National Museum of World War II Aviation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WORLD WAR II AVIATION (THE MUSEUM) WILL PROVIDE UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES (CONT. ON SCH O)
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $69,996, director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $966,612 spent. IN DECEMBER 2017, THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WORLD WAR II AVIATION WAS DESIGNATED BY CONGRESS AS AMERICA'S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WORLD WAR II AVIATION. THE MUSEUM WILL PROVIDE UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT PROMOTE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF AMERICAN AVIATION IN WORLD WAR II AND ITS ROLE IN SHAPING THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE. THE MUSEUM DOES THIS TO PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN THE BEST TRADITIONS OF THE AMERICAN AVIATION PAST AND INSPIRE NEW GENERATIONS OF LEADERS AND INNOVATORS IN THE FUTURE. THE MUSEUM WILL BRING TO LIFE: - HOW A NATION CAME TOGETHER AS NEVER BEFORE OR SINCE, AND THE MANY STORIES BEHIND THE GREAT EFFORT. - HOW PILOTS AND THEIR SUPPORT PERSONNEL, WHOSE COURAGE AND PATRIOTISM REMAIN A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION, CHANGED THE COURSE OF WORLD HISTORY. - THE UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CIVILIAN AND MILITARY EXPERTISE THAT CREATED A WINNING AVIATION TEAM. - THE SURGE IN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTIVITY THAT OVERWHELMED OUR ADVERSARIES. - THE INTRODUCTION OF WOMEN INTO THE WORKFORCE. - THE AIRCRAFT DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS WHOSE INNOVATIONS CREATED ENTIRELY NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR FLYING. - THESE IMPORTANT STORIES, AND MANY OTHERS, CONTINUE TO HAVE GREAT POWER TO TEACH AND INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS. VOLUNTEER HOURS (IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION) FROM WestPac (WILLIAM KLAERS):$187,200 VOLUNTEER HOURS (IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION) FROM WestPac (ANGELICA WILSON):$93,600 Per IRS Form 990 instructions, in-kind contributions has been excluded from revenue and expense.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.