Daniel Graves was at the Lancaster Science Factory Thursday morning, rolling a resin ball down a wooden roller-coaster track.

The 7-year-old homeschooler was learning about kinetic and potential energy.

There was nary a computer screen in sight. Not even a mouse pad was stirring.

That's by design.

As a matter of course, kids at the center don't do digital.

They do physical, hands-on tasks like "driving" a hovercraft and building miniature geodesic domes, bridges and rubber band-driven race cars.

This imagination-sparking approach seems to be working, both educationally and financially.

At the end of 2012, LSF will wrap up five solid years.

The nonprofit in a former warehouse at 454 New Holland Ave. –– at the entrance to Urban Place –– serves school students and their families from across the county and beyond.

It's been running in the black on a modest annual budget of $481,685, according to originator and guiding force Jim Bunting.

Visitation has climbed steadily to a projected 40,000-plus this year.

But LSF isn't content to rest on its electromagnetic auras.

Bunting said the Science Factory will continue to incubate the loyal volunteer effort that has helped it thrive.

Meanwhile, it has launched a search for a new executive director who will become its public face.

And, last week, the board announced a new strategic plan, "LSF 2025," that will allow it to gradually expand its offerings and sustain its success long-term.

It intends to better focus its funding appeals to private companies, create a substantial endowment fund and seek government support for the first time.

The financial blueprint is modeled on those of other vibrant science centers nationwide, said Jeff Lehman, leader of a special ad hoc committee of business people who studied the issue for LSF this summer.

"What I saw is that we don't have to reinvent the wheel here," said Lehman, president and CEO of Shank's Extracts.

Nor should the Science Factory change its role of serving locals and tourists –– or its own sponsors –– according to LSF 2025.

Corporate contributors receive, in return, the chance to tell their story at the Science Factory, which highlights scientific aspects of their industries, Lehman noted.

"One of the things we liked about the Science Factory," Lehman added, "is it's really good at what it does."

Bunting said he's overjoyed with the Science Factory's progress. But he wants to ensure the organization's longevity.

The retired advertising executive and science enthusiast tapped an old friend, Lehman, for advice last spring.

Lehman, in turn, formed the LSF 2025 committee, whose other members include Ruth Devenney, a broker with High Associates Inc.; Dennis Getz, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Lancaster Newspapers Inc.; and Rick Haller, chairman and CEO of Haller Enterprises.

They saw a healthy organization:

Exhibit numbers had ticked up from 40 in 2008 to 55 today. The board had nearly doubled. Visitors have risen from about 25,000 its first year to 38,000 in 2011.

The seven founding directors "have done a remarkable job," Bunting said. "We are now adding members to fit specific responsibilities as we grow."

The committee advised LSF in its Aug. 7 report to keep up its good, lean-structured work –– but proceed in a more organized way.

And tweak that mix of revenue sources.

LSF now gets 45.3 percent of its budget from admissions, memberships, merchandise and programs, 54.7 percent from private donations and zero from government donations.

The committee's survey of other successful science centers showed they get roughly 20 percent of their budget from government donations and about 22 percent from private donations.

The committee encouraged LSF to increase its exposure to corporate backers to try to ensure reliable annual contributions.

It also advised the group to start a trust fund that would reach $1 million in five years and $1.6 million by 2025.

Finally, it strongly urged LSF to seek public money and to hire a development officer and support staff as needed to further its goals.

(The Science Factory currently has four full-time employees, Darlene Byrd, Lauren Schaller, Audrey Lilley and Robert A. Herbert.)

Lehman said LSF hopes to find enough additional support to allow its budget to grow 5 percent per year through 2025.

These are admittedly precarious times to turn to government for help.

"There are challenges to 501(c)(3)'s (charitable organizations) these days from all directions," Bunting acknowledged.

On the other hand, he pointed out, the economy also was souring in 2008, when LSF got its start.

The Science Factory has flowered in part because it's a recognized Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Organization that bolsters struggling schools.

The designation makes LSF eligible for corporate donations given through the state Education Improvement Tax Credit program.

"Education budgets are being cut" Bunting said, "so the importance of this place is huge."

Getting that word out more effectively is another key objective identified by the committee.

"We haven't done a good job of promoting ourselves," Bunting said.

The new executive director will be tasked with expanding the Science Factory's visibility and finding untapped markets, said Barb Burnett, a board member who is heading the search committee.

"We're going to take as much time as we need to find the right person," said Burnett, who added that the initial focus will be local.

Herbert, the present executive director, said he's looking forward to assuming his new job as director of operations.

"My strengths are running the facility," he said.

Herbert said LSF already is forging ahead with a new program of holiday-themed science workshops that continues Monday, Columbus Day, with a 9 a.m.-noon class called "Water Wonders" and 1-4 p.m. boat-building "Brave the Seas" session.

Bunting said LSF hopes to introduce a new exhibit per quarter.

On Thursday, as he talked about the future, he popped colorful plastic balls into a pneumatic tube display.

"We're thrilled" over LSF's prospects, he said. "We're giddy with excitement."

jrutter@lnpnews.com