WASHINGTON – September 15, 2021 – The International Spy Museum (SPY), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit museum in Washington, DC, has received a $200,000 grant from the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation to support SPY’s youth education programs and expand access to opportunities for underserved families and students. 

The grant provides support for the Museum’s youth programming team for the delivery of a wide variety of educational opportunities – both virtual and live in-person – including student field trips and workshops.  These programs leverage the unique topic of espionage as an entry point for teaching subjects such as science, math, and history, with a focus on helping students develop critical thinking skills.  

“We are grateful to the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation for this generous support, which will make a significant difference for the young people and families we serve,” said Col. Chris Costa, executive director of the International Spy Museum.

The grant will support scholarships under the Diana Davis Spencer Giving Back Initiative to make it possible for families and youth with financial need to participate in Spy Museum workshops and signature programs such as SpyFest and Spy Camp. The funds will extend to pediatric patients, so that SPY can expand the type and breadth of its programming with partners such as NIH, Hope for Henry, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Starlight Foundation, among others.

Recognizing the challenge of teaching about 9/11 as the country approaches its 20th anniversary, the Museum will also deliver specialized training and resources, with support under this grant, that will help teachers address that pivotal moment in modern history and facilitate student discussion about its impact.

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About the International Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity, is the only public museum in the United States to lift the veil on the tradecraft, history, and contemporary role of espionage and intelligence from a global perspective. The mission of the International Spy Museum is to educate the public about espionage and intelligence in an engaging way and to provide a context that fosters understanding of their important role and impact on current and historic events. The Museum's collection chronicles the history of espionage, from its inception to the modern-day challenges facing intelligence professionals worldwide in the 21st century. The original Spy Museum opened in 2002. Its new, expanded building and all-new exhibitions opened in May 2019 to much acclaim.

For more information, please visit spymuseum.org.