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US Navy Memorial Foundation

EIN 52-1104476 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NAVY MEMORIAL MISSION IS TO HONOR, RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SEA SERVICES AND THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THEM WHILE SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY, MARINE CORPS, COAST GUARD AND MERCHANT MARINES. THE NAVY MEMORIAL SERVES TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT THE VITAL ROLE THAT THE SEA SERVICES PLAY IN OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE RICH MARITIME HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

Income
$7.1 million
Spending
$6.6 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
27
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$305,787, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 68% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 19 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, 2025, 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 (4)
  1. $2.6 million spent. VISITOR CENTER SERVICES - THE VISITOR CENTER HONORS, RECOGNIZES, CELEBRATES, AND INFORMS THE PUBLIC ABOUT AMERICA'S ENDURING MARITIME HERITAGE THROUGH COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONIES, REUNION MEETINGS, REENLISTMENT AND RETIREMENT CEREMONIES, BAND CONCERTS, FILM AND VIDEO PRESENTATIONS, PHOTOGRAPHIC AND DATA COLLECTIONS, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND EXHIBITS.
  2. $168,469 spent. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES - EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE HERITAGE OF THE UNITED STATES AS A MARITIME NATION AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SEA SERVICES THROUGH EXHIBITS, FILM AND VIDEO PRESENTATIONS, LECTURES, TOURS, PUBLICATIONS, AND EVENTS. IN 2025, THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL CONTINUED ITS ONLINE EDUCATION OFFERINGS TO INCLUDE A DIGITAL VERSION OF THE JUNIOR SAILOR PROGRAM, ONLINE COURSE MATERIALS FOR K-12 ON HISTORY AND HERITAGE, SEA SERVICE TRADITIONS AND ARCHIVAL RESEARCH. IN 2025, THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL CONTINUED HOSTING A SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL TO CREATE A DIALOGUE FOCUSED ON UNITED STATES MILITARY HISTORY THROUGH AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, EDUCATION, AND ACADEMIC RESEARCH. DURING THE WEEK-LONG PROGRAM, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN INTERACTIVE LEARNING ACTIVITIES. THEY LEARN HOW TO CONDUCT INTERVIEWS WITH SEA SERVICE VETERANS TO PRESERVE THEIR STORIES. THE STUDENTS ALSO TAKE PART IN HISTORICAL PRESERVATION EXPERIENCES WITH THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES. HONOR A CHIEF PROGRAM - IN 2025, THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL CONTINUED A PROGRAM AS PART OF THE DELBERT D. BLACK NATIONAL CHIEF'S MESS THAT ENABLES INDIVIDUALS TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER WHO PROVIDED INSPIRATION, MENTORSHIP, AND GUIDANCE TO THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR NAVAL CAREER. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT THE SIGNIFICANT AND ONGOING IMPACT THAT CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS HAVE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAILORS AND OFFICERS ALIKE AND TO SHOW THE VITAL ROLE THESE OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS PLAY IN SHAPING THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE US NAVY. JUNIOR SAILOR PROGRAM: THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL CONTINUED ITS JUNIOR SAILOR PROGRAM WHICH IS A YOUTH FOCUSED EDUCATION ACTIVITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AS AN OFFICIAL PART OF THEIR JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM. PROGRAM REGISTRANTS PARTICIPATE IN FUN AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES TO HELP THEM LEARN MORE ABOUT THE US NAVY MEMORIAL AND SEA SERVICE VETERANS. THE PROGRAM CAN BE COMPLETED IN-PERSON OR ONLINE. UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE A JUNIOR SAILOR BADGE AND CERTIFICATE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT AND COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM.
  3. $1.4 million spent. THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL HOSTS SEVERAL SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SUPPORT ITS PROGRAM ACTIVITIES. THE EVENTS CARRIED OUT DURING 2025 INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: 1. THE LONE SAILOR AWARDS DINNER IS AN ANNUAL FORMAL GALA DURING WHICH THE US NAVY MEMORIAL RECOGNIZES SEA SERVICE VETERANS WHO HAVE EXCELLED WITH DISTINCTION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CAREERS DURING OR AFTER THEIR SERVICE. THE AWARD RECIPIENTS JOIN AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES BY DRAWING UPON THEIR MILITARY EXPERIENCE TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR SUBSEQUENT CAREERS AND LIVES, WHILE EXEMPLIFYING THE CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT. THE NAVAL HERITAGE AWARD IS GIVEN TO AMERICANS WHO HAVE EXCELLED WITH DISTINCTION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CAREERS, DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES WITH THEIR SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT OF THE NATION'S SEA SERVICES, AND WHOSE LIVES AND CAREERS EXEMPLIFY THE CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT. THESE AWARD RECIPIENTS JOIN AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE A DIRECT AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE SEA SERVICES IN THEIR LIVES. IN 2025 WE CONTINUED THE IN-PERSON LONE SAILOR AWARDS DINNER AT THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON, DC, WHERE THE AWARDS WERE PRESENTED TO THE HONOREES. 2. DELBERT D. BLACK LEADERSHIP AWARD DINNER - RECOGNIZES ONE OUTSTANDING FIRST-TOUR COMMAND MASTER CHIEF, CHIEF OF THE BOAT, OR COMMAND SENIOR CHIEF WHOSE PERFORMANCE AND LEADERSHIP OF SAILORS EMBODIES THE NAVY CORE VALUES AND CHIEF PETTY OFFICER EXPECTATIONS AND DEMONSTRATES THOSE SAME IDEALS OF SERVICE WITH SACRIFICE AS DEMONSTRATED BY MCPON BLACK, AND UPHOLDS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY. 3. COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE PROGRAM - PERMANENT COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES OF SHIPS, REUNION GROUPS, HISTORICAL EVENTS, INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, ETC. ON THE PLAQUE WALL WITHIN THE VISITOR CENTER. 4. SAILOR OF THE YEAR - IN ORDER TO EXPAND THE RECOGNITION OF THE OUTSTANDING SAILORS IN THE FLEET, THE NAVY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SAILORS RECOGNIZED AS SAILORS OF THE YEAR FROM 4 IN 2020 TO 18 IN 2024, AND 29 IN 2025. THE SAILOR OF THE YEAR PROGRAM AT THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL RECOGNIZES THESE SAILORS WITH A PERMANENT SAILOR OF THE YEAR EXHIBIT THAT IS LOCATED INSIDE THE DELBERT D. BLACK NATIONAL CHIEF'S MESS IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL VISITOR CENTER. 5. FANTAIL BREAKFASTS - INVITATION ONLY EVENTS THAT BRING TOGETHER SENIOR NAVY LEADERSHIP TO DISCUSS CURRENT NAVY PROJECTS AND FUTURE PLANS WITH DEFENSE INDUSTRY LEADERS. THE FANTAIL BREAKFASTS ARE CONDUCTED UNDER CHATHAM HOUSE RULE. 6. BRIDGE WING CHATS - BRINGS TOGETHER SENIOR NAVY LEADERS AND JUNIOR OFFICERS FOR DISCUSSIONS ON CAREER PATHS, CURRENT TOPICS AFFECTING THE NAVY, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF JUNIOR OFFICERS, ETC. 7. MOVIES ON THE MEMORIAL - NAVY-THEMED MOVIES SHOWN OUTSIDE ON THE NAVY MEMORIAL PLAZA, FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 8. STATUE PROGRAM - PAYS TRIBUTE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE SEA SERVICES BY PLACING REPLICAS OF THE LONE SAILOR STATUE IN CITIES AROUND THE US AND ABROAD (NORMANDY, FRANCE). THE PROGRAM ALSO PLACES SMALLER BRONZE LONE SAILOR STATUES ON US NAVY SHIPS BEING COMMISSIONED. 9. SITREP SPEAKER SERIES - THE SITREP (SITUATION REPORT) SPEAKER SERIES WAS DEVELOPED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE SITREP SPEAKER SERIES FOCUSES ON A ONE-ON-ONE CHAT BETWEEN THE NAVY MEMORIAL PRESIDENT AND CEO AND A PROMINENT LEADER FROM THE NAVY OR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THE TOPICS DISCUSSED RANGE FROM CURRENT OPERATIONS AND INITIATIVES WITHIN THE NAVY TO THE GUEST'S PERSONAL THOUGHTS ON CERTAIN MATTERS. QUESTIONS ARE ALSO SOLICITED FROM VIRTUAL ATTENDEES AND PRESENTED TO THE GUEST FOR ANSWERS IN REAL TIME. THE SITREP SPEAKER SERIES IS LIVESTREAMED AND RECORDED AS IT OCCURS THEN POSTED TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL'S WEBSITE AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL. IN 2025 USNMF ADDED A SITREP SPEAKER SERIES PODCAST WHICH IS A COMPANION TO THE SITREP SPEAKER SERIES PROGRAM. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AN OPENING VOICE OVER ABOUT THE EPISODE, THE ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW IS THE SAME AS WHAT WAS IN THE LIVE SITREP. AFTER A LIVE SITREP IS COMPLETED THAT SITREP IS MADE AVAILABLE IN A PODCAST VERSION TO INCREASE THE COMMUNICATION MEDIUMS WHERE THE SITREP IS AVAILABLE FOR CONSUMPTION BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ADDITIONALLY, THE PREVIOUS TWENTY-TWO SITREPS ARE BEING CONVERTED TO PODCAST. THE SITREP SPEAKER SERIES PODCAST IS AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCAST, IHEART RADIO, AND OTHER MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS. 10. VETERAN GROUP VISIT PROGRAM - THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL ENTHUSIASTICALLY HOSTS VISITS BY ACTIVE-DUTY AND RETIRED MILITARY GROUPS, MILITARY REUNION GROUPS, VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN 2025 THESE GROUPS MADE MORE THAN 202 VISITS TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL TOTALING MORE THAN 20,173 PERSONS. THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIALS'S VETERAN GROUP VISIT PROGRAM TAILORS EACH VISIT TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THAT GROUP. THESE VISITS ALSO PROVIDE ONE OF OUR MOST CHERISHED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL TO HONOR, RECOGNIZE, AND CELEBRATE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SEA SERVICES, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE; AND TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THEIR SERVICE. 11. THEATRE CHAIR PROGRAM - PERMANENT COMMEMORATIVE NAME PLATES ARE AVAILABLE TO BE PLACED ON THE CHAIRS IN THE ARLEIGH AND ROBERTA BURKE THEATRE IN HONOR OR MEMORY OF SEA SERVICE VETERANS, FAMILIES, SHIPS, REUNION GROUPS, ETC. 12. BLESSING OF THE FLEET - AS A TRIBUTE TO OUR NATION'S RICH MARITIME HERITAGE AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ITS GROWTH AND SUCCESS, THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL, IN CONJUCTION WITH NAVAL DISTRICT WASHINGTON, THE UNITED STATES NAVY BAND AND CEREMONIAL GUARD, HOSTS THE ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE FLEET IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL. DURING THIS CEREMONY, WATER FROM THE SEVEN SEAS AND THE GREAT LAKES IS ADDED TO THE FOUNTAINS ON THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL AS THEY ARE CHARGED TO LIFE, USHERING IN THE SPRING SEASON
  4. $392,913 spent. SALES OF MEMORABILIA TO FURTHER EDUCATE THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE ROLE OF THE NAVY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THE UNITED STATES IN THE NAVY, MARINE CORPS, COAST GUARD OR MERCHANT MARINES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 2025.

    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 July 1978.

    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 November 4, 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.