Oregon Science Teachers Assoc

What Oregon Science Teachers Assoc does

Oregon Science Teachers Association (OSTA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1958 and headquartered at 4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, Oregon. It is the Oregon state chapter of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and serves science educators across all grade levels K-16, pre-service teachers, retired educators, and informal science educators working in museums, youth development organizations, and community centers. OSTA's stated purpose is to encourage, promote, and assist in improving science teaching and learning throughout Oregon.

OSTA's core products are: (1) annual individual memberships ($20-$40) that unlock a quarterly digital journal (The Oregon Science Teacher / TOST), free Zoom webinars with archived recordings, NGSS-aligned web resources, and conference discounts; (2) the Annual Fall Conference on Science Education, which in 2026 will be its 64th edition; (3) the TOST quarterly electronic journal publishing member-contributed articles; (4) an Awards and Recognition Program spanning seven categories including Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching; (5) regional representation through 13 director seats aligned with Oregon's STEM Hub regions; and (6) the Oregon Phenomena submission platform. The technology stack is modest, centered on Wild Apricot membership management software powering the oregonscience.org website, with payment processing via PayPal and check, and webinar delivery on Zoom.

OSTA generates revenue through five streams: individual and institutional membership dues (recurring subscriptions), conference and event registration fees (member tiers $50-$200, non-member tiers $190-$240), commercial ($650) and non-profit ($350) exhibitor booths, eight-tier conference sponsorships ranging from $250 (Supporter) to $20,000 (Champion), and tax-deductible donations across five tiers (Individual $100 to Platinum $2,000). It previously received a Meyer Memorial Trust grant that funded its 2016 Strategic Framework and Business Plan. The organization is volunteer-governed by a Board of Directors including 13 regional directors drawn from Oregon K-12 schools, universities, and STEM Hubs, supported by 1-10 paid staff and contractors.

Name

Oregon Science Teachers Assoc

Legal name

Oregon Science Teachers Association

Website

https://oregonscience.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Education Association Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Open Lesson Plans & Teaching Units (K–12) (EDAGAJAI)

Keywords

• Science teacher association
• Professional development services
• NGSS implementation support
• Membership organization
• Science education resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual and biennial membership fees providing access to professional development resources, networking opportunities, and member benefits including free webinar registration, NGSS resources, and conference discounts.
2. Conference and Event Registration: Revenue from the annual Fall Conference on Science Education and regional events, including exhibitor booth fees and attendee registrations at various pricing tiers.
3. Sponsorships: Tiered sponsorship opportunities ranging from Supporter ($250) to Champion ($20,000) levels, offering logo placement, verbal recognition, ad space, and general session introductions.
4. Exhibitor Fees: Commercial exhibitor booths at $650 and non-profit exhibitor booths at $350, including table, chairs, and lunch for two representatives.
5. Grants and Donations: 501(c)(3) organization that accepts tax-deductible donations at various levels (Individual $100, Event $250, Silver $500, Gold $1,000, Platinum $2,000). Previously received Meyer Memorial Trust grant for strategic planning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

OSTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership association that provides science educators in Oregon with annual membership benefits, a flagship annual Fall Conference on Science Education, the quarterly digital journal The Oregon Science Teacher (TOST), NGSS-aligned professional development resources and Zoom webcasts, regional representation across 13 Oregon regions, and an awards and recognition program for outstanding educators. Membership tiers, conference registration, sponsorships, and tax-deductible donations form the core commercial and fundraising offerings.

Product overview

OSTA is a state chapter of the National Science Teaching Association comprised of Oregon science educators. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization offering a suite of professional development and networking services for science teachers at all levels (K-16) and informal science educators. The core offerings include OSTA Membership (providing access to The Oregon Science Teacher quarterly digital journal, free Zoom webcasts, NGSS resources, and conference discounts), the Annual Fall Conference on Science Education (the flagship event featuring sessions, exhibitors, and awards), Professional Development Services (regional events, online offerings, and NGSS-aligned resources), the TOST digital journal for sharing educational resources, Awards and Recognition Programs honoring outstanding science educators, and Regional Representation across 13 Oregon regions aligned with state STEM Hubs. The organization also accepts donations and offers conference sponsorship opportunities at various tiers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OSTA Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving every county in Oregon with 13 regional representatives
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Science Teaching Association (NSTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSTA is a state chapter of the National Science Teaching Association, the premier professional organization for science education in the United States. This affiliation provides OSTA members with access to national resources, conferences, and recognition programs including the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching (PAEMST).
• Fred MeyerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOSTA participates in the Fred Meyer Rewards Program using nonprofit number 88322, allowing supporters to direct their Fred Meyer rewards to the organization.
• Oregon Regional STEM Hub NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSTA has aligned its 13 regions with Oregon's Regional STEM Hub Network, advancing opportunities to access and multiply resources and expertise by collaborating with STEM Hub partners in science/STEM education across the state.
• Oregon Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSTA works closely with the Oregon Department of Education on science standards implementation, particularly NGSS adoption (Oregon adopted NGSS in 2014), ODE Science Specialists present awards and coordinate PAEMST nominations.
• Oregon State Board of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSTA supports implementation of Oregon's 2014 Science Standards and full day kindergarten adoption by offering PreK-5th grade educators science curriculum, training, and resources.
• Wild ApricotcoreTechnology or IntegrationOSTA uses Wild Apricot membership software to power its website, membership management, event registration, and online payment processing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Texas Association of Science Teachers (TAST): TAST is the Texas state science teacher association providing membership, conferences, and professional development with the same nonprofit chapter structure as OSTA.
• Illinois Science Teachers Association (ISTA): ISTA is a Midwest state chapter science teacher association offering membership, annual conferences, awards, and professional development aligned to NGSS, directly comparable to OSTA's model.
• California Science Teachers Association (CSTA): CSTA is the California state science teacher association, operating the same model as OSTA: state chapter, membership dues, annual conference, awards, and regional advocacy for science educators.
• New York State Science Teachers Association (NYSST): NYSST is a state-level science teacher association operating membership, conferences, awards, and regional representation in the same model as OSTA, scaled to a much larger state teacher base.
• Florida Association of Science Teachers (FAST): FAST is the Florida state science teacher association delivering membership, conferences, and educator recognition programs through a state-chapter structure very similar to OSTA.

Others

• Oregon STEM Hub Network: Oregon's Regional STEM Hub Network is a core OSTA partner aligned to its 13 regions. While not a direct competitor, it is an ecosystem participant that influences the same science educator audience and shares grant and policy channels.

Broad incumbents

• Oregon Education Association (OEA): OEA is the statewide umbrella education association in Oregon that competes for the same educator membership and advocacy dollars as OSTA, but across all subjects rather than science specifically.
• National Science Teaching Association (NSTA): NSTA is the national umbrella organization of which OSTA is a state chapter. It offers overlapping professional development, publications, and conferences but operates at a national scale with significantly broader resources and product portfolio.
• NSTA Learning Center: NSTA's digital learning platform offers online NGSS-aligned courses and resources to science teachers nationally. It competes with OSTA's own professional development and webcast offerings but at a national scale.

Regional players

• Washington Science Teachers Association (WSTA): WSTA is the directly neighboring Pacific Northwest state science teacher association, operating a very similar membership and conference model. Geographic and demographic overlap makes it a close comparable for OSTA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OrSciTchr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oregon-science-teachers-assoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Oregon Science Teachers Assoc