Igniting Innovation
Piloting ideas, strategies & approaches that advance youth outcomes in STEM
We know it takes a grassroots and a grasstops approach to make opportunities a reality for all kids.
That’s why we pilot new ideas and strengthen connections in local programs to ignite innovation.
Our years of experience in the field bring a deep knowledge of context and need, enabling us to scale ideas and target investments to high-need demographics and places.

Let's test, tinker and uplift creative strategies that can be replicated.

Let's right-size, package and expand utilization of proven STEM curriculum for afterschool and summer programs.

By starting small, in communities, let's prepare to go big with what works.
Local Pilots
We ignite innovation through geo-specific partnerships that test new ideas, innovations, content, and curriculum that support more youth accessing and experiencing STEM learning beyond the classroom.
We partner with researchers and evaluators to understand the impact and use the findings to inform the next iterations, pivots, and scaling strategies.
Amplifying Voices: Educators, Families & Youth

It’s quality in and quality out. We are looking to take out-of-school STEM to the next level.”
Ellie Mitchell, executive director of the Maryland Out of School Time State Network
Imagine Science
A powerful collaboration, managed by STEM Next, of four of the nation’s largest youth-serving organizations—Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Girls Inc., the National 4-H Council, and the YMCA of the USA—joined forces to launch a shared mission -to build excitement and confidence in young people from low-income communities in pursuing STEM careers.
This unprecedented partnership leveraged organizational strengths and today is working in eleven communities nationwide serving over 40,000 under-represented youth.