JOIN THE PARI FAMILY AND SUPPORT THE FUTURE GENERATION OF SPACE EXPLORATION
PARI encourages a lifelong love of space and science for students, educators, and guests. Our community has grown from visitors to volunteers, campers to counselors, staff to space scientists—all of whom play a role in inspiring the next generation of space explorers. We invite you to become a part of our space family and our culture of learning. Discover an appreciation for helping to build the future of space exploration.
From one-time opportunities to ongoing partnerships, your involvement can help provide a path for future scientists to discover a love of space exploration. 100% of your investment in PARI supports the education of our future scientists.
One time, reoccurring, or planned giving all help us in our education mission. We also welcome donations of certain items and museum pieces.
Support a camper's summer exploration, a school field trip, a traveling program, a museum exhibit, and more.
Let us be your source for satellite communications and spacecraft tracking
A donation to PARI goes directly to our STEM Education mission. Your contribution will help to keep all that we do accessible.
Whether it's school field trips and university internships, museum exhibits and open houses days, hosting scientific instruments and supporting student research, your help makes it possible.
PARI welcomes one time donations, reoccurring donations, and planned estate giving.
We also accept gifts of items that aid in education programs or may be appropriate for display in our museum.
If you are interested in making a specific impact, sponsorships allow you to tailor your support to your selected area. Whether you're an individual, a foundation, a corporation, or another type of organization, we'll help you select the right program to match your mission and goals. Sponsor names can be added to programs, or can remain anonymous.
Over 25% of our camp attendees are supported by sponsors like you. These campers often do not have the financial means and depend on our community’s support in order to attend our STEM summer camps. We strive to bring learners from varying backgrounds together in an engaging and inspiring learning environment. We often find our sponsored campers leaving PARI with newfound confidence, curiosity and love of space science.
Only with your support do we have this opportunity to spark a deeper interest in space exploration and learning. When that spark ignites, there is no greater return on investment—the joy of knowing that it was your contribution that helped launch a child into the universe of space science and opportunity.
As a sponsor, you have the option to designate the funds you provide to assist campers from specific regions, camper age ranges, or for specific camp programs. This can allow you to align your support with your own giving mission.
$1,000
$1,800
$3,960
$25,000
$120,000
Your donation will provide opportunities and resources for teachers to supplement their curriculum with experiences they wouldn't otherwise be able to provide their classes.
You can choose a specific school or classroom and support their visit to PARI for exciting and engaging STEM experiences during a field trip, or send us to a school to bring activities to their classroom.
You can also give to our general education fund to subsidize any school who needs a hand making a trip to PARI.
$660
$1,620
$2,880
$400
$750
Do you want to support a certain topic in space science or STEM reaching a wide audience? A Program Sponsorship is the right choice.
You can sponsor internships, teacher workshops, community events, and research instrument use. You can also choose one of our exisiting STEM experiences, a longer format program, or help us develop a new one. We'll then conduct it with your support to allow participants to enjoy the experience at no cost to them.
Make a huge impact in an area you care the most about.
Support an undergraduate or graduate intern working on authentic research, instrumentation, or data analysis at PARI.
$3,000 – $6,000
Fund a professional development workshop for educators, giving them hands‑on experience with radio astronomy, planetary geology, or space science curriculum.
$5,000 – $12,000
Bring telescopes, staff, and educational materials to a local park, library, or school for a free public astronomy night.
$1,500 – $4,000
Sponsor instruction and time on PARI’s radio instruments for student groups.
$2,500 – $10,000
Fund a mobile STEM program delivered at a partner organization — hands‑on labs, space science demos, and guided activities.
$8,000 – $20,000
Work with PARI to design a new experience around a topic you care about — astrobiology, satellites, geology, coding, or space exploration, to name a few.
$15,000 – $40,000
Fund a small cohort of learners conducting authentic research with PARI mentors in topics like radio data, satellite imagery, or planetary science.
$12,000 – $25,000
Exhibits at PARI bring science to life. They transform complex space and STEM topics into experiences that spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and inspire visitors of all ages. Whether showcasing artifacts from NASA missions, rare minerals from North Carolina, historic astronomical glass plates, or hands-on demonstrations of scientific principles, each exhibit becomes a gateway into discovery.
Your sponsorship can support the creation of new exhibits or the enhancement of existing ones. Exhibits may focus on a specific science theme, highlight authentic research instruments, display specimens and artifacts, or present interactive, tactile experiences that invite visitors to explore. They can also take the form of digital content accessible to anyone, extending PARI’s reach far beyond our campus.
Exhibits have lasting impact. They educate thousands of visitors, empower teachers, inspire students, and strengthen community engagement. With your support, we can build installations that illuminate the wonders of space science, preserve scientific history, and make STEM learning accessible to everyone.
You can even sponsor a traveling exhibit that PARI can set up at schools, museums, libraries, and community centers. These mobile displays bring authentic science materials—meteorites, minerals, historic glass plates, and more—directly to audiences who may not otherwise have access to them.
Support the creation of a long-term exhibit featuring artifacts, specimens, or hands-on science experiences that will educate visitors for years.
$25,000 – $75,000
Fund an exhibit focused on a specific STEM theme—radio astronomy, satellites, geology, planetary science, or space exploration.
$10,000 – $40,000
Sponsor a curated display of meteorites, minerals, NASA artifacts, or historic scientific instruments, complete with interpretive signage.
$8,000 – $25,000
Help preserve and showcase astronomical glass plates from the early days of sky surveying, paired with digital enhancements and stories of discovery.
$12,000 – $30,000
Enable the creation of tactile, exploratory stations where visitors manipulate scientific tools, models, or data to learn by doing.
$15,000 – $50,000
Support a fully digital exhibit accessible online, allowing anyone to explore PARI’s science content, artifacts, and stories from anywhere.
$5,000 – $20,000
Fund a mobile exhibit that can be set up at schools, museums, libraries, and community centers—bringing meteorites, minerals, historic plates, and science artifacts to new audiences.
$20,000 – $60,000
Sponsor a temporary installation at a partner site for a week or month, featuring curated materials and educational programming.
$7,000 – $18,000
Support a multi-month traveling exhibit stationed at a museum, library, or school, complete with rotating content and community engagement events.
$30,000 – $90,000
Volunteers are at the heart of PARI’s mission. Every day, they help us inspire curiosity, share the wonders of space science, preserve scientific history, and make STEM learning accessible to visitors of all ages. Whether greeting guests, guiding tours, supporting research, or lending technical expertise, volunteers expand what PARI can accomplish.
We welcome people with all kinds of skills and backgrounds. Some volunteers enjoy becoming docents—leading tours, answering questions, and helping visitors connect with our exhibits and instruments. Others prefer behind-the-scenes roles, assisting with facilities, maintenance, or hands-on tasks that keep our campus running smoothly.
Many volunteers contribute directly to science education. They help teach workshops, lead stargazing sessions, operate telescopes, or support astronomy programs for schools and community groups. Others assist with research projects, including work with our Astronomical Photographic Data Archive (APDA), where historic glass plates are preserved, digitized, and cataloged for future generations.
We also rely on volunteers with technical expertise—radio engineers, instrument specialists, programmers, and tinkerers who enjoy solving problems and keeping scientific equipment performing at its best. Whatever your passion, there’s a place for you at PARI. Your time and talent can make a meaningful impact.
Lead tours, greet guests, share PARI’s history, and help visitors explore exhibits and instruments.
Welcome guests, assist with check-in, support events, and help create a friendly, engaging visitor experience.
Help with campus upkeep, light repairs, grounds work, and hands-on tasks that keep PARI running smoothly.
Operate telescopes, guide night-sky viewing sessions, and help visitors learn about planets, stars, and deep-sky objects.
Support workshops, camps, and school programs by helping teach activities, prepare materials, and guide learners.
Assist with cataloging, digitizing, and preserving historic astronomical glass plates in the APDA archive.
Help maintain and troubleshoot optical and radio instruments, ensuring they remain ready for research and education.
Apply expertise in electronics, RF systems, or instrumentation to support PARI’s radio telescopes and scientific equipment.
Assist with researching grant opportunities, drafting proposals, and helping PARI secure funding for education, research, and community programs.
Help plan and support fundraising initiatives, donor outreach, and campaigns that sustain PARI’s mission and expand its impact.
Represent PARI at events, connect with local organizations, and help build partnerships that lead to new funding and engagement opportunities.
Capture photos of programs, events, exhibits, and the night sky, and help share PARI’s story through social media posts, short videos, and digital outreach.
“When I was in high school I was interested in science and engineering but did not know what I really wanted to do. My experiences at PARI changed everything. At PARI, science became exciting in ways I had never experienced. I was given hands-on access to powerful telescopes that I could not have gotten anywhere else. My experience there was a turning point in my life.”
“When I visited PARI, I was astonished by the beauty and history of museum, warm energy of PARI's staff, and cutting-edge research that PARI is involved. It was clear that our campers were experiencing something extraordinary that could determine their future career to be professionals. PARI created an unforgettable opportunity for the campers to bond with the staff and other participants. ”
“PARI is more than a campus—it is a living classroom, a launchpad for dreams, and a rare intersection of history and innovation. Its programs ignite curiosity in young minds, foster research partnerships, and create experiences that cannot be replicated anywhere else.”
“The level of access to real scientific equipment, extended hands-on work, and staff who were deeply passionate for teaching and support was something I had never experienced before and could not have found in a traditional school environment.”
“What stands out most to me is that PARI creates opportunities that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Few places allow learners to live, learn, and explore within a historic scientific facility while engaging with real tools, real data, and real mentors. This combination fosters a lasting sense of belonging in STEM — especially for those who may not otherwise see themselves reflected in these traditional academic spaces.”
These are items that keep our site running strong, create a new experience, or enhance a well-loved part of a visit to our campus. Whether new or used and functional, we can give a purpose to things you may no longer need.
It all takes supplies and resources. Help a budding engineer build something amazing and a young scientist make their next discovery!
| Item | Purpose | Estimated Cost/Value | Quantity Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copier Paper | Office Supplies | $50 per 10 ream case | ongoing need |
| General Cleaning Supplies | Cleaning Supplies | varies | ongoing need |
| Batteries | Office & Equipment Supplies | varies | ongoing need |
| LED Lighting/Light Bulbs | Office & Building Supplies | varies | ongoing need |
| Commercial Grade Vacuum | Building Maintenance | $350 | 1 |
| Picnic Table Umbrellas & Bases | Outdoor Furniture | $50-$150 | 10 |
| Hard Hats | Safety & Telescope Maintenance | $10 each | 20 |
| NSF Certified Commercial Microwave | Dining Hall Kitchen | $350 | 1 |
| Markers, Crayons, Colored Pencils | Education Programs | varies | ongoing need |
| Crafting Supplies | Education Programs | varies | ongoing need |
| 3D Printer Filament (PLA 1.75mm) | Education Programs | $20 per kilogram | ongoing need |
| WiFi Access Points (Ubiquiti or compatible preferred) | Incresed WiFi coverage | $150 – $300 | 10 |
| Enamel Floor Paint | Building Maintenance | $25 per gallon | 10 gallons |
| Red Solar Safety Lights | Site Safety | $15 each | 20 |
| Red Light Flashlights | Visitor & Camper Safety | $3 – $10 each | 40 |
| Commercial Grade Mower | Grounds Maintenance | $18,000 | 1 |
| Edger | Grounds Maintenance | $320 | 1 |
| Chainsaw | Grounds Maintenance | $450 | 1 |
| DeWalt Compatible 20V 6 Tool Set | Site Maintenance | $500 | 1 |
| Gate Control Arms | Site Access & Security | $2,500 | 1 |
| Roof Repair Materials | Building One Roof | up to $5,000 | various |
| 7.5 Ton AC Unit | Site Maintenance | $7,500 | 1 |
| Overhead Insulated Garage Door (13′ wide x 14′ tall | Site Maintenance | $10,000 | 1 |
| Fork Lift | Site Maintenance | varies | 1 |
| Backhoe | Site Maintenance | varies | 1 |
| Boom Lift (80 feet or more ideal) | Telescope Maintenance | varies | 1 |
| Transfer Switch Controller | Generator System | $15,000 | 1 |
| Golf Cart | Site Maintenance | varies | 1 |
| Test Equipment & Tools | Site & Telescope Maintenance | $100 – $1,000 | various |
| Replacement Weather Stations | Staff, Visitor & Instrument Safety; Data Collection | $2,500 each | up to 5 |
| Replacement Lightning Detection System | Staff, Visitor & Instrument Safety; Data Collection | $4,500 for Base System, $2,500 for each detector unit | 1 base, up to 6 units |
| Vehicles | General Use, Supply Pickup, Off Site Education Programs, Student Transport | varies | several |
| Utility Dump Trailer | Site Maintenance | $3,000 | 1 |
| General Building Supplies (Lumber, screws, etc) | Building Maintenance | varies | ongoing need |
| Landscaping Supplies (mulch, edging, perennial plants and flowers) | Building Maintenance | varies | ongoing need |
| Guard Rails | Site Safety | varies | multiple areas |
| Board Games & Puzzles | Student & Camper Indoor Recreation | varies | always welcome |
| Movable Basketball Hoop | Student & Camper Outdoor Recreation | $300 – $500 | 1 or 2 |
These are just a few of the organizations who have helped us along the way.
Choosing PARI to help with your mission helps us too! Our clients directly support our operations and education mission.
PARI can provide ground station support for satellite communications and spacecraft tracking. We have a proven record of reliable service for a variety of clients and missions. Our research team can provide examples and quotes for the use of our 26 meter radio dishes.
Our site can also host scientific instrments. If you need a home for your equipment or experiment, we can help.
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