Woodson African American Museum of Florida

What Woodson African American Museum of Florida does

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution founded in 2006 and headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, in the former Jordan Park community center at 2240 9th Ave S. The museum preserves, presents, and interprets African American history, art, and culture through rotating and permanent exhibitions, an oral history program called 'At the Feet of the Elders,' the Woodson Warriors scholarship fund, educational programming including a Summer Freedom School and Civil Rights Pilgrimages, and signature events such as the First Ladies in African American History Awards and the Jazzy Juneteenth Jubilee. Exhibition programming features regional, national, and curated-international works; in 2025 the museum exhibited the monumental 'Harriet Tubman: The Beacon of Hope' sculpture by Wesley Wofford and acquired the majority of works from 'Beacons, Griots & The Journey to Freedom' curated by Black Art In America, establishing a permanent collection base anchored by the 8,000+ piece Montague Collection.

The revenue model is a hybrid of donations (Diamond $5,000 down to Bronze $100 annual giving tiers), grants from foundations, federal, state, and municipal sources, facility rentals ($909.50 for the Gallery, $1,926 for the Legacy Garden plus deposits), corporate sponsorships, and merchandise sales. Disclosed major funding includes $1 million from the Milkey Family Foundation, $1 million from the African American Cultural Heritage Grant (2022), $1 million from the City of St. Petersburg plus land, $500,000 from the State of Florida, $250,000 from Federal Museum & Library Services, and $800,000+ lifetime contributions from Duke Energy. A $27-40 million capital campaign is in progress, in partnership with the Pinellas Community Foundation, to construct a 30,000-square-foot purpose-built museum on 5+ acres of city-donated land in the Deuces area; the current facility is closed for renovations from January through July 2026.

The institution is governed by an independent board of directors (Raymond Arsenault, Frechette Bradley, Kimberly Brown-Williams, Chiquita Clark, Roslyn Graham, Yolanda Hudson) and led by Executive Director Terri Lipsey Scott (since 2018) with a small staff comprising an Office Manager, Museum Program Manager, and Docent. Distribution relies on a single physical site, partner venues during renovation, exhibition touring arrangements with institutions such as the James Museum and University of Tampa, an e-commerce merchandise shop, and community channels including social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), earned regional press coverage, and cross-promotion with civic and educational organizations. The museum was named one of 17 must-see museums nationally before the opening of the Smithsonian NMAAHC and in 2025 won the WAFX Prize at the World Architecture Festival for its proposed new building, designed by Everald Colas of STORYN Studio.

Name

Woodson African American Museum of Florida

Legal name

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida

Website

https://woodsonmuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida is a St. Petersburg-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that preserves and presents African American history through exhibitions, education, scholarships, and community events while conducting a multi-million-dollar capital campaign for a new 30,000-square-foot facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

Keywords

• African American history
• Cultural heritage museum
• Educational programming
• Community engagement
• Art exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Petersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations at various levels (Diamond $5,000, Platinum $2,500, Gold $1,000, Silver $500, Bronze $100). Also accepts PayPal, check, cash, and card donations.
2. Space Rental: Museum gallery rental at $909.50 plus $250 refundable deposit; Legacy Garden rental at $1,926 plus $350 refundable deposit. Available for events, weddings, and meetings.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate and individual sponsorships available for exhibits, educational programs, and museum space.
4. Scholarship Fund: Woodson Warriors Scholarships Fund accepts donations to support college-bound scholars, with scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $5,000.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise including Black History Matters T-Shirts and other branded items through the museum shop.
6. Grants: Government and foundation grants including African American Cultural Heritage Grant ($1 million), City of St. Petersburg ($1 million), State of Florida ($500,000), Federal Museum & Library Services ($250,000).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution that preserves, presents, and educates visitors about African American history, art, and culture through rotating and permanent museum exhibits, educational programming, signature community events, and venue rentals. Its core offerings include museum exhibitions (with free admission), the Woodson Warriors Scholarship Fund for college-bound scholars, gallery and Legacy Garden space rentals for private events, an annual First Ladies in African American History awards program, and educational programs such as Summer Freedom School, Civil Rights Pilgrimages, and the "At the Feet of the Elders" oral history series. Revenue is generated through donations, grants, sponsorships, space rental fees, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida operates as a single-site cultural institution offering museum exhibitions, educational programs, space rentals, and community events. Core offerings include rotating and permanent exhibits showcasing African American history and art, the Woodson Warriors Scholarship Fund for college-bound scholars, and the Legacy Garden space rental. The museum runs annual signature events including the Jazzy Juneteenth Jubilee, Holiday Open House, and First Ladies in African American History Awards. Supporting programs include educational initiatives like Summer Freedom School, Civil Rights Pilgrimages, 'At the Feet of the Elders' oral history series, book discussions, and the Annual Toy Drive. The museum offers membership tiers, sponsorship opportunities, and operates a merchandise shop. A major capital campaign is underway for a proposed 30,000-square-foot purpose-built facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Woodson Warriors Scholarship Fund: Scholarship program for local college-bound scholars, started in 2019 with initial funding of $43,000 from art auction, providing scholarships of $3,000 to $5,000 to local scholars.
• First Ladies Society

Products and services

• Museum Exhibits and Galleries Rotating and permanent exhibitions featuring African American history, art, and culture from local, regional, and national perspectives; admission is free, presented to the general public and visitors in the Legacy Garden and gallery spaces.
• Woodson Warriors Scholarship Fund Annual scholarship program providing $3,000 to $5,000 awards (plus $250 for books and supplies) to 10–20 local college-bound African American scholars each year, funded through annual fundraisers and the Woodson Warriors Scholarship Endowment.
• Space Rental - Museum Gallery and Legacy Garden On-site venue rental available for events, weddings, meetings, and special occasions. Gallery rental is $909.50 plus a $250 refundable deposit; Legacy Garden rental is $1,926.00 plus a $350 refundable deposit; opportunities for collaboration on joint projects and exhibits are also offered.
• Educational Programs Year-round educational programming including Summer Freedom School, Civil Rights Pilgrimages, "At the Feet of the Elders" oral history series, book discussions, and workshops designed for students, educators, and the general public.
• Harriet Tubman: The Beacon of Hope Sculpture Exhibition Time-limited outdoor sculpture exhibition of Wesley Wofford's monumental "Harriet Tubman: The Beacon of Hope" work in the Legacy Garden, available to the public with free admission through January 2026.
• First Ladies in African American History Awards Annual awards ceremony held during Women's History Month since 2014 celebrating women of color who have achieved "first" status in their respective fields; over 50 women honored to date with corresponding First Ladies Society formed in April 2022.
• Jazzy Juneteenth Jubilee Premier annual Juneteenth celebration and fundraiser held as an All-White Party at The Coliseum to commemorate emancipation and drive museum fundraising.
• Holiday Open House Annual holiday celebration featuring Christmas tree exhibitions, festive activities, and community gatherings held in the Legacy Garden.
• Annual Toy Drive Seasonal toy collection program benefiting local families, running from November through mid-December each year.
• Woodson Merchandise Shop Retail shop selling merchandise including the Black History Matters T-shirt and other commemorative branded items, supporting museum operations.
• Brick Program Legacy Garden donor recognition program in which contributors purchase personalized engraved bricks that are placed in the museum garden pathways.
• Membership Program Recurring-supporter membership program with five giving tiers (Diamond $5,000, Platinum $2,500, Gold $1,000, Silver $500, Bronze $100) offering benefits to recurring donors.
• Sponsorship Opportunities Corporate and individual sponsorship packages supporting exhibits, educational programs, museum space (classroom and meeting room furnishing), and signature events, with table and event packages at varied price points.
• First Ladies Society Society of First Ladies honorees dedicated to advancing the museum's mission and raising funds for the new museum building, having contributed over $250,000 since April 2022.
• Smithsonian Museum on Main Street Exhibition Hosting Florida hosting of the Smithsonian traveling exhibition "Starter Kit: Many Voices, One Nation," scheduled for 2026 as part of the Museum on Main Street program in partnership with Florida Humanities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18 students supported annually through Woodson Warriors Scholarships
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• St. Petersburg Arts AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2025Partnership for Free Museum Day and ongoing community programming collaborations in St. Petersburg.
• First Ladies SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2022Over 30 First Ladies honorees united to spearhead the creation of the purpose-built museum, contributing over $250,000 to the building fund since April 2022.
• Pinellas Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2021Partnership announced in October 2021 to help raise $27 million for a new 30,000-square-foot facility. The foundation is managing the capital campaign jointly with the museum.
• Florida Humanities CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting Florida Heritage Month programming and humanities initiatives.
• St. Petersburg College MidtownsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner opened in 2003 in response to the city's Midtown Redevelopment Act, offering educational opportunities and community activities.
• St. Petersburg Museum of HistorysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional history museum partner for collaborative programming and cultural initiatives.
• Association of African American MuseumssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting African American museums and cultural institutions.
• A.S.A.L.H. (Association for the Study of African American Life and History)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the organization dedicated to promoting African American history.
• Florida African American Heritage Preservation NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network for African American heritage preservation organizations.
• STORYN Studio for ArchitecturecoreTechnology or IntegrationArchitect Everald Colas designed the proposed new museum building, which won the 2025 WAFX Prize in Cultural Identity at the World Architecture Festival.
• Creative PinellascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint exhibition partnership including iMAGiNE NATiON at Gallery at Creative Pinellas, and ongoing cultural programming.
• Black Art In AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurated Beacons, Griots and the Journey to Freedom exhibition featuring 11 artists. Museum acquired majority of works for permanent holdings.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center: Wilberforce, Ohio-based state-affiliated museum sharing the mission of preserving African American history. Comparable as a regional/emerging peer within the Association of African American Museums network, an organization the Woodson partners with.

Broad incumbents

• National Museum of African American History and Culture (Smithsonian): The Smithsonian's flagship African American museum. While far larger and federally funded, it is referenced repeatedly in Woodson's positioning and recognition, and the Woodson is now being chosen by the Smithsonian to host traveling exhibitions — making it a clear incumbent peer for shared audience and donor mindshare.

Direct peers

• Mississippi Civil Rights Museum: Mississippi Department of Archives and History museum sharing the campus with the Museum of Mississippi History. Comparable programming around Civil Rights education and pilgrimage-style tours, which the Woodson also offers through its Summer Freedom School.
• Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: The world's largest African American history museum, located in Detroit. Closest direct comparable to Woodson in mission (preserving and presenting African American history), nonprofit museum operating model, and reliance on community-based programming and donor support.
• National Civil Rights Museum: Located at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, this nonprofit museum is dedicated to civil rights history, including partnership with Pinellas County Schools for Civil Rights pilgrimages. Comparable programmatic format (exhibitions, educational travel, signature events) to the Woodson.
• Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture: Charlotte-based African American arts and culture center. Direct comparable on size, mission, and museum operating model; specifically referenced in Woodson's own benchmarking (Duke Energy has taken Woodson board members there on study visits).
• DuSable Museum of African American History: Chicago-based nonprofit founded in 1961 dedicated to African American art, history, and culture. Comparable in mission, exhibit-driven programming, and reliance on donations, grants, and space rentals; similar scale of operations.
• Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture: Baltimore-based state-supported museum focused on African American history. Comparable as a purpose-built (or in Woodson's case, planned) African American cultural institution, with similar educational programming and donor development model.

Peers

• Northwest African American Museum: Seattle-based nonprofit museum preserving African American history in the Pacific Northwest. Comparable size and operating model to the Woodson, with similar dependence on community engagement, grants, and donations.

Regional players

• American Jazz Museum: Kansas City-based cultural museum with similar scale and nonprofit museum operating model (exhibits, events, rentals). Comparable as a thematic peer focused on African American cultural history rather than a direct geography competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CGWoodsonMuseum
• Facebookfacebook.com/woodsonmuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dr-carter-g-woodson-african-american-museum-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Woodson African American Museum of Florida