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Foundation for the New Jersey Hall of Fame Inc

EIN 82-3388371 · Newark, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME'S MISSION HAS THREE SIMPLE PARTS: TO CELEBRATE THE GARDEN STATE, TO HONOR OUR LEGENDS, AND TO INSPIRE OUR CHILDREN. ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS, AND EXHIBITS SERVE AS EXTENSIONS OF THAT MISSION, INCLUDING OUR ANNUAL INDUCTION CEREMONY, MOBILE MUSEUM, EXHIBITS AT NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE ARETE SCHOLARSHIP AND LEGACY PROJECT, AND OUR PERMANENT MUSEUM, WHICH SERVES AS THE HUB FOR ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$7.1 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 67%
Employees
28
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$275,000, executive vp

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 89% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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

    21 of 21 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 June 30, 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 (2)
  1. $5.1 million spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTS A RANGE OF PROGRAMS DEDICATED TO CARRYING OUT ITS GOAL TO RECOGNIZE NEW JERSEYANS THAT DEMONSTRATE A SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. AMONG THESE PROGRAMS ARE SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS AND EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TIME, THE ANNUAL ARETE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED TO CURRENT YEAR GRADUATING NJ HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. THE NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND AMOUNT CAN VARY EACH YEAR. SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS ARE RECOGNIZED AT NJHOF'S INDUCTION CEREMONY AND AT OUR EVERYDAY HERO'S EXHIBIT AT NJHOF @ AMERICAN DREAM.
  2. $198,006 spent. INDUCTION CEREMONY: EACH YEAR, THE FOUNDATION HOSTS A CEREMONY FOR ITS NEWEST CLASS OF INDUCTEES. THE ANNUAL CEREMONY IS A CELEBRATION OF THE INDUCTEES AND NEW JERSEY AS A WHOLE, SERVING AS A CONTINUATION OF THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION. THIS IS ALSO NJHOF'S BIGGEST FUNDRAISING EVENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 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 January 2018.

    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.

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