Public Archaeology Corps

What Public Archaeology Corps does

Public Archaeology Corps (PAC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2013 and headquartered in Rocky Point, North Carolina, that runs volunteer-based archaeological excavation, education, and outreach programs focused exclusively on privately owned sites in southeastern North Carolina. Its mission addresses a structural gap: archaeological sites on public land are protected by state and federal law, but sites on private land have no legal protection and are routinely lost to development, and PAC negotiates access with property owners to recover and document artifacts before redevelopment. The organization operates a single primary dig site at the Quince Alley location in downtown Wilmington (10 South Front Street), open to volunteers on Saturdays, with excavation work ongoing since 2019 and artifact analysis conducted in an on-site laboratory under the supervision of credentialed professionals.

PAC's product surface is organized around a threefold approach of public education, public outreach, and volunteerism. Core offerings include hands-on excavation experiences, youth and school engagement programs (including student volunteer-hour programs), public outreach at local festivals and farmers' markets, laboratory artifact processing and analysis (documented on an 'Our Finds' content page), and a branded merchandise storefront hosted on Threadless. The organization is led by Executive Director Jon Schleier and Board Chair Keith Keeney, with Laboratory Director Patrick H. Garrow (RPA) and Assistant Historian David A. Norris anchoring the technical staff, supported by professional archaeologists, a senior geologist, retired academics, and a broad volunteer base.

The business model is a non-dues-plus-grant hybrid. Revenue streams include annual memberships ($65 individual / $25 student, processed via GiveButter with both auto-renew and one-year options), tax-deductible donations of any amount through GiveButter, occasional foundation grants such as the 2025 Terracon Foundation award for the laboratory, and merchandise sales. Customer segments are exclusively personas rather than enterprise accounts: general-public volunteers, youth and students, and private property owners who grant excavation access. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on local events, school visits, social/video content, and word-of-mouth.

Name

Public Archaeology Corps

Legal name

Public Archaeology Corps

Website

https://publicarchaeologycorps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Public Archaeology Corps is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that recruits and trains volunteers to excavate, document, and study endangered archaeological sites on private land in southeastern North Carolina under professional supervision.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Archaeological Heritage Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (712120)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage, Arts & Archaeology Service Programs (EDAIAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)

Keywords

• Volunteer archaeology
• Archaeological excavation
• Heritage preservation
• Public archaeology education
• Artifact analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Rocky Point

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to volunteer programs and organization benefits. Individual membership is $65/year with both automatic renewal and one-year-only options. Student membership is $25/year.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted at any amount through GiveButter platform. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all donations are charitable contributions.
3. Grant Funding: External grants from foundations such as the Terracon Foundation that support specific programs like the archaeology laboratory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Public Archaeology Corps runs a community-led volunteer archaeological excavation program at privately owned sites in southeastern North Carolina, primarily at the Quince Alley site in downtown Wilmington, where untrained volunteers excavate under the supervision of professional archaeologists. The organization supplements excavation with public education (school and youth programs), public outreach (festivals, speakers, active-dig interactions), and lab-based artifact analysis and historical documentation. Programs are sustained through individual and student memberships ($65/$25 annual), tax-deductible donations, and grant funding.

Product overview

Public Archaeology Corps is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operating a volunteer-based archaeological excavation and education program in southeastern North Carolina. The organization offers a single integrated program focused on protecting archaeological sites on privately owned land through a threefold approach: public education, public outreach, and volunteerism. Core offerings include hands-on archaeological excavation experiences at their Quince Alley dig site in downtown Wilmington, educational programs for youth and schools, public outreach at community events, and laboratory artifact analysis and research. The organization also operates a merchandise store (Threadless), membership program ($65 annual standard, $25 student), and accepts donations through Givebutter. PAC's work focuses on recovering and studying artifacts before sites are lost to development, with a primary dig site at 10 South Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28412.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Archaeological Excavation Volunteer Program Hands-on volunteer excavation experiences at the Quince Alley dig site (10 South Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28412), where community volunteers work under professional archaeologists to uncover, screen, wash, and document artifacts. Site is open Saturdays 9:30 am – 3:30 pm; no experience required, training provided.
• Public Education Programs Direct engagement with local youth of all ages teaching archaeology through age-appropriate content and hands-on activities, including site/lab visits for schools, clubs, and middle and high school students earning volunteer service hours.
• Public Outreach Events Information dissemination at local events (festivals, farmer's markets), speaking engagements, and active archaeology events where members of the public can interact with archaeologists during an ongoing excavation.
• Lab Artifact Analysis Laboratory processing and analysis of excavated artifacts including cleaning, documentation, and historical research by the PAC team (e.g., David A. Norris) to provide historical context for findings displayed on the 'Our Finds' page.
• Annual Membership Program Annual paid membership options for supporters: standard membership at $65/year (with automatic renewal or one-year-only options) and student membership at $25/year, providing access to volunteer activities, Members' Night events, and other member benefits.
• PAC Merchandise Store Online store selling branded PAC apparel and items via Threadless to generate supplementary revenue in support of the organization's mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Preservation of archaeological sites on private land that would otherwise be lost to development

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• 501st Wish Force NC / Make-A-WishminorGTM or Marketing Partner501st Wish Force NC supported PAC at the Azalea Festival dig site, bringing Star Wars costumed characters to engage with visitors. Make-A-Wish referrals support the partnership.
• Bellamy Mansion MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJen Fenninger, Director of Education & Engagement at Bellamy Mansion Museum, served as guest speaker at PAC's Members' Night 2024 event, indicating a collaborative relationship between local historical/cultural institutions.
• Miss North Carolina USAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMiss North Carolina USA Kenzie Hansley visited the PAC dig site during Azalea Festival 2025, demonstrating interest in archaeology and community engagement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: A large national nonprofit focused on historic preservation across the United States. Comparable mission in heritage preservation, but operates as a broad national advocacy and grant-making organization rather than a single-site volunteer dig.

Direct peers

• Center for American Archaeology: A nonprofit in Kampsville, Illinois focused on public archaeology education, volunteer excavation programs, and field schools. Operates a comparable volunteer-driven excavation and education program with a similar nonprofit, education-first mission.
• DigVentures: A UK-based social enterprise that runs crowd-funded public archaeology excavations where volunteers participate in real digs under professional supervision. Directly comparable model combining public engagement, crowdfunding, and professional archaeological supervision.
• Crow Canyon Archaeological Center: A nonprofit archaeological research and education center in Cortez, Colorado that offers volunteer excavation programs, public archaeology experiences, and educational programming for youth and adults. Closely comparable as a nonprofit running volunteer-led digs with educational programming.
• Archaeology in the Community: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Phoenix, Arizona that runs volunteer-driven public archaeology programs, school outreach, and hands-on excavation experiences for the general public. Directly comparable in mission, volunteer-based operating model, and education/outreach focus.
• Passport in Time: A US Forest Service volunteer archaeology and historic preservation program that places volunteers on real archaeological projects nationwide. Comparable in using untrained volunteers under professional supervision, though federally administered and broader geographically.

Regional players

• SEARCH (Southeastern Archaeological Research, Inc.): A regional cultural resources management firm operating across the Southeastern US that performs archaeological surveys, excavations, and preservation work. Comparable as a regional Southeastern archaeology organization, though operating commercially rather than as a volunteer-based nonprofit.
• Cape Fear Museum: The local history museum serving the Wilmington and Cape Fear region of North Carolina. Comparable as a regional cultural/heritage institution in PAC's exact service area, with overlapping audiences interested in local history and education.

Others

• Archaeological Institute of America: The largest archaeological professional society in North America, supporting archaeological research, education, and heritage advocacy. Adjacent rather than directly comparable—an ecosystem participant that supports and credentialing standards for the field in which PAC operates.

Emerging players

• Bellamy Mansion Museum: A Wilmington, NC historic house museum and education center that has partnered with PAC (Jen Fenninger spoke at Members' Night 2024). Comparable as a regional heritage/cultural institution focused on historic preservation and public education in PAC's geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PublicArchaeologyCorps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/public-archaeology-corps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Public Archaeology Corps