Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM AND EDUCATION CENTER IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING THE LEGACY OF THE HOLOCAUST BY HONORING THE MEMORIES OF THOSE WHO WERE LOST AND BY TEACHING UNIVERSAL LESSONS THAT COMBAT HATRED, PREJUDICE AND INDIFFERENCE.
- Income
- $12.5 million
- Spending
- $11.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 46.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 52
- Volunteers
- 270
- Highest pay
- $457,177, chief executive officer
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 46.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 2567 of 67 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $6.1 million spent. ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & EDUCATION CENTER'S PERMANENT COLLECTION CONSISTS OF OVER 30,000 ITEMS FORMERLY BELONGING TO HOLOCAUST VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS. THESE PRECIOUS ARTIFACTS WERE DONATED BY INDIVIDUALS LIVING PRIMARILY IN THE MIDWEST WHO DIRECTLY EXPERIENCED THE HOLOCAUST. THE MUSEUM, AS CUSTODIANS OF THESE ITEMS, USES THEM TO TELL THE STORIES OF OUR LOCAL SURVIVOR COMMUNITY.
- $1.5 million spent. THE MUSEUM HOSTS A WIDE ARRAY OF FILMS, DISCUSSIONS, LECTURES, CONCERTS AND FAMILY PROGRAMS TO PROBE MORE DEEPLY INTO ASPECTS OF CIVIL RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS, TOLERANCE AND HISTORY. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND OUTREACH AT THE MUSEUM PROVIDE FORUMS FOR VISITORS TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY IMPLICATIONS OF THE HOLOCAUST, GENOCIDE AND INJUSTICE AND TO BECOME ADVOCATES FOR CHANGE. DOCENT-LED AND SELF-GUIDED TOURS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE PUBLIC.
- $913,937 spent. THE MUSEUM HAS 5 CORE EXHIBITION SPACES, 2 TEMPORARY/SPECIAL EXHIBITION GALLERIES, AND 1 MEMORIAL ROOM, THE ROOM OF REMEMBRANCE. THE CORE EXHIBITIONS INCLUDE: 1. THE KARKOMI HOLOCAUST EXHIBITION 2. MAKE A DIFFERENCE! THE HARVEY L. MILLER FAMILY YOUTH EXHIBITION 3. TAKE A STAND CENTER 4. THE JOURNEY BACK, A VR EXPERIENCE 5. SPAGAT FAMILY VOICES OF GENOCIDE EXHIBITION. THE ROOM OF REMEMBRANCE IS A MEMORIAL SPACE. THE JOURNEY BACK, A VR EXPERIENCE, EMPLOYS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TO ENGAGE VISITORS ON A VIRTUAL REALITY JOURNEY AS THEY TRAVEL THROUGH CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND PLACES OF HIDING WITH HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS WHO EXPERIENCED THEM. THE EXHIBITION IS A GLOBAL GAME-CHANGER, REVOLUTIONIZING THE FIELD OF HOLOCAUST MEMORY THROUGH INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND STORYTELLING.
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 November 1982.
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.