McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

January 1, 2025

NH Business Review Staff,

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Mission Statement:

The mission of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is to inspire every generation to reach for the stars, through engaging, artful and entertaining activities that explore astronomy, aviation, the Earth and space science.

Top Funding Sources:

Our primary source of revenue is through general admission, program sales and facility rentals. Additional funding comes from federal, state and foundation grants and the generous contributions made by individuals and businesses.

Year Established: 2013

Employees: 9 full time, 8-12 part time

Annual Revenue: $1,000,000

Service Locations:

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center welcomes visitors from all over the world to our Concord, NH-based exhibit galleries and planetarium theater, and we serve cities and towns throughout New England through outreach programs to schools, libraries and community centers.

Contact:

Melissa Edwards
Executive Director
2 Institute Drive
Concord, NH 03301
603-271-7827
medwards@starhop.com
www.starhop.com

2025 Goals:

At the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, we aim to engage minds, make learning fun and inspire people of all ages to pursue lifelong learning about our universe. For over a decade, we’ve been serving New Hampshire and beyond as an independent, nonprofit organization, and this year, we hope to expand the ways we deliver STEM education. Our goals for 2025 include:

Creating engaging STEM workshops for middle and high school students
Hosting dynamic art and music-themed planetarium events
Undertaking our most ambitious project yet: a complete renovation of our exhibit galleries

Fundraising Events:

AerospaceFest in September is our annual celebration of all things STEM. This family-friendly event includes exhibitors from local science and educational organizations, hands-on activities, the presentation of the Alex Higgins Memorial Space Camp Scholarship to award winners, the premiere of a new planetarium show, and more! The free-to-attend event provides opportunities for corporate partnership and individual support.
The 2nd Annual Drive for the Sky Golf Tournament in June is a day of friendly competition to support the Discovery Center’s work in delivering high-quality STEM education for learners of all ages. The tournament includes many sponsorship opportunities including supporting aspects of the event and team registrations.

Giving Opportunities:

The Discovery Center always accepts individual and business contributions through our website at www.starhop.com/donation. Other giving opportunities include corporate memberships, planned giving and naming opportunities, like adopting a star or naming a seat in our planetarium, sponsoring an exhibit or planetarium show, or naming a brick or paver on our Science Playground.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Volunteers assist with all aspects of the Discovery Center’s work. From working directly with visitors and school groups running demonstrations, planetarium shows and the observatory to keeping the Center looking its best through exhibit maintenance and landscaping, we have opportunities available for individuals with varied interests. For more information, visit www.starhop.com/volunteer.

Board Officers / Board Members

Bart Fromuth, Esq.
Board Chair
Freedom Energy Logistics

Dr. Steven J. Davis
Vice-Chair
Retired Chief Scientist, Physical Sciences, Inc.

Stephan Lundquist
Secretary
Elbit Systems of America

Christopher Wolfe
Treasurer
MNR Technology, Inc.

Daniel Bursch
Retired NASA astronaut and Naval Flight Officer

Michelline Dufort
CEO & Family Enterprise Center, UNH

Dr. Julia Dupuis
Physical Sciences, Inc.

Jeromy Grimmett
Calhar Industries

Robert Letourneau
Retired State Senator

Dr. Stewart Levenson
Dartmouth Hitchcock, Concord

David Luneau
State Legislator

Dr. James MacKay
Psychologist, Private Practice; State Legislator

Richard McKenna
Atlantic Strategies

Brian Parson
Davis & Towle Insurance Group

Harold Turner
Retired Engineer and Founder, H.L. Turner Group Inc.

Charitable Giving Guide

This profile is part of NH Business Review’s 2025 Charitable Giving Guide.

To learn more about the Charitable Giving Guide and other New Hampshire nonprofit organizations, please visit www.nhbr.com/CGG.

Categories: Charitable Giving Guide

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