STEM NEXT OPPORTUNITY FUND

STEM Next Opportunity Fund is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to scaling high-quality STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) learning to millions of youth. Our mission is expanding exceptional STEM learning opportunities outside the classroom for all children everywhere. Through STEM learning in afterschool and summer PROGRAMS, STEM Next takes a field-building approach to creating pathways to economic opportunity.STEM learning beyond the classroom inspires youth and prepares them for future success in STEM as well as many other fields. Outside the structured school day, hands-on STEM learning provides a fertile environment to experiment, build confidence and develop life skills like critical thinking, collaboration, perseverance, creativity and communication. Despite this power and potential, STEM learning in afterschool and summer is underutilized and under-prioritized across the U.S a critical issue that STEM Next is working to solve as a national nonprofit. What We DoSTEM Next brings together a diversity of partners and leads synchronized efforts to strengthen and advance the out-of-school time STEM field. By leveraging partnerships, STEM Next mobilizes funding and accelerates what works to reach the 10 million young people served in more than 100,000 local afterschool and summer programs across all 50 states. For youth, our work increases STEM access, interest, identity, and career knowledge.Our three big strategic initiatives to Engage Learners Everywhere are: - Growing STEM Leaders: Raising awareness, building skills, and connecting problem-solvers across communities. This includes afterschool and summer educators and system leaders, as well as through our Flight Crew program for young people.- Advancing Policy & Research: Powering lasting change in STEM learning by putting ideas into action. Our Fellows help ensure that STEM is a policy priority in the U.S.- Leading Systems Change: Local, regional, national challenges that create seismic STEM learning shifts for youth and educators, like through our Institute for a STEM Ready America and industry-focused Centers of Excellence.Every $1 invested in STEM Next Opportunity Fund programs: - Enables more youth to build, invent and discover every afternoon.- Sparks summer STEM learning opportunities for youth.- Brings STEM opportunities to more families and communities across the U.S.Nationally and locally, our programs create seismic STEM learning shifts for millions of youth and hundreds of thousands of educators every year.