We Can Make a Difference, Together.

There are many ways to make your tax-deductible contribution to Brightworks:

  • By check (preferred): Made payable to ‘Institute for Applied Tinkering.’ Drop it off at Brightworks or mail to: Brightworks, Attn: Brightworks Annual Fund, 682 Schofield Rd., San Francisco, CA 94129.

  • PayPal: Simply donate directly on the PayPal site with a credit card (we are charged a 2.2% fee for this, which is why we actually prefer checks). 

  • Stock donations: Gifts of securities are a great way to make a gift and they have significant tax advantages for the donor. Please contact our Finance department for more information.

  • Employer matching: Matching gifts are a great way to double or even triple your giving. Click here to see if your employer provides matching gifts and use the steps provided. Please let us know to look out for your matching gift by emailing giving@sfbrightworks.org.

FAQs

Why support Brightworks?

Education is a disruptive technology. Studies of divergent-thinking show that by some measures children lose more than 80% of their creative capacity by the time they leave high school. A pedagogy that successfully fosters and develops creative capacity while instilling the habits of life-long learning and tenacity has the potential to create more opportunity than any other change to society.

At a time when everyone knows that education isn’t optimal, when the only answers seem to be “more homework” and “more testing,” Brightworks represents a revolutionary new approach.

In the past fifty years, we have consistently reduced our expectations in terms of what we think children are capable of. Tinkering School was an experiment in resetting those expectations; in the children who attended and the parents who enrolled them.

Brightworks builds on those successes and shows that children are not only more capable, but actually excited to take on bigger, more sophisticated projects, in an engaging hands-on learning environment. To many, from Sir Ken Robinson, to Dale Dougherty, editor of Make magazine, to the thousands of people who have watched videos of Gever Tulley’s TED presentations, the Arc is a compelling and intuitively better approach to educating children – one with the potential to spread around the globe.

With your support, we can keep building an expanding on this important work.

  • Many employers have a matching gift program!

    If yours does, please reach out to your company for their specific details, or reach out to us about making a matching gift by sending an email to giving@sfbrightworks.org.

  • Key Info

    Legal Entity: Institute for Applied Tinkering (or Brightworks, if that is how we are listed in their system).

    Address: 682 Schofield Road
    San Francisco, CA, 94129

    Phone: (415) 701-8700

    Tax ID: 26-4299346

  • Supporting Brightworks doesn’t have to be financial! Here are meaningful ways you can contribute to the mission and help strengthen our community:

    1. Volunteer Your Time

    • Share Your Skills: Lead a workshop, help with a project, or offer expertise in your field.

    • Join Events: Lend a hand during school events like Expo Night, outdoor education trips, or community gatherings.

    2. Be an Advocate

    • Spread the Word: Share your positive experiences with friends, family, and your broader network to help connect prospective families.

    • Social Media Support: Follow Brightworks on social media and engage with posts by liking, sharing, and commenting to expand our reach.

    3. Offer In-Kind Contributions

    • Materials & Supplies: Donate art supplies, tools, or other items the school could use for its hands-on, project-based approach.

    • Professional Services: Offer services such as photography, graphic design, or transportation support for school needs.

    4. Be a Connector

    • Community Partnerships: If you know of local businesses, organizations, or individuals who align with Brightworks’ values, make an introduction.

    • Career Spotlights: Help connect the school to professionals willing to inspire students with real-world insights.

    5. Engage with the Mission

    • Attend School Events: Your presence at Expos, talks, or celebrations shows support and builds a stronger community.

    • Provide Feedback: Share your thoughts and ideas for how the school can improve or better engage families.

    6. Build Relationships

    • Connect with Families: Help new families feel welcome and build community connections.

    • Collaborate: Find ways to support other families through shared projects, carpooling, or skill exchanges.

    Every action helps amplify Brightworks’ vision and ensures the school continues to thrive as a place where children’s creativity, curiosity, and potential are nurtured. Thank you for being a part of our community!