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National Football Museum Inc

EIN 34-0898576 · Canton, OH

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ESTABLISH, EQUIP, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE A MUSEUM AND DEPOSITORY FOR THE COLLECTION, CLASSIFICATION, PRESERVATION, STUDY, AND INTERPRETATION OF RECORDS, RELICS, ARTIFACTS, AND OTHER THINGS OF HISTORIC AND EDUCATIONAL INTEREST CONNECTED WITH OR PERTAINING TO THE ORIGIN, DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THROUGH SUCH ACTIVITIES, TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION AND ENHANCE THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH RESPECT TO THE HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY EFFECT OF THE POSITIVE VALUES AND TRADITION OF THIS SPORT UPON AMERICAN LIFE AND CULTURE.

Income
$35.3 million
Spending
$26.4 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
184
Volunteers
114
Highest pay
$603,075, president

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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 (3)
  1. $9.0 million spent. MUSEUM & ARCHIVES - THE HALL OF FAME PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE TALENTS AND TRIUMPHS OF PRO FOOTBALL'S GREATEST START. CHRONICLED WITHIN THE WALLS OF THE HALL OF FAME ARE THE STORIES AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF PLAY THAT BRING TO LIFE THE COURAGE, DEDICATION, VISION, FAIR PLAY, AND SKILL OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL. THESE HISTORIC DOCUMENTS AND ARTIFACTS ARE PRESERVED AND DISPLAYED FOR OTHERS TO LEARN AND RELIVE THE EXPERIENCES OF SOME OF FOOTBALL'S GREATEST MOMENTS.
  2. $5.5 million spent. HALL OF FAME WEEKEND - THE WEEKEND HELPS TO HONOR THE CURRENT YEAR'S INDUCTEES, AS WELL AS, PRIOR YEAR'S ENSHRINEES THOURGH A WEEKEND CELEBRATION THAT INCLUDES THE FIRST GAME OF THE NFL'S PRE-SEASON. THE EVENTS HELP TO PROMOTE SOME OF THE GREATEST PLAYERS TO EVER PLAY THE GAME OF FOOTBALL AND HONOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS.
  3. $423,632 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAM - THE THRUST OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO ANY SCHOOL, IS AN ATTEMPT TO INTEGRATE THE PRO FOOTBALL AND MUSEUM EXPERIENCE WITH CLASSROOM STUDIES WHILE ENCOURAGING THE USE OF CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS. THE PROGRAMS HAVE GROWN OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES TO INCORPORATE MANY EDUCATION INITIATIVES SUCH AS EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS, DISTANCE LEARNING, BLACK HISTORY PROGRAMS, ART CONTESTS, AND TEACHER ENRICHMENT DAYS.

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

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1960.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.