Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

National Veterans Memorial and Museum Operating Corporation

EIN 84-3880595 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO HONOR AMERICAN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COUNTRY THROUGH MILITARY SERVICE, TO CONNECT CIVILIANS WITH VETERANS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE. TO INSPIRE VISITORS TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND NATION AS ACTIVE ENGAGED CITIZENS. AND, TO EDUCATE SCHOOL CHILDREN ABOUT THE HISTORY AND VALUE OF SERVICE.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$7.9 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
44
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$696,730, secretary/vice chair

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

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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 (3)
  1. $5.3 million spent. MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS & OPERATIONS: DESIGNED TO EVOKE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCY FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG CIVILIANS, WE DELIVER A MULTI-MEDIUM OF DIGITAL, INTERACTIVE AND VIRTUAL EXHIBITIONS AND ART ENCOMPASSING USES OF FUNCTIONAL PIECES LIKE FOOTLOCKERS AND STORAGE CHESTS AS AUDIO UNITS, VIDEO, INTERACTIVE VISUALS, HISTORIC MEMORABILIA AND PHOTOGRAPHY ALONGSIDE THE ARTISTIC WORK OF LOCAL AND NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED PHOTOGRAPHERS, VIDEOGRAPHERS, AND OTHERS.
  2. $316,915 spent. EVENTS: WE UNITE AUDIENCES TO HONOR VETERANS, REFLECT AND INSPIRE SERVICE IN ALL FORMS WITH OUR EVENT PANELS, WEBINARS, NATIONAL MILITARY HOLIDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, SERVICE CELEBRATIONS, FACILITY RENTALS BY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS COMMITTED TO AND INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING OUR MISSION, AND MORE. OUR EVENTS, INCLUDING VETERANS DAY, MEMORIAL DAY, D-DAY AND PATRIOTS DAY TO CITE A FEW, COMMEMORATE AND PROVIDE REFLECTION ON NATIONAL HISTORY AND PERSONAL SACRIFICE IN INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES TAILORED TO EDUCATE, PROMOTE RESILIENCY, DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING OF SERVICE, AND CULTIVATE COMMUNITY IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT ON-SITE AND ONLINE.
  3. $150,998 spent. EDUCATION & VETERAN OUTREACH: WE INTRODUCE AUDIENCES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO A NEW EXPERIENTIAL WAY OF LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING THE JOURNEY OF THE AMERICAN VETERAN FROM ALL BRANCHES AND ERAS OF SERVICE. EDUCATING ALL AGES ON THE HISTORY AND VALUE OF SERVICE FROM THOSE WHO SHAPED OUR NATION, OUR EDUCATION EFFORTS INCLUDE K-12 CONTENT AND CURRICULUM TAILORED TO OHIO STATE STANDARDS IN CURRICULUM, ON-SITE AND VIRTUAL TOURS, VOLUNTEER, INTERN AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS, AN ACCREDITED LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATION (LCERT) PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OSU, AND ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO HONOR AND CONNECT THE VETERAN AND BROADER COMMUNITIES WITH INTENTIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER STRENGTH, RESILIENCY, PERSONAL GROWTH AND SERVANT LEADERSHIP.

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 January 2020.

    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.