The Academy of Natural Sciences is the oldest natural history institution in the Western Hemisphere. Today the Academy is recognized internationally for its excellence in research, exhibitions, and educational programs. We are proud to partner with local and national corporations in support of our mission to advance research, education and public engagement in biodiversity and environmental science. 

All corporate partners receive the following benefits:

• Free museum admission passes for employees, clients, and community members.
• Invitations to exhibit openings and special receptions.
• Acknowledgment in Academy Annual Report, on our website, and in digital and print collateral.
• On site activation opportunities.

Corporate Partnerships with the Academy of Natural Sciences are available in the following areas:

Corporate Membership

The Academy’s Corporate Partners make all our initiatives possible. We have levels to suit any size company, and great benefits to match. Contact Alison Gibbons or Caitlin O'Brien for more information.

The Academy is proud to be supported by:

Plastic Free Philly Corporate Partnership

Plastic Free Philly, the Academy’s solution to plastic pollution in Philadelphia, is a volunteer-driven effort aimed at 1) raising awareness of plastic pollution and clean water, 2) reducing single-use plastic water bottles and replacing them with environmentally healthier options, and 3) engaging our entire city in a community effort to keep our waterways clean and beautiful, preserving the health of our environment and our communities for future generations.

As a Plastic Free Philly partner, your company will make an impact by supporting:

Removal of plastics in our waterways through cleanups and crucial microplastic research

• Contributing to continued access to clean drinking water for over 1.6 million Philadelphians
• Minimizing pollution of our earth and community for both humans and animals
• Supporting community clean ups alongside partner organizations throughout Philadelphia

Increased awareness of plastic alternatives

• Easy to use and guilt-free compostable materials offered by many suppliers (coffee cups, disposable utensils)

Research and education

• Educating Philadelphia students, residents, and businesses on sustainable practices
• Development of curriculum for Philadelphia K-12 students on water health
• Supporting native Philadelphians through research promoting environmental justice initiatives and community science initiatives

Encouraging others to join the Drink Philly Tap movement

• Educating our community on bottled water alternatives and promoting reusable water bottles
• Taking the pledge to Drink Philly Tap – which is clean, safe, and affordable!
• Networking with other Plastic Free Philly partners and the wider business community

Plastic Free Philly Corporate Partnership Levels:

$50,000 Earth Champion
$25,000 Environmental Steward
$10,000 Conservationist
$5,000 Sustainer
$1,500 Seed Sower (small business rate)

Current Event, Festival, and Exhibition Sponsorship Opportunities (2024-2025)

Sponsorships for exhibits and festivals offer the chance to reach audiences through marketing campaigns and unique festival events. The Academy hosts several traveling exhibits each year, as well as seasonal family festivals including Paleopalooza and Bug Fest.

Over a three-month span, special exhibits typically receive 50,000 visitors, while festivals attract approximately 2,000 visitors over the course of a single weekend. Sponsorships make these high-quality museum events possible, and offer excellent marketing exposure for companies.

Exhibition Sponsorship: The Ecology of Fashion
Opening Event: 11/15/24; Exhibit: 11/16/24 – 8/31/25

The Ecology of Fashion focuses on our complex interrelationship with the natural world, and our evolving sense of ethics in its stewardship. The exhibit will provide insight into the complicated and evolving history of the garment industry in relation to pollution and consumption, as well as conservation and recycling. The fraught sociopolitical nature of this history will be balanced by inspiring and hopeful approaches drawn from change makers, activists and innovators whose craft, technical innovation, and imaginative and playful approaches have brought greater social equity and ecological health. 

Dinos After Dark

September 2024 – March 2025 (6 events); monthly pay-as-you-wish, Friday after-hours event series drawing 1,250 – 2,000 visitors/event. Festive atmosphere with food trucks, games, exhibits, activities, and a DJ

CONFLUENCE: Earthly Films for Philadelphia

April 2025; environmentally focused film festival throughout Earth Month in partnership with cineSPEAK, BlackStar Film Festival, Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, Philadelphia Latino Arts and Film Festival, and more

Black Birders Week

May 31, 2025; annual celebration of Black birders, illuminating the vibrant bird biodiversity of Philadelphia, sharing community resources for birding and urban nature adventures, exploring the unique experiences of Black birders and naturalist, and highlighting Black Excellence in Birding

Bug Fest

August 9-10, 2025; popular annual festival celebrating our favorite invertebrates and featuring Academy entomologists, 35+ interactive activity and partner stations, food trucks, live art, and artisan market. 2,000 – 3,000 visitors throughout the festival

Education Sponsorships

We reach more than 75,000 schoolchildren each year through museum visits and outreach programs. Education sponsors support subsidized admission and teacher workshops, as well the Academy’s ongoing education initiatives, including Women In Natural Sciences (WINS) and A Head Start on Science.

The Academy is an approved innovative educational institution through Pennsylvania’s Education Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC). Corporations may receive tax credits of 75-90 percent of their contribution by supporting the Academy’s innovative educational programs.  

To explore the many partnership opportunities through the Academy’s Corporate Partner Program, or for more information, please contact:

Caitlin O’Brien 

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is a recognized Educational Improvement Organization under the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program (EITC) of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Through EITC, eligible Pennsylvania companies can receive tax credits equal to 75 percent of their contribution (up to $750,000 per taxable year), or up to 90 percent for two-year charitable commitments.

Companies can claim credits against the following:

• Corporate Net Income Tax
• Capital Stock Franchise Tax
• Bank and Trust Company Shares Tax
• Title Insurance Companies Shares Tax
• Insurance Premiums Tax
• Mutual Thrift Institutions Tax
• Insurance Company Law of 1921 
• Personal Income Tax of S corporation shareholders or Partnership Partners 

Eligible entities include:

• C Corporations
• S Corporations
• Limited Liability Corporations
• Partnerships
• Limited Liability Partnerships
• Sole Proprietorships

How to Apply

The EITC program includes Educational Improvement Organizations, as well as Scholarship Organizations and Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organizations. The Academy is an Educational Improvement Organization (EIO), and businesses must apply specifically for EIO credits if they wish to support the Academy. Businesses may also apply for the other types of credits, but the total amount can be no more than $750,000. 

This year, all applicants will be required to submit applications electronically through newpa.com. Businesses renewing a two-year commitment may apply beginning May 15; new businesses may apply beginning July 1. Applications are approved on a first-come, first-served basis by date submitted. Last year, credits were fully exhausted within one week.

For complete details on participation in the EITC program and the approval process through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, please visit their website. 

Why choose the Academy?

The Academy of Natural Sciences has a long history of innovative educational programs. In fact, we started working with the School District of Philadelphia in the 1930s. For 200 years, the Academy has been a leader in scientific inquiry, and the Academy’s education programs have always helped to develop scientific literacy in Philadelphia. Currently, there are two programs which qualify for support through Pennsylvania’s EITC program: Women In Natural Sciences (WINS) and Supporting and Enriching Natural Science Education in Schools (SENSES). 

Women In Natural Sciences (WINS)

WINS is a free, summer and after-school mentoring and science enrichment program for high school-age young women, particularly from economically disadvantaged families and schools. WINS was founded in 1982 to encourage female students to enter science fields. Through weekly workshops and monthly field trips, students have the opportunity to work directly with the Academy’s scientists and collections. As a result of the program’s mentoring and support, 100 percent of WINS students graduate high school, and more than 96 percent go on to college.

WINS provides young women with the information, encouragement, and confidence they need to shape their futures. In addition to a strong emphasis on academics and science, WINS also provides a uniquely nurturing environment, a community of like-minded friends, and experiences not typically found in school.

Supporting and Enriching Natural Sciences Education in Schools (SENSES)

Founded in 2004 and expanded in 2008, SENSES is an innovative program that reaches underserved students in the Philadelphia region. SENSES provides free or reduced-cost museum visits and gallery lessons and “Academy on the Go” outreach programs for Title I schools (schools with large concentrations of low-income students that receive supplemental funds to assist in meeting their educational goals). The Academy works with the School District of Philadelphia to identify participating schools that meet these criteria. SENSES is especially effective with students who do not thrive in a traditional classroom setting.  These high-quality science experiences incorporate science across the curriculum and help students develop 21st-century skills, including information, communications and technology literacy, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, civic literacy, and global awareness, to face real-world challenges.

More Information

Please download the brochure about Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC).

For more information about donating to the Academy through the EITC program, please contact:

Caitlin O’Brien
Executive Director of Development
obrien@ansp.org
215-405-5079

The official registration and financial information of the Academy of Natural Sciences may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.