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United States Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars

EIN 46-3321814 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO KEEP FAITH WITH THE AMERICAN DOUGHBOY.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
18 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 71%
Employees
4
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$85,000, executive 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 49 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (1)
  1. $3.6 million spent. THE UNITED STATES FOUNDATION FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THE WORLD WARS D/B/A THE DOUGHBOY FOUNDATION HAS THE MISSION TO "KEEP FAITH WITH THE DOUGHBOYS AND ENDEAVORS TO EDUCATE AMERICANS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF WORLD WAR I, TO COMMEMORATE THE SERVICE OF THE 5 MILLION AMERICANS WHO SERVED DURING THE WAR, AND TO HONOR THE 116,516 AMERICANS WHO DID NOT RETURN HOME. WORKING WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, THE FOUNDATION RAISED FUNDS FOR THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, DC. IN 2024, THE FOUNDATION HAD THREE ACCOMPANYING COMMEMORATIVE INITIATIVES FOR THE MEMORIAL. FIRST, THE FOUNDATION CARRIES OUT A DAILY PROGRAM OF TAPS AT THE MEMORIAL. EVERY EVENING, A BUGLER IN DOUGHBOY UNIFORM PLAYS TAPS - THE DISTINCTIVE MELODY PLAYED AT US MILITARY FUNERALS AND MEMORIALS - IN HONOR OF THE AMERICANS WHO SERVED IN THE GREAT WAR. THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED ON MAY 24, 2021 AND THE MEMORIAL IS ONE OF ONLY THREE WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL WORLDWIDE TO DO SO. THE FOUNDATION AIMS TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM IN PERPETUITY.SECOND, THE FOUNDATION DEVELOPED AND HAS DISTRIBUTED TWO FREE COMPANION SMARTPHONE APPS FOR THE MEMORIAL - AN APP FOR OFFSITE VISITORS AND AN APP FOR ONSITE VISITORS. BOTH APPS MAKE HEAVY USE OF AUGMENTED REALITY TECHNOLOGY. THE ONSITE APP - THE VISITOR GUIDE -IS A VIRTUAL PAMPHLET AND GUIDE TO THE MEMORIAL'S MAJOR POINTS OF INTEREST. THE APP'S AUGMENTED REALITY FEATURES ARE LINKED TO PHYSICAL LOCATIONS IN THE PARK ALLOWING USERS TO ADD VIRTUAL LAYERS TO THEIR ONSITE EXPERIENCE BY PLACING OBJECTS, INFORMATION, VIDEOS, AND OTHER CONTENT ONTO THE GROUNDS AND SURFACES OF THE MEMORIAL. THE OFFSITE APP - THE VIRTUAL EXPLORER - ALLOWS USERS TO TAKE A VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP TO THE MEMORIAL FROM AN OFFSITE LOCATION (HOME, SCHOOL, ETC.) USING AUGMENTED REALITY ON THEIR SMARTPHONES. USERS MAY ACCESS A SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND EVEN MAY "PLACE AND EXPLORE A TO-SCALE AUGMENTED REALITY MODEL OF THE 1.8-ACRE MEMORIAL AT THEIR LOCATION.THIRD, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS A SCHEDULE OF SPECIAL EVENTS ONSITE AT THE MEMORIALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE EVENTS INCLUDE CEREMONIES, WREATH LAYINGS, CONCERTS, AND MEMORIAL DAY AND VETERANS DAY COMMEMORATIONS.

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 December 2013.

    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.