What The Pogil Project does

The POGIL Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, that develops and disseminates Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL), a student-centered pedagogy in which students work in self-managed teams with the instructor acting as facilitator. The pedagogical framework rests on a learning cycle paradigm (exploration, concept invention, application) combined with explicit development of process skills such as communication, critical thinking, and metacognition. The organization was founded by a small group of chemistry professors and has expanded to serve high school, middle school, and post-secondary STEM educators across disciplines including chemistry, biology, mathematics, physics, computer science, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, and environmental science. It reports having trained more than 14,000 teachers and reached more than 250,000 students. Core products include the POGIL methodology itself, a portfolio of activity collections distributed through publishing partners Kendall Hunt and Flinn Scientific, an online Activity Clearinghouse (PAC), and a growing suite of practitioner tools branded as POGIL OPTIC, POGIL PCL, POGIL Networks, and ELIPSS.

The POGIL Project's business model is a hybrid of fee-for-service professional development, content licensing, and philanthropic funding. Revenue streams include workshop registration fees (virtual Fundamentals of POGIL at $157-$177, virtual Classroom Facilitation and Activity Writing at $285-$350, in-person 3-day workshops at $600-$650, Writers' Retreats at $975, and the POGIL Practitioner Collaborative at $197), curricular materials sales through publishers, donations and grants from federal and foundation sources (National Science Foundation, Department of Education, Hach Scientific Foundation, Google Education, Toyota USA Foundation), branded merchandise, and membership accounts managed via Wild Apricot. Approximately one-third of the operating budget is supported through philanthropy, with an annual operating budget of approximately $400,000 and a national office staff of roughly 30 supported by an extensive volunteer community. The go-to-market motion combines event-driven practitioner training, community-led advocacy through regional networks and biennial conferences (NCAPP), and channel partnerships with educational publishers.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and a Steering Committee, with leadership including Executive Director Richard S. Moog (a co-founder affiliated with Franklin & Marshall College) and Associate Director Marcy Dubroff. Operating programs include an annual POGIL National Meeting (PNM), biennial NCAPP conferences, ongoing virtual workshops, the eSeries professional development program, and grant programs such as SPUR+ and the PEACH, IMPACT, and Frank Creegan awards. The trademark "POGIL" is federally registered and actively enforced to protect the integrity of the methodology in third-party materials.

Name

The Pogil Project

Legal name

The POGIL Project

Website

https://pogil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The POGIL Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and disseminates Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) pedagogy, serving K-12 and post-secondary STEM educators through workshops, activity collections, publications, and a national practitioner community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Professional Development and Curricular Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Project-Based/Inquiry-Based Learning (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAN), Interactive Practice & Skill-Building (Drills, Games, Mastery Practice) (EDAFACAC)

Keywords

• Student-centered pedagogy
• Guided inquiry learning
• STEM teaching workshops
• Active learning curriculum
• Teacher professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Development Workshops: Revenue from registration fees for in-person and virtual workshops including Fundamentals of POGIL, 3-day workshops, Classroom Facilitation, Activity Writing, Writers' Retreats, NCAPP, PNM, and POGIL Practitioner Collaborative events.
2. Curricular Materials Sales: Sale of POGIL activity collections, textbooks, and classroom materials through publishing partners Kendall Hunt and Flinn Scientific. Facilitator guides and solution manuals sold to verified instructors through publishers.
3. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Major funders include National Science Foundation, Department of Education, Hach Scientific Foundation, Google Education, Toyota USA Foundation. EIN# 27-3451654.
4. Merchandise Store: POGIL branded merchandise including apparel, water bottles, bags, and bandanas sold through the POGIL Store.
5. Membership Account Services: User account system (Wild Apricot) for workshop registration, newsletter delivery, and member communications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The POGIL Project develops and disseminates Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL), a student-centered, group-learning instructional pedagogy that uses specially designed classroom activities following a learning-cycle paradigm. It delivers the pedagogy through professional development workshops, a POGIL Activity Clearinghouse, activity collections published via Kendall Hunt and Flinn Scientific, and conferences such as NCAPP and PNM. The organization sells merchandise and accepts donations to support its nonprofit mission of training K-12 and post-secondary STEM educators.

Product overview

The POGIL Project offers a comprehensive educational platform centered on its core teaching pedagogy: Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL). The portfolio consists of the POGIL pedagogy itself as the foundational product, supplemented by extensive Activity Collections across multiple disciplines (Anatomy & Physiology, Art, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental & Earth Science, Math, Computer Science, and General POGIL). Professional development is delivered through various workshop formats including Fundamentals of POGIL, 3-Day Workshops, Activity Writing Workshops, Classroom Facilitation Workshops, and Writers' Retreats. The community engages through NCAPP (National Conference to Advance POGIL Practice), PNM (POGIL National Meeting), and the POGIL Practitioner Collaborative. Supporting resources include the POGIL Activity Clearinghouse (PAC), TAPAS showcase, POGIL Tools, and grant programs (SPUR+, PEACH Award, IMPACT Award, Frank Creegan Award). The General POGIL Book serves as foundational documentation for the approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• POGIL OPTIC: One of The POGIL Project's initiatives and tools designed to help educators enhance their practice of the POGIL pedagogy.
• POGIL PCL
• POGIL Networks
• POGIL PAC
• ELIPSS
• TAPAS
• SPUR+ Grant Program
• PEACH Award
• IMPACT Award
• Frank Creegan Award

Products and services

• POGIL Pedagogy (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) Student-centered, group-learning instructional strategy and philosophy developed through research on how students learn best. Students work in self-managed teams with the instructor acting as a facilitator, using activities that follow a learning-cycle paradigm (exploration, concept invention, application).
• POGIL Activity Collections Classroom and laboratory activity collections for secondary and post-secondary levels across disciplines including Anatomy & Physiology, Art, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental & Earth Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, and High School/Middle School. Distributed through publishing partners Kendall Hunt and Flinn Scientific.
• Fundamentals of POGIL Workshop Introductory workshop for those with limited or no previous exposure to POGIL pedagogy, covering essential elements, completing POGIL activities, and exploring the Learning Cycle. Virtual format at $157 early bird / $177 regular registration.
• 3-Day In-Person Workshop Multi-track workshop for new and experienced POGIL practitioners with tracks for Activity Writing, Classroom Facilitation, and Lab activities. In-person at $600 early bird / $650 regular registration, including materials, lunches, and dinner.
• Activity Writing Virtual Workshop Four-day virtual curriculum development workshop teaching how to structure activities using the Learning Cycle, weave process skills into questions, and develop clear, robust models. $285 early bird / $350 regular registration.
• Classroom Facilitation Virtual Workshop Four-day virtual workshop providing tools and confidence to run POGIL activities, maximize content understanding, and develop 21st century skills. $285 early bird / $350 regular registration.
• Writers' Retreat Four-day in-person workshop providing focused time for developing, writing, and improving POGIL activities with mentorship from experienced POGIL author coaches. $975 registration including materials, meals, and on-campus housing.
• POGIL Practitioner Collaborative Virtual offering designed to connect educators globally, deepen understanding of POGIL practices, and spark fresh ideas for the classroom. Main conference $197 with optional $20 workshop add-on.
• NCAPP (National Conference to Advance POGIL Practice) Biennial national conference for POGIL practitioners to share ideas, challenges, and successes using POGIL in their classrooms. Application-based attendance with poster sessions, workshops, and networking.
• PNM (POGIL National Meeting) Annual working meeting for active POGIL community members to participate in tasks further the mission of The POGIL Project and achieve strategic plan goals. Includes plenary sessions, parallel sessions, and poster sessions.
• POGIL Activity Clearinghouse (PAC) Online repository of student-centered instructional activities at various stages of development, facilitating collaboration, peer review, and classroom testing. Requires PAC training completion and login credentials.
• General POGIL Book Comprehensive introduction to POGIL pedagogy covering theoretical foundations, implementation strategies, and examples across STEM and non-STEM disciplines.
• POGIL Store (Branded Merchandise) E-commerce storefront selling POGIL branded merchandise including apparel, water bottles, bags, and bandanas. Operates through the event management platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lower student attrition compared to traditional lecture methods
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Franklin & Marshall CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for POGIL National Office and 3-day summer workshops. Home of Executive Director Richard S. Moog. Founding partner institution for POGIL methodology.
• Kendall Hunt PublishingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary publishing partner for POGIL activity collections. Distributes curricular materials to verified instructors. Provides instructor guides upon request. Reduced student pricing available through Transformation Awards.
• Flinn ScientificcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScientific supply company and publishing partner for POGIL laboratory activities. NCAPP Scholarship Partner. Includes instructor guides with purchase.
• Washington University in St. LouismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for NCAPP 2027 conference. Provides venue and support for biennial national conference.
• The Pullias Center, University of Southern CaliforniamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center that identified The POGIL Project as a 'Community of Transformation' in 2015 study - organizations that improve member practices and achieve systemic change.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PhET Interactive Simulations (University of Colorado Boulder): Free, research-backed interactive STEM simulations widely adopted in K-12 and post-secondary classrooms. Comparable to POGIL as a STEM active-learning resource with strong evidence base, broad teacher community, and free/open distribution model.
• HHMI BioInteractive: Provides free, peer-reviewed STEM multimedia, classroom activities, and educator PD with a strong emphasis on active learning and data-driven instruction. Comparable to POGIL as a STEM curriculum + teacher PD provider with a research-backed, classroom-tested content library.
• Concord Consortium: Nonprofit R&D organization developing innovative STEM learning technologies and curricula with a focus on inquiry-based, technology-rich instruction. Comparable to POGIL in nonprofit education R&D focus and inquiry-based pedagogy.
• American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT): AACS-affiliated community providing professional development, curricular resources, and workshops for K-12 and post-secondary chemistry teachers. Highly comparable to POGIL in target audience (chemistry educators), nonprofit membership model, and workshop + publication revenue mix.
• BSCS (Biological Sciences Curriculum Study): Nonprofit that develops inquiry-based STEM curriculum and delivers professional development programs to teachers. Directly comparable to POGIL in mission (improving STEM teaching through research-based pedagogy), nonprofit structure, and curriculum-plus-PD delivery model.
• Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College: Provides teaching resources, workshops, and community support for STEM faculty across disciplines, with strong emphasis on evidence-based pedagogy. Comparable to POGIL in serving STEM educators, hosting workshops, and curating classroom-tested instructional materials.

Broad incumbents

• National Science Teaching Association (NSTA): Largest U.S. professional organization for science educators, offering conferences, journals, and PD across all STEM disciplines. Comparable to POGIL as a STEM teacher PD and curriculum organization but with a much broader, multi-discipline scope and significantly larger scale.
• ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development): Established education leadership organization providing professional development, books, and conferences for educators and administrators. Comparable to POGIL as an educator PD and curriculum organization but with broader K-12 focus and much larger scale/membership base.

Emerging players

• OpenStax (Rice University): Provides free, peer-reviewed textbooks and instructional resources adopted widely by colleges and increasingly by high schools. Comparable to POGIL as a low-cost, classroom-tested STEM curriculum publisher targeting the same educator buyer, though broader in subject matter and digital-first.
• Teaching Channel: Video-based professional development platform for K-12 educators featuring model classroom footage and PD courses. Comparable to POGIL in targeting teacher professional development but differentiated by video-first, digital delivery and broader subject coverage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pogil.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/thepogilproject/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-pogil-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Pogil Project