practice connections in informal learning.
- Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC)coreExpert partner in NeuroInclusive Learning Network, providing autism expertise to help museums create inclusive learning environments.
- SciTech InstitutecorePartner in NeuroInclusive Learning Network, strengthening connections between research and informal STEM learning practice.
- Park Youth CollaborativesupportingCommunity partner in National Parks Science Challenge, working with urban teenagers on science engagement in national parks.
- Rock Creek Park ConservancysupportingPartner in science capital research with urban teenagers, exploring attitudes toward STEM and national parks.
- Bringing the Lessons Home Program (U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum)supportingPartner in National Parks Science Challenge, contributing to deliberative focus groups with urban youth on science participation.
- Computer History MuseumsupportingEngaged ILI for outcome definition workshops and logic model development to inform their evaluation strategy.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Institute for Learning Innovation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Education Development Center (EDC): Large nonprofit research and development organization focused on education, health, and workforce — a direct peer to ILI in delivering applied research, evaluation and professional learning services to schools and informal learning institutions. EDC is even a documented ILI partner on the rural libraries STEAM project.
- WestEd: Nonprofit education research and professional services organization that conducts evaluation, research and technical assistance for schools and informal learning settings — a directly comparable peer in size, mission and revenue model to ILI.
- TERC: Nonprofit math and science education research organization developing STEM learning programs and tools — closely comparable in mission, scale and grant-funded model to ILI's informal STEM learning focus.
- Knology: Nonprofit social-science research organization focused on evaluating informal STEM learning experiences for museums and science centers — a directly comparable peer in both size and specific informal-learning evaluation niche.
- Concord Evaluation Group: Independent evaluation consulting firm specializing in informal STEM learning and museum-based research — a directly comparable peer in mission, scale and client base to ILI.
Broad incumbents
- American Institutes for Research (AIR): Large nonprofit behavioral and social science research organization providing evaluation and technical assistance across education and workforce — a broader, much larger incumbent competing for the same federal and foundation grant pool as ILI.
- RAND Corporation: Large, well-established policy research organization with an education division conducting large-scale evaluation studies — competes with ILI for federal and foundation evaluation contracts at significantly greater scale.
Regional players
- Visitor Studies Association: Professional association for visitor studies researchers and evaluators working in museums, zoos and aquariums — directly comparable in audience (informal learning evaluators) and overlapping with ILI's Portal-to-the-Public / museum-evaluation focus.
- Oregon State University STEM Research Center: University-based research center focused on STEM learning — an academic peer with overlapping free-choice learning research interests (Lynn Dierking held a joint Sea Grant professorship at Oregon State).
Others
- Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC): Membership organization for science centers and museums that convenes the field and runs capacity-building programs — an ecosystem peer and potential partner/distributor for ILI's Portal to the Public and other frameworks.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Institute for Learning Innovation social profiles
Digital presenceInstitute for Learning Innovation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Institute for Learning Innovation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Institute for Learning Innovation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Institute for Learning Innovation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Institute for Learning Innovation
What does Institute for Learning Innovation do?
The Institute for Learning Innovation is a nonprofit research and evaluation organization that partners with museums, science centers, libraries, schools, and community organizations to study how, when, where, and why people learn over their lifetimes. It sells four core service lines — Research & Evaluation, Learning Programs & Experiences, Organizational Learning, and Partnership & Ecosystem Development — alongside named programs such as the Portal to the Public national network, STEM 360, Family-Centered STEAM in Rural Communities, and the NeuroInclusive Learning Network. Its deliverables are mixed-methods studies, evaluation reports, professional development, organizational capacity-building, and selected immersive VR learning tools (e.g., ThermoVR and Expedition VRctica) developed in collaboration with academic partners.
Is Institute for Learning Innovation a public or private company?
Institute for Learning Innovation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Institute for Learning Innovation founded?
Institute for Learning Innovation was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Institute for Learning Innovation based?
Institute for Learning Innovation is headquartered in Beaverton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Institute for Learning Innovation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Grants and Funding is the primary driver. The others are research and Evaluation Consulting and professional Learning Services.
Who are Institute for Learning Innovation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Education Development Center (EDC), WestEd, TERC, Knology and Concord Evaluation Group. Broad incumbents are American Institutes for Research (AIR) and RAND Corporation. Regional players are Visitor Studies Association and Oregon State University STEM Research Center. Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is listed as an others.
Does Institute for Learning Innovation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Institute for Learning Innovation.
What industry is Institute for Learning Innovation in?
Institute for Learning Innovation's product category is Educational Research and Evaluation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADADAK, EdTech & Digital Learning Policy Research, with a secondary code of EDAFACAD, Project- & Inquiry-Based Digital Learning Modules. Its NAICS code is 54172 and its SIC code is 8200.