Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

---

Organization Name: Mission Science Workshop
Legal Name (if Different): Community Initiatives for Mission Science Workshop
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 3750 18th Street
City: San Francisco
State: CA
Postal Code: 94114
Main Phone: 4126211240
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.missionscienceworkshop.org
Employer ID Number: 94-3255070 (this is our fiscal sponsor, Community Initiatives)
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

---

Today’s Date: March 4, 2026
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: Science Enrichment Programs
Project Description:

At Mission Science Workshop (MSW), we provide hands-on STEM experiences that inspire children to become lifelong learners, explorers, builders, and creators. Each year, we partner with more than 100 public schools and community organizations across the Bay Area to offer field trips, after-school and summer programs, mobile workshops, and free weekly community drop-in days. MSW reaches nearly 20,000 students and their families annually and operates three community workshop spaces in San Francisco’s Mission, Excelsior, and Bayview districts.

Despite San Francisco’s leadership in science and technology, many public schools lack the resources to fully equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to pursue STEM careers. While other enrichment programs exist, MSW is uniquely committed to serving underserved youth and remaining rooted in the communities we support. For over 34 years, we have partnered with Title I public schools, where at least 50% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Equity is central to our mission, and we prioritize serving youth historically underrepresented in STEM, including girls, Black and Latino students, English learners, and recent immigrants. To remove barriers, we absorb program costs and offer all of our programs free of charge.

Our STEM programs spark curiosity and encourage students to ask questions, experiment, and explore. Youth learn by doing: building wobble robots, launching steam rockets, woodworking, tinkering with solar-powered radios, and interacting with live animals. Surveys show that this hands-on approach helps students better understand scientific concepts while discovering their interests. Our workshop spaces are filled with interactive exhibits, DIY tinkering stations, live animals, and collections of scientific tools and artifacts that invite exploration beyond the classroom.

However, rising costs and declining public school funding threaten programs like ours. We are seeking support for our field trip program, which serves 20,000 Bay Area students each year, primarily from Title I schools. Funding ensures these programs remain free, expands access to STEM learning, and helps inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.

Total Project Budget: 600,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Hellman Foundation, Lisa & Douglas Goldman Foundation, McMicking Foundation, Crankstart Foundation, Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation

Project Duration: We run programs every year from late August to late June.
Geographical Area Served: San Francisco Bay Area
Age Group To Be Served: Youth from ages 5-18

Contact Information

---

Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms
Contact First Name: Natalie
Contact Last Name: Boyanovsky
Contact Title: Development Manager
Contact Phone: 4123981243
Contact Email: natalie@missionscienceworkshop.org