What Future Problem Solving Program International does

Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI), founded in 1974 by Dr. E. Paul Torrance and headquartered in Indialantic, Florida (governed under Iowa nonprofit corporation law), is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit that develops K-12 problem-solving curricula and competitive programs. Each year approximately 30,000+ students across 34+ U.S. states and 14+ countries participate through a network of regional affiliates in four core competitive programs: Global Issues (competitive future-oriented problem solving on real-world topics), Community Projects (action-based service learning with structured evaluation), Creative Writing (futuristic scenario writing), and Storytelling (oral performance of futuristic narratives). An introductory World Solutions Challenge provides virtual access for ages 10-14, and the annual International Conference serves as the world finals competition.

The organization's core technology is its proprietary 6-step problem-solving method, complemented by the 5Cs of Learning framework (Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Contribution to society), rubric-based authentic assessments, and the FPS Online System digital platform for competition submissions. Programs are organized around annually rotating real-world topics spanning business, civics, science, society, and technology (e.g., Artificial Intelligence, Invasive Species, Health Security, Neurotechnology). The organization is led by Executive Director April Michele (since 2018) and holds Charity Navigator 4-Star and Guidestar Platinum transparency credentials.

FPSPI generates revenue through four streams: program registration and competition fees, e-commerce sales of curricular resources via FPSPI Mart (fpspimart.org), donations under its 501(c)(3) status (Tax ID 42-1234706), and International Conference fees. Distribution occurs through independent regional affiliates, the e-commerce store, classroom integration by teachers, and the annual conference. A 2024 Social Return on Investment analysis by Project Management Institute and Social Value International measured a $1:$33 social return on the Community Projects program, generating $4.9M in social value in 2024.

Name

Future Problem Solving Program International

Legal name

Future Problem Solving Program International, Inc.

Website

https://fpspi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Future Problem Solving Program International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that delivers K-12 problem-solving curricula and competitions (Global Issues, Community Projects, Creative Writing, Storytelling) to 30,000+ students annually across 34+ U.S. states and 14+ countries through a regional affiliate network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Competitions

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM Project-Based Learning (PBL) & Challenge Platforms (EDAFANAI)

Keywords

• K-12 problem solving competitions
• Educational curriculum programs
• Creative thinking curriculum
• Student leadership programs
• Gifted education enrichment

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Program Registration and Competition Fees: Students and teams pay registration fees to participate in various FPS programs including Global Issues, Community Projects, Creative Writing, and Storytelling competitions. Fees are collected through the FPSPI Mart e-commerce platform.
2. E-commerce Store (FPSPI Mart): Sale of curricular resources, topic units, evaluation tools, and educational materials. Products include season topic units, learner-focused feedback tools, and guides for various programs.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, FPSPI accepts donations to support operations and expand program reach. Tax ID: 42-1234706.
4. International Conference Revenue: Revenue from annual International Conference including registration fees for participants, evaluators, and attendees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) is a nonprofit educational organization that develops and delivers competitive problem-solving programs for K-12 students. Its core offerings include four competitive programs — Global Issues, Community Projects, Creative Writing, and Storytelling — built on a proprietary 6-step problem-solving methodology, along with an introductory World Solutions Challenge and an annual International Conference serving as world finals. The organization also sells supporting curricular resources, topic units, and evaluation tools through its FPSPI Mart e-commerce store.

Product overview

Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) is a nonprofit educational organization offering a portfolio of competitive and curricular programs for K-12 students. The core programs include Global Issues (competitive problem-solving on real-world topics), Community Projects (action-based service learning), Creative Writing (futuristic scenario writing), and Storytelling (oral performance of futuristic narratives). An introductory World Solutions Challenge provides virtual access for younger students ages 10-14. The organization runs an annual International Conference as world finals competition. Programs are structured around annual competition topics (such as Digital Dark Age, Health Security, Influencer Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, and dozens of others) spanning STEM, business/economics, and civics/society domains. Curricular products include Topic Units (seasonal resource bundles), Learner-Focused Feedback Tools, Project Management Implementation Guide, and various topic-specific fact sheets and research materials. The organization also offers scholarships and adult service awards to recognize outstanding achievement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Global Issues Problem Solving Competitive program in which student teams research real-world topics, develop future scenarios, and propose action plans using FPSPI's proprietary 6-step method; targeted at K-12 students who qualify through affiliate-level competitions toward the International Conference world finals.
• Community Projects Service-learning competition in which student teams identify community issues and implement structured projects with measurable impact, evaluated against authentic rubrics; designed for K-12 students with documented $1:$33 Social Return on Investment.
• Creative Writing Individual competition where students write a creative, futuristic short story based on an annual topic; designed to develop creative thinking and writing skills in K-12 students.
• Storytelling Individual oral performance competition in which students invent a futuristic scenario and deliver it in storytelling format; designed to develop communication and presentation skills in K-12 students.
• World Solutions Challenge Virtual introductory competition that introduces K-12 students ages 10-14 to the FPS problem-solving methodology through two divisions, with registration handled via the FPSPI Mart.
• International Conference Annual world finals competition where top-performing students from affiliates worldwide compete, complemented by professional development for educators and alumni networking opportunities.
• Season Topic Units Seasonal educational resource bundles sold through the FPSPI Mart, containing curricular materials, research units, and learner-focused feedback tools for each year's competition topics; for coaches, educators, and affiliate directors.
• Learner-Focused Feedback Tools Rubric-based assessment tools sold via FPSPI Mart that provide learner-focused feedback for evaluating student performance in Global Issues competitions; intended for coaches, evaluators, and affiliate directors.
• Community Projects Proposal Resources Step-by-step guides and templates sold via FPSPI Mart that help students and coaches develop Community Projects proposals, beginning with identifying areas of concern.
• Guide to Project Management Implementation Free downloadable guide containing project management tools and templates — including project charter, RACI chart, risk assessment, team canvas, work breakdown structure, and Kanban board — to support Community Projects activities; developed with a grant from PMI Educational Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students participating in FPS perform significantly higher on Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) in both Mathematics and Reading compared to non-participants (2016 Five Year Study)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Project Management Institute (PMI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024PMI conducted a pro bono Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis of FPS Community Projects program as part of PMI's social impact initiatives. The analysis, primary research, value map and full SROI report was led by PMI. The partnership resulted in findings showing a $1:$33 SROI ratio and $4.9 million social value generated in 2024.
• Social Value InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Technical oversight for the SROI analysis of FPS Community Projects program. Ensured alignment to International Principles of Social Value and conducted analysis in accordance with the Social Return on Investment framework published by the Cabinet Office of the UK Government.
• Project Management Institute Educational FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant from PMI Educational Foundation made possible the development of the free Guide to Project Management Implementation for student community problem solving and service-learning. This guide supports Community Project program activities with tools including project charter, RACI chart, risk assessment, team canvas, work breakdown structure, and Kanban board.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• MATHCOUNTS Foundation: U.S.-focused nonprofit running math competitions and enrichment programs for middle school students; comparable nonprofit K-12 competition model but narrower STEM math scope than FPSPI's interdisciplinary topics.
• Model UN / UNA-USA: Student simulation programs and competitions focused on global issues, diplomacy, and civics — overlapping with FPSPI's Global Issues topics and futures thinking mandate.
• National History Day: U.S. nonprofit running project-based historical research competitions for K-12 students; comparable nonprofit competition and annual theme model, though narrower topic scope.

Broad incumbents

• Khan Academy: Large nonprofit providing free K-12 educational content across STEM and humanities; comparable nonprofit educational mission and reach, but is a self-paced learning platform rather than a competition-based program.
• FIRST: Established nonprofit operating large-scale K-12 STEM robotics and innovation competitions (FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Robotics Competition) — broader scale and budget than FPSPI but a comparable category operating model in student competitions.
• Code.org: Large nonprofit focused on K-12 computer science education; competes with FPSPI for educator mindshare and grant funding around future-of-work skills, though narrower in subject matter.

Direct peers

• Odyssey of the Mind: Long-running international K-12 problem-solving and creative competition program with team-based challenges and spontaneous problem-solving components — directly comparable to FPSPI's Global Issues and Community Projects competitions in mission, format, and participant age.
• Destination Imagination: Nonprofit running team-based project and instant challenge competitions for K-12 students worldwide, addressing STEM, fine arts, service learning, and early learning — overlapping head-to-head with FPSPI's competition portfolio.

Emerging players

• World Scholar's Cup: Global academic competition for students ages 10-18 across multiple disciplines; comparable international K-12 competition tour and thematic content structure, though oriented to general academics rather than problem-solving method.
• DECA: Career and technical student organization running competitive events for middle and high school students; while focused on business/marketing rather than problem-solving, it competes for the same K-12 competition program hours and educator attention.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FPSPI
• Facebookfacebook.com/fpspi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Future Problem Solving Program International