AIMS Education Foundation

What AIMS Education Foundation does

AIMS Education Foundation is a California-registered non-profit organization founded in 1985, operating from a single facility at 1595 S. Chestnut Avenue, Fresno, CA. It is also known as the AIMS Center for Math and Science Education. The organization delivers STEAM education through maker-centered learning, focusing on three primary audiences: K-12 educators seeking NGSS-aligned professional development, families and youth engaging in hands-on making, and university students pursuing STEM or teacher-credentialing degrees at Fresno Pacific University (FPU). Core offerings include the Maker Studio (a physical fabrication space with 3D printers, laser cutters, micro:bit and Circuit Playground microcontrollers, Cricut Maker 4, and textile/embroidery tools), the free Design, Craft, and Code educator workshop series, free family Playshops, the Richard Thiessen Conference Center (a 30-seat Zoom-equipped meeting venue), a multi-program scholarship pipeline administered with FPU and the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC), and a Research Fellowship program for doctoral students in STEAM education.

The organization's underlying technology is a constructionist/maker-centered learning approach combined with digital fabrication and physical computing tools, rather than a software platform. Business model mechanics consist of grants, donations, and program fees: fall educator workshops are free (with paid CEUs through FPU), scholarships are awarded rather than sold, and ancillary revenue is generated through meeting space rentals and an ecommerce store (store.aimsedu.org) on the Mi9 Retail platform with PayPal and PAYA payment processing, alongside Get Response and MailChimp email distribution. GTM is event-driven and community-led, leveraging the physical Maker Studio, Eventbrite registrations, the aimscenter.org website, and email newsletter to attract educators and families primarily in California's Central Valley. Since 2015, AIMS has awarded over $1 million in scholarships to more than 220 students through its FPU partnership, and the 40th anniversary branding indicates sustained but regionally concentrated operations.

Name

AIMS Education Foundation

Legal name

AIMS Education Foundation

Website

https://aimsedu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

AIMS Education Foundation is a Fresno, CA-based non-profit (founded 1985) that delivers STEAM education through maker-centered workshops, a physical Maker Studio, family playshops, scholarships, and a doctoral research fellowship, primarily serving K-12 educators, families, and university students in California's Central Valley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEAM Education and Maker-Centered Learning Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education & Instructional Practice Professional Development (EDAGANAL)

Keywords

• STEAM education
• Maker-centered learning
• Educator professional development
• K-12 STEM workshops
• Maker space programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fresno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Non-profit Operations: As a non-profit registered in California, AIMS Education Foundation operates through a combination of grants, donations, and program fees. They maintain an ecommerce store (store.aimsedu.org) powered by Mi9 Retail for product sales.
2. Workshop and Event Fees: Fall educator workshops are free to attend; continuing education units available through Fresno Pacific University. Meeting space rentals available for external groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AIMS Education Foundation delivers maker-centered STEAM education to K-12 educators, families, and youth through professional learning workshops, free family playshops, and a hands-on Maker Studio equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, microcontrollers, and textile/fabrication tools. The organization also administers multiple scholarship programs for STEM-credentialing students at Fresno Pacific University and offers doctoral research fellowships in STEAM education. A multi-camera Zoom-enabled conference center is available for meeting rentals, and a small ecommerce store sells related educational products.

Product overview

AIMS Education Foundation operates as a nonprofit educational organization offering maker-centered STEAM learning experiences. The portfolio includes the Maker Studio (a hands-on creative space with digital fabrication and physical computing equipment), professional development workshops for educators (Design, Craft, and Code series), free family Playshops, and the Richard Thiessen Conference Center for meeting reservations. The organization also provides scholarship programs for students pursuing STEM education degrees at Fresno Pacific University, a Research Fellowship for doctoral students, and internship opportunities. These offerings are unified by a constructionist approach to learning through making and design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AIMS Center for Math and Science Education The central organization providing STEAM education through maker-centered learning, professional development for educators, and community engagement programs; acts as the umbrella brand for all AIMS programs.
• Maker Studio A hands-on creative environment where learners explore STEAM concepts through making with tools including 3D printers, laser cutters (Universal PLS6.150D), microcontrollers (micro:bit, Adafruit Circuit Playground), embroidery machines, Cricut Maker 4, and various prototyping tools for textile, electronics, and digital fabrication projects.
• Richard Thiessen Conference Center (RTCC/WEC114) A full-featured meeting space accommodating up to 30 people, equipped with multi-camera Zoom room system, flexible seating arrangements, writable wall surfaces, and catering options for in-person, virtual, or hybrid meetings.
• Design, Craft, and Code: New Tools for Teaching Science Through STEAM An interactive workshop series for K-12 educators teaching NGSS-aligned science through maker-centered, STEAM-integrated approaches including 3D printing, laser cutting, microcontrollers, and coding; free fall sessions held at the AIMS Center with continuing education units available through Fresno Pacific University.
• Playshops Free family-friendly maker events featuring playful learning with creative materials, tinkering, collaboration, and design with various tools and technologies; sessions run 9am-12pm at the AIMS Center.
• AIMS Scholars Program Scholarship covering 50% of tuition for students enrolled in Mathematics Education or STEM Master's Degree programs at Fresno Pacific University, renewable annually up to 30 units.
• AIMS Teacher Education Scholarship $5,000 scholarship awarded to students enrolled in Mathematics or Science Single-subject Teacher Education Credential programs at Fresno Pacific University.
• AIMS Future STEAM Teachers Scholarship $15,000 total scholarship awarded to undergraduate students seeking their first bachelor's degree in STEM-related fields at Fresno Pacific University, distributed throughout their 3-4 year program.
• Research Fellowship Program Fellowship providing doctoral students in STEAM education fields opportunity to work alongside AIMS on projects with educators, community members, and youth; includes $1,000 monthly compensation for approximately 5 hours/week commitment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2015, the AIMS Education Foundation has financially supported over 220 students awarding over $1 million in scholarships.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Fresno Pacific UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIMS partners with Fresno Pacific University to administer multiple scholarship programs including the AIMS Scholars Program (50% tuition support), AIMS K-16 Scholarship ($5,000), AIMS Teacher Education Scholarship ($5,000), and AIMS Future STEAM Teachers Scholarship ($15,000). Fresno Pacific University also offers continuing education units for AIMS educator workshops.
• Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCVHEC partners with AIMS to provide the AIMS K-16 Scholarship ($5,000) to students receiving CVHEC or WeWill Grant aid. This scholarship is automatically awarded to eligible students.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sciencenter: Ithaca, NY hands-on science museum and educator resource provider with maker spaces and NGSS-aligned programming. Comparable to AIMS in operating a maker-focused facility with teacher training and family programming.
• Exploratorium: San Francisco-based science museum and educator PD provider with the Institute for Inquiry and extensive teacher professional learning programs. Overlaps with AIMS in maker-centered pedagogy and NGSS-aligned educator training, though at much larger scale.
• Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh-based science center with extensive K-12 STEM programming, teacher professional development, and maker activities. Comparable to AIMS as a regional STEAM education hub with educator PD offerings.
• Children's Creativity Museum: San Francisco-based children's museum offering animation, music, and design fabrication studios. Comparable to AIMS' Maker Studio and Playshops as a youth-facing creative STEAM experience provider.
• Edutopia (George Lucas Educational Foundation): Major nonprofit producing educator-facing resources on project-based learning, STEM integration, and maker education. Comparable to AIMS as a K-12 educator PD and STEAM integration content provider.

Direct peers

• Tinkering School: Founder Gever Tulley's project-based maker camp and learning environment focused on youth constructionism. Comparable to AIMS' Playshops and Maker Studio in promoting hands-on creative STEAM experiences for children and families.
• Maker Education Initiative: National nonprofit advancing maker education in schools and communities through educator training and resource networks. Directly comparable to AIMS as both focus on maker-centered STEAM pedagogy and teacher professional development.
• Science Olympiad: National STEM competition and education organization that AIMS has hosted events with. Comparable mission around K-12 STEAM engagement, educator support, and student hands-on science experiences.
• NEXT.cc: Nonprofit offering free STEAM design education activities for K-12 learners across digital fabrication, architecture, and maker tools. Comparable to AIMS' maker-centered curriculum and educator integration focus.
• STEM Teaching Tools: Collaborative project producing free, practitioner-tested resources for K-12 STEM educators aligned with NGSS and phenomenon-based learning. Overlaps with AIMS' educator workshop content and audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aimsed
• Facebookfacebook.com/aimsed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AIMS Education Foundation