Salvadori Center

What Salvadori Center does

Salvadori Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987 and headquartered at 475 Riverside Drive in New York City, delivering hands-on, project-based STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education to PreK-12 students. The organization's distinguishing methodology uses the built environment — buildings, bridges, parks, and communities — as the teaching medium, with grade-specific curricula aligned to Common Core Math and Next Generation Science standards. Core programs include in-school residencies (Salvadori In-Depth, Starter, Foundations, Condensed), after-school programs, the STEAM Innovators pilot for NYCHA youth, professional learning for educators, family engagement, career days, and field trips. In 2023-2024, the organization served 12,396 students; over the trailing five years it has reached 39,671 students across 439 school sites, 1,393 classrooms, and 1,647 teachers, accumulating 454,521 impact hours.

The organization distributes programs through direct engagement with schools across all five NYC boroughs and Northeastern Pennsylvania (Luzerne and Lackawanna counties), supplemented by a small e-commerce store selling books, teaching bundles, and hands-on kits priced from $13 to $250. The flagship consumer product is the Salvadori In a Box Kit ($250), which packages eight hands-on STEAM lessons drawn from the Bridges and Skyscrapers curricula. The Annual Student Design Charrette brings together students, architects, and engineers for a citywide design challenge.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix: individual and corporate donations (with 79 cents of every dollar going directly to programming), three-tier corporate partnerships ($5,000-$15,000 annual sponsorships), foundation grants (Hearst, Pinkerton, Laura B. Vogler, Con Edison), public agency contracts (NYC DYCD, NYS Council on the Arts), and modest product sales. The 2026 Annual Benefit raised over $675,000 from 100+ sponsors and partners, primarily from the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, including Jack Resnick & Sons, Skanska, Halmar, Turner Construction, and Brookfield Properties. The organization holds a Charity Navigator 4-Star rating and a Candid Gold Seal of Transparency.

Name

Salvadori Center

Legal name

Salvadori Center

Website

https://salvadori.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Salvadori Center is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that delivers hands-on, project-based STEAM education to PreK-12 students in under-resourced schools across NYC and Northeastern Pennsylvania, using the built environment as the primary teaching medium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 STEAM Education Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM)

Keywords

• STEAM education programs
• K-12 supplemental learning
• Project-based learning
• Built environment education
• Nonprofit youth education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual and corporate donations form the primary revenue stream, with 79 cents of every dollar donated going directly to programming.
2. Corporate Partnership Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor programs at tiered levels ($5,000-$15,000) with volunteer engagements, benefit tickets, and marketing recognition.
3. Product Sales (Store): Sale of educational materials including books, teaching bundles, and hands-on kits ($13-$250 price range).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Salvadori Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides project-based STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) education to PreK-12 students, using the built environment (buildings, bridges, parks, and infrastructure) as the instructional lens. Its programs are delivered through in-school residencies, after-school programming, and Summer STEAM camps across New York City and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Product overview

Salvadori Center is a nonprofit educational organization that provides hands-on, project-based STEAM education programs for Pre-K-12 students. The organization operates as a single unified offering with two main components: educational programs (including Salvadori In-Depth, Salvadori Starter, Salvadori After-School, STEAM Innovators, Professional Learning, Field Trips, Family Engagement, Career Days, and Foundations) and educational products/materials (books and kits sold through their store including Why Buildings Stand Up, Why Buildings Fall Down, Salvadori In a Box Kit, Teaching Bundles, and individual curriculum materials). Programs use the built environment—buildings, bridges, parks, and communities—to demonstrate how math, science, and architecture are part of everyday life. The organization also hosts an annual Student Design Charrette competition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STEAM Innovators: A pilot program supporting design justice for youth in NYCHA and NYC schools, connecting younger residents with STEAM skills and resources.
• Salvadori In a Box Kit

Products and services

• In-School STEAM Residencies Project-based STEAM programs delivered directly inside partner K-12 schools in NYC and Northeastern Pennsylvania, using the built environment as the teaching context for math, science, engineering, arts, and technology. Designed for schools seeking supplemental, hands-on enrichment.
• After-School STEAM Programs After-school enrichment programming that extends the built-environment STEAM curriculum beyond the regular school day for partner schools and community sites serving PreK-12 students.
• Summer STEAM Programs Summer intensive STEAM programming for PreK-12 students, delivered as a direct-to-family enrichment option complementing the center's school-year residencies and after-school offerings.
• Annual Benefit Fundraiser Annual fundraising event convening donors, sponsors, and supporters to generate philanthropic revenue for the center's STEAM education programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% improvement in students' comprehension of STEAM concepts
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Brookfield PropertiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBrookfield partners with Salvadori to expand positive impact with students in their communities. They engage employees with meaningful volunteer work and connect their development projects to potential careers for young people through Salvadori programs.
• Turner ConstructioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTurner supports Salvadori Center's after-school programming and engages employees directly with the community. They view Salvadori as a dedicated partner for bringing their mission of investing in the next generation of engineers, architects, and builders to life.
• Corporate Partners (STEAM Impact, Innovation, Engagement tiers)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partners at $5,000-$15,000 annual levels receive volunteer engagement opportunities, benefit tickets, and marketing recognition. Partners include architecture, engineering, and construction firms providing hands-on volunteering with students.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Maker Ed: Nonprofit that supports maker-centered STEAM learning in K-12 schools, including professional development and curriculum resources. Comparable as a K-12 STEAM nonprofit with PD offerings, though more curator/network than direct program provider.
• Project Lead the Way: Large national provider of STEM curricula for K-12, including engineering pathways, with deep school district penetration. Comparable as a K-12 STEAM curriculum provider though much broader in scope and based on paid district licensing rather than direct program delivery.

Direct peers

• ExpandED Schools (formerly TASC): NYC-based nonprofit that builds after-school and summer learning programs in partnership with public schools and corporate funders. Directly comparable in NYC geography, K-12 public school focus, and blend of public + private funding sources.
• Iridescent: STEAM education nonprofit that engages engineers and scientists as role models for under-served youth through family STEM engagement and curriculum programs. Comparable in the underserved-youth STEAM mission and reliance on technical professional volunteers.
• Science from Scientists: Nonprofit that sends real scientists into K-12 classrooms for in-school STEM modules, targeting under-resourced schools. Closely mirrors Salvadori's in-school residency model, professional-volunteer delivery, and focus on under-resourced student segments.
• Citizen Schools: National nonprofit that provides extended-day, project-based learning in under-resourced middle schools, partnering with corporate volunteers and using real-world practitioners in much the same way Salvadori uses AEC professionals. Highly comparable operating model, target student population and corporate-volunteer funding structure.

Emerging players

• Engineering for Kids: Franchise-based provider of K-12 STEM/STEAM enrichment programs (after-school, camps, in-school) with hands-on engineering themes. Comparable in K-12 STEAM enrichment delivery but operates on a paid-tuition franchise model versus Salvadori's nonprofit model.
• BEAM (Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics): Nonprofit running math/STEM enrichment programs for under-resourced NYC students, including after-school and summer pathways. Comparable in NYC geography, under-resourced K-12 student focus, and tuition-free nonprofit program model.
• FIRST Robotics / NYC FIRST: NYC chapter of a large youth robotics/STEAM organization that runs in-school and after-school robotics programs with corporate sponsors. Comparable in NYC geographic focus and corporate-sponsor-funded STEAM enrichment delivery, though narrower on robotics.

Regional players

• New York Hall of Science: NYC-based science education institution that runs in-school and after-school STEM programs for underserved NYC students. Comparable in NYC geography and K-8 STEAM enrichment for under-resourced communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thesalvadoricenter

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 Salvadori Center