Become a partner to drive positive impact on youth
With your help, we empower underserved youth to reach their full potential through confidence-building STEM experiences, led by passionate facilitators and hands-on innovative projects
Funders
Community Partners
School Board Partners
The Problem
Research has shown that youth from low-income and underrepresented communities face barriers in access to STEM education. Given the ongoing increase in STEM careers, exposure to STEM skills early in life is necessary to develop interest and excitement.
The Challenge
Youth in underserved communities face structural and systemic barriers in gaining access to immersive opportunities that can define their futures. Teachers across Canada note gaps in their own knowledge to teach digital technology skills such as coding.
Our Misson
To provide FREE in-class, afterschool and mentorship programs by partnering with industry, institutional, and school board partners who share our vision of youth inspired by STEM.
Sponsor Programs
Empower the next generation of innovators year-round. By sponsoring Mathstronauts’ programs, you help underserved students, including youth from low-income families and BIPOC communities, access high-quality STEM education and mentorship opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
Your support breaks down barriers to participation and creates lasting impact, helping students build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to succeed in STEM.
Choose a program that aligns with your organization’s goals and values. Each offers unique opportunities to make a measurable difference in the lives of underrepresented youth.
The SPARK Program helps elementary students (Grades 3–5) strengthen their numeracy skills through fun, interactive, and hands-on projects that also build confidence, teamwork, and leadership. SPARK has expanded to reach more schools and communities across Hamilton.
This program is currently supported by: Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), Hamilton Community Foundation, and TC Energy.
The STEAM Engine Program helps students build fundamental coding skills in grades 5-8 students through engaging workshops that connect coding to real-world applications. Delivered during core science or math classes, students explore coding concepts and topics in earth and space sciences or automotive engineering. The program features a visit from a STEM industry mentor who shares pathways to STEM careers.
This program is currently supported by: Hamilton Community Foundation, NSERC, City of Hamilton, Canada Post, and the R.R. McCann & Family Foundation.
The IGNITE Program inspires high school students to strengthen their digital technology and math skills through hands-on coding experiences. Participants learn and apply programming concepts tied to geometry, algebra, and computational thinking, enhancing their problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities. Aligned with the Ontario Math Curriculum, IGNITE promotes inclusion by being delivered during regular class time and helps students develop 21st-century skills like digital literacy, creativity, and collaboration—preparing them for success in STEM and beyond.
The NEXUS Program supports Grades 11–12 students from underrepresented and equity-deserving communities as they prepare for post-secondary studies in STEM.
Informed by a Needs Assessment with McMaster Research Shop, NEXUS was created to address real gaps in post-secondary readiness identified by students and educators.
Through a series of guided workshops, mentorship, and hands-on learning, students strengthen both technical and soft skills—from coding and math to time management and resilience—building the confidence and competence to thrive in post-secondary STEM programs.
The Teacher Training Program equips elementary and middle school teachers from high-priority schools to effectively teach digital literacy and coding in their classrooms. The program helps educators adapt the Ontario math curriculum to meet the needs of equity-deserving students, including racialized youth, English Language Learners, and those not performing at grade level. Through partnerships with school boards, institutions, and industry, the program creates systems-level impact and empowers teachers to foster inclusive, engaging STEM learning environments.
This program is currently supported by United Way Hamilton-Halton.
Empower the next generation of innovators year-round. By sponsoring Mathstronauts’ programs, you help underserved students, including youth from low-income families and BIPOC communities, access high-quality STEM education and mentorship opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
Your support breaks down barriers to participation and creates lasting impact, helping students build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to succeed in STEM.
Choose a program that aligns with your organization’s goals and values. Each offers unique opportunities to make a measurable difference in the lives of underrepresented youth.
The SPARK Program helps elementary students (Grades 3–5) strengthen their numeracy skills through fun, interactive, and hands-on projects that also build confidence, teamwork, and leadership. SPARK has expanded to reach more schools and communities across Hamilton.
This program is currently supported by: Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), Hamilton Community Foundation, and TC Energy.
The STEAM Engine Program helps students build fundamental coding skills in grades 5-8 students through engaging workshops that connect coding to real-world applications. Delivered during core science or math classes, students explore coding concepts and topics in earth and space sciences or automotive engineering. The program features a visit from a STEM industry mentor who shares pathways to STEM careers.
This program is currently supported by: Hamilton Community Foundation, NSERC, City of Hamilton, Canada Post, and the R.R. McCann & Family Foundation.
The IGNITE Program inspires high school students to strengthen their digital technology and math skills through hands-on coding experiences. Participants learn and apply programming concepts tied to geometry, algebra, and computational thinking, enhancing their problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities. Aligned with the Ontario Math Curriculum, IGNITE promotes inclusion by being delivered during regular class time and helps students develop 21st-century skills like digital literacy, creativity, and collaboration—preparing them for success in STEM and beyond.
The NEXUS Program supports Grades 11–12 students from underrepresented and equity-deserving communities as they prepare for post-secondary studies in STEM. Informed by a Needs Assessment with McMaster Research Shop, NEXUS was created to address real gaps in post-secondary readiness identified by students and educators.
Through a series of guided workshops, mentorship, and hands-on learning, students strengthen both technical and soft skills—from coding and math to time management and resilience—building the confidence and competence to thrive in post-secondary STEM programs.
The Teacher Training Program equips elementary and middle school teachers from high-priority schools to effectively teach digital literacy and coding in their classrooms. The program helps educators adapt the Ontario math curriculum to meet the needs of equity-deserving students, including racialized youth, English Language Learners, and those not performing at grade level. Through partnerships with school boards, institutions, and industry, the program creates systems-level impact and empowers teachers to foster inclusive, engaging STEM learning environments.
This program is currently supported by United Way Hamilton-Halton.
Teachers like Nicolette are thankful that generous sponsors help provide free STEM programs in their classrooms. “Since we’ve had the program, there is a renewed interest for some who already tried it before […] but more importantly, it was the first experience for some, so sometimes instead of asking to do some other math activity, I do have students asking, “Can we go back on Scratch? Can we do some coding?” That’s a first that that’s happened: There’s enough interest, subsequent to the program, that students are thinking that this is not only an important way of learning but a fun way. And that’s very rewarding.”
Nicolette DiFrancesco, OCT
Grade 7 Teacher, Pauline Johnson Elementary School, HWDSB
How Partners Drive Change
Ontario Trillium Foundation: Powering SPARK
With the generous support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), Mathstronauts launched the SPARK Program, bringing engaging, curriculum-aligned STEM experiences to classrooms at no cost. The funding enabled us to expand access to more schools, especially in communities where resources are limited.
As a key program funder, OTF strengthened its visibility as a champion of educational equity and community development through a CBC article, press release, social media posts, and a newsletter feature.
GM Canada: Fueling Mentorship
Through our partnership with GM Canada, industry professionals connect directly with students as mentors, sharing real-world insights, career pathways, and encouragement. These mentorship opportunities help students visualize a future in STEM fields, build confidence in their skills, and form meaningful relationships with professionals who believe in their potential.
In return, GM Canada deepened its community impact and employee engagement, offering its staff meaningful volunteer experiences that align with the company’s values of innovation, diversity, and future workforce development. The partnership also enhanced GM’s visibility as a leader in corporate social responsibility and STEM education advocacy
Sponsor Hackathon
STEM Hacks is the first hackathon for middle school students in Canada, created and organized by Mathstronauts. It is an annual competition that brings together youth from across Ontario to apply and celebrate science, technology, and engineering in an exciting, hands-on environment. In 2023, for the first time, we expanded STEM Hacks to include high school students, offering a new level of challenge and innovation for older participants ready to deepen their STEM skills and leadership.
Your sponsorship helps us continue to deliver this unique experience—supporting event operations, prizes, and mentorship—while inspiring the next generation of diverse STEM leaders.
OVIN-Funded STEM Hacks 2023: Empowering Students for the Future Automotive Workforce
STEM Hacks 2023 served as a culmination of Mathstronauts’ Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)-funded in-class programs, allowing students to apply Python programming knowledge and skills to real-world automotive challenges, aligning with their goal of enhancing students’ readiness for the automotive industry future workforce, cultivating their software-related skills and industry knowledge.
How to Partner with Us
Whether you’re a corporate sponsor or a community organization, partnering with us is a meaningful way to make a lasting impact on youth in STEM. Your partnership can spark curiosity, open doors, and help shape the future of STEM—one student at a time.
Here’s how to get started:
Contact us
Send an email to contact@mathstronauts.ca or call us at 289-887-2157.
Request a sponsorship package
We’ll share tailored partnership options aligned with your organization’s goals.
Let's connect
We’ll set up a short meeting to explore how we can collaborate.