header.jpg

THE YEAR
IN REVIEW

DESTINATION IMAGINATION
2018 ANNUAL REPORT

Destination Imagination is a global nonprofit dedicated to inspiring the next generation of leaders, innovators and creative problem solvers.

Today’s students will enter the workforce during a dynamic period in the global economy as advancements in science and technology disrupt nearly every industry, These future leaders will need to embody 21st century skills like collaboration, creativity and flexibility. At Destination Imagination, we design affordable project-based learning experiences that focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and help set students acquire the 21st century skills needed to thrive in school, careers and beyond.  

More than 150,000 students worldwide participate in Destination Imagination programs. With your support, we can inspire and empower even more students across the globe who will help build a brighter future through teamwork, creativity and innovation.

 
STATS.png
 

Thanks to our passionate, global network of volunteers, thousands of students from the U.S. and 30-plus countries had the opportunity to participate in the Destination Imagination Challenge Experience.

us.png

46 US STATES

staff square.jpg

25 staff members

globe.png

34 countries

volunteers .png

35,000 volunteers

teams.png

15,455 Teams

participants square.jpg

81,912 Participants


WELCOME TO OUR NEW AFFILIATES

Team Counts by Country

 
TEAM CHALLENGES.png
 
Maze Craze.png

Technical Challenge
Teams were tasked with building a technical device that could navigate a tournament-provided maze.


Unlikely Attraction.png

Scientific Challenge
Teams created their own amusement park attraction that operated using at least three different scientific concepts.


Change of Tune.png

Fine Arts Challenge
Teams created a two-act musical, including a set change that used technical methods.


Treasure!.png

Improvisational Challenge
Teams had to create a skit on-the-spot that incorporated two explorers who work together to return a cultural treasure to its rightful owner.


Drop Zone.png

Engineering Challenge
Teams were tasked with building a structure from a specific set of materials that could withstand impacts from dropped weights.


Inside Impact.png

Service Learning Challenge
Teams addressed a real community need and presented the impact of their project.


Friends Everywhere.png

Early Learning Challenge
Teams explored different cultures and presented a story about how two different cultures are the same and different.

 
GLOBAL FINALS.png
 

Our 2018 Graduate of the Year

This past year, 18-year-old Myra Richardson was named our 2018 DI Graduate of the Year. Richardson began her DI journey in the fifth grade and through this journey, she learned problem solving, team building, designing, engineering, creative thinking and perseverance.  

expo space.jpg

Future Workforce Networking Event

Held at Global Finals 2018, our second annual Future Workforce Networking Event was an opportunity for high school and college students to hear from a dynamic panel of representatives from different industries, ranging from the arts to aerospace. Afterward, students had the opportunity to practice their new networking skills with their peers.

MS Foundation Girls.jpg

Exhibitors Inspire Innovation

At the Global Finals 2018 Innovation Expo, attendees had the opportunity to discover the best of what our exhibitors have to offer. This past year’s Expo included hands-on activities from NASA, Space Camp, Oracle Academy, Motorola Solutions, Janet’s Planet, KEVA Planks, and many more.

 
 
MS Foundation Girls.jpg

Destination Imagination Receives Motorola Solutions Foundation Grant

Thanks to a recent grant from Motorola Solutions Foundation, Destination Imagination had the opportunity to enhance STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and 21st century skills initiatives for approximately 900 students who reside in underserved communities in the U.S.

MADI-team.jpg

PMIEF Sponsors First Destination Imagination Project Plan Scholarship

This past Destination Imagination season, the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF), sponsored our first Project Plan Scholarship. Sylvia Rivera, PMIEF’s Programs Administrator, presented the award at Global Finals 2018.

Ford CoT Website Image.jpg

Ford & DI Team Up for City of Tomorrow Challenge

In partnership with Ford STEAM Experience, we challenged parents to team up with their kids to design a solution to help make future cities more accessible and efficient. Three participants were awarded scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $5,000.

 
TEAM STORIES.png
 

Ohio Students Raise Money To Help Hurricane Maria Survivors

After Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, a DI team from Ohio made it their mission to help children who were affected. They raised enough money to create and send school supply kits to 21 third-graders at Juanita Garcia Peraza Elementary School.

Fifth-Graders Work Together To Save Lives

Knowing that their Team Manager was in need of a kidney transplant, New York DI team, 6 Smarties, chose to raise awareness for living organ and blood donation. They partnered with UNYTS on a blood drive and collected enough blood to save 57 lives.

Alumni Stories

Destination Imagination has more than one million alumni worldwide. Hear from some of them on the benefits of our program and how it prepared them for their careers and beyond.

 
 
New Training.jpg

New Online DI Volunteer Training

Thanks to a partnership with Clarix Technologies and Adobe, Destination Imagination was able to create a new online training portal for volunteers, including Team Managers, Challenge Masters and Appraisers.

pakistan.jpg

Destination Imagination Welcomes Five International Affiliates

This past year, Destination Imagination welcomed seven new International Affiliates who are helping to empower more children and teams around the globe. Our new International Affiliates include Albania, Bahrain, France, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Kazakhstan.

polandteam3-1024x779.jpg

Teams Participate in a DI Challenge Abroad

In March, teams from the U.S. and across the world participated in a one-of-kind Buddy Team Challenge and Instant Challenge at the DI Poland Affiliate Tournament. In addition to the tournament, teams had the opportunity to collaborate with Polish DI teams and explore the beautiful city of Wroclaw.

 
VOLUNTEERS.png
 

Our organization could not do what we do without the support of our nearly 40,000 volunteers worldwide. Thank you to all of our volunteers for your unwavering support and countless hours of work to make Destination Imagination happen for students around the world.

volunteers pano.jpg


 
FINANCIALS.png
 

This has been an exciting year for the Destination Imagination organization. Thanks to the efforts and support of our volunteers, Affiliates, sponsors and staff, we were able to meet and exceed the goals we had for this year.

Click here to view our Financial Statements for the year.