Pacific Science Center has received a $5.25 million grant from The Laura Ellen and Robert Muglia Family Foundation to support its Science on Wheels STEM education program following reductions in state funding.
The grant, one of the largest gifts in the Seattle nonprofit’s history, will support Science on Wheels over the next three years. The outreach program brings science assemblies, classroom workshops and interactive exhibits to schools and communities across Washington state.
The funding follows the loss of significant support from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction as part of statewide budget cuts. Pacific Science Center said the private funding will allow the program to continue while efforts to restore public funding remain underway.
“The Muglia Family Foundation is proud to support the transformational programming that Science on Wheels brings to students across Washington State,” said Laura Ellen Muglia. “We believe that STEM education and hands-on learning is fundamental to the success of young people.”
Pacific Science Center expects the grant to help Science on Wheels reach 350,000 students statewide during the next three years. The organization also plans to provide free or deeply discounted programming to low-income schools and communities, develop curriculum aligned with state standards and build new exhibits.
Science on Wheels has operated for more than 50 years, serving students from prekindergarten through eighth grade with programming designed to complement classroom instruction.
The grant is also among the first major awards from The Muglia Family Foundation since it formalized its grantmaking operations in late 2025. Founded in Seattle in 2000, the foundation supports organizations working in areas including entrepreneurship, technology, health and well-being, and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence.
Seattle-based Pacific Science Center is a nonprofit science center providing educational programs and experiences focused on science, experimentation and critical thinking.

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