Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation Inc

EIN 47-3700489 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 50% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION IS DESIGNATED BY CONGRESS TO PLAN, FUND, AND BUILD THE NATIONAL GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM MEMORIAL ON THE NATIONAL MALL IN WASHINGTON, D.C., TO HONOR ALL WHO HAVE SERVED AND SACRIFICED IN THE ONGOING GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM, INCLUDING UNIFORMED AND NONUNIFORMED VETERANS, AND THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THEM.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
7
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$349,179, president/ceo

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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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 (2)
  1. $1.2 million spent. ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE DESIGN AND EVENTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE NATIONAL GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM MEMORIAL, INCLUDING SOLICITING INPUT FROM A DESIGN ADVISORY COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS; ASSEMBLING THE DESIGN TEAM AND RELATED ADVISORS; AND COORDINATING WITH GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGN APPROVAL AND MAINTAINING MEMORIAL SITES ON THE NATIONAL MALL.
  2. $506,654 spent. ACTIVITIES RELATED TO OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO ENHANCE AWARENESS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE ONGOING NATURE OF THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM AND THE CONTINUED SERVICE OF ITS PARTICIPANTS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.