Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: iSPACE
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 10020 Reading Rd
City: Cincinnati
State: Ohio
Postal Code: 45241
Main Phone: 513-554-0425
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://ispacestem.org/
Employer ID Number: 31-1767871
Organization Tax Status: Exempt

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 07/29/2026
Requested Amount: 5000

Project Title: STEM Experiences for Economically Disadvantaged Students (SEEDS)
Project Description:

BACKGROUND
iSPACE was founded by a group of scientists, engineers, and educators in Cincinnati, Ohio to engage and inspire young learners in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in 2001, the same year the National Science Foundation coined the acronym STEM.

Today, iSPACE provides 20+ hands-on STEM programs that engage 30,000+ students PreK-12 each year at our immersive STEM Learning Center, as well as in classrooms and communities throughout the region.

NEED
Diverse backgrounds, views, and experiences are vital to STEM fields, producing innovative, equitable, and impactful solutions to urgent world issues. Interest in STEM often starts in early learning, and substantial research has shown that exposure to high-quality hands-on STEM enrichment is an effective way to spark and sustain this interest.

Unfortunately, many schools in Greater Cincinnati with high populations of Black, Hispanic, and low-income students lack resources to provide STEM enrichment.

PROGRAM
SEEDS expands access to our immersive STEM Learning Center by removing financial barriers and prioritizing the most vulnerable students, enabling them to explore, experiment, and imagine themselves as future scientists, engineers, and innovators, while strengthening their interest in and confidence in STEM.

During iSPACE programs, students become scientists, engineers, astronauts, ecologists, and other STEM-focused roles, and are given real-world challenges to solve alongside their peers, working independently and collaboratively to achieve common goals.

One such example is our very popular iMISSION program, in which we leverage NASA content to simulate life and work on a lunar research base, challenging students to apply STEM knowledge and learn about STEM careers, all while building skills needed for future success, such as problem-solving, teamwork, and communication.

REQUEST
A $5,000 grant from the Hermanowski Foundation will engage approximately 275 students PreK-12 from low-income majority-minority schools in immersive programs that improve their knowledge and confidence in STEM.

Total Project Budget: $235,900

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): $152,900 Potential (Grants & Partial Program Fees); $48,000 Committed (Grants & iSPACE In-Kind)

Project Duration: One-year
Geographical Area Served: Greater Cincinnati Tri-State Region (Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Eastern Indiana)
Age Group To Be Served: 5-17

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms
Contact First Name: Mary
Contact Last Name: OConnell
Contact Title: Advancement & Community Partnerships Manager
Contact Phone: 513-554-0425
Contact Email: moconnell@ispacestem.org