Holocaust Documentation & Education Center

What Holocaust Documentation & Education Center does

Holocaust Documentation & Education Center (HDEC) is a Florida-incorporated nonprofit founded in 1980 and headquartered at 303 N. Federal Hwy, Dania Beach, Florida. Its mission is to document Holocaust memory and educate the public — particularly K-12 students, educators, Survivors, Liberators, Rescuers, Second Generation family members, and the general South Florida community — about the dangers of bigotry, hatred, and intolerance. The organization operates a museum Monday-Friday 10AM-4PM that houses two authenticated anchor artifacts (a Holocaust Railcar transported from Poland in 2007, one of only eleven on display worldwide, and a U.S. Army M-4A3E8 Sherman Tank on permanent loan from the U.S. Army that is of the type that liberated Dachau), more than 1,000 additional artifacts (Torahs, yellow stars, documents, artwork, etc.), and a core documentation product of over 2,500 oral histories from Survivors, Liberators, and Rescuers. Educational delivery is multi-channel: in-person guided tours, off-site Student Awareness Days reaching roughly 1,000 students per event across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties, K-12 teacher manuals and Teacher Institutes compliant with Florida's Holocaust Education Statute, a Speakers Bureau pairing Survivors with audiences, traveling exhibitions (Violins of Hope, Anne Frank), and online programming (Sunday Salon Series, Meet the Author, NEH colloquia, podcasts) distributed globally via Zoom/Teams. Strategic partnerships include Ghetto Fighters' House Museum (Israel), International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, and Harriet & Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Center.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: individual donations (preset tiers $18-$1,800, recurring and tribute-card options), planned giving via the Life & Legacy program (bequests, charitable gift annuities, CRTs), corporate sponsorships (JM Family Enterprises, Jewish Federation of Broward County, Gonda Foundation, Broward County Sheriff's Office LETF), Broward County Cultural Division and Board of County Commissioners institutional support, State of Florida appropriations ($1.5M FY2023-24 earmark for the Multipurpose Orientation Theater), museum tour admissions ($15 general / $10 student / free for Survivors and Liberators), capital campaign naming opportunities (totaling over $7.25M across the Remembering the Children, Liberation, Resistance, Final Solution, Oral History Interactive Center, and Interactive Learning Center exhibits), and an annual online raffle ($100/ticket). GTM is event-driven and community-led: HDEC reaches customers through survivor-to-student speaker engagements, large-format convention-center programs, scheduled museum tours booked via Eventbrite, and recurring digital programming. The center is led by President Rositta E. Kenigsberg and Vice President Fred Karlinsky, with construction underway on a new ~100-seat Multipurpose Orientation Theater (designed by Gallagher & Associates, completion targeted June 30, 2024).

Name

Holocaust Documentation & Education Center

Legal name

Holocaust Documentation & Education Center, Inc.

Website

https://hdec.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Holocaust Documentation & Education Center is a Florida nonprofit founded in 1980 that preserves Holocaust memory through 2,500+ oral histories and 1,000+ artifacts (including a rare Holocaust Railcar and Sherman Tank), and educates K-12 students, teachers, survivors, and the public in South Florida and online.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Holocaust museum and education services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Libraries and Archives (51921)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAEAGAJ

Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

SECONDARYBPAGAHAF

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYTLALALAF

Media & Entertainment Physical Archives (Film, Tape, Audio Masters)

Transportation & Logistics/Warehousing & Storage (Cold Chain, Fulfillment, Depots)/Document & Records Storage (Physical Archives)

SECONDARYMPABADAL

Public Media Archives, Libraries & Content Preservation

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Broadcasting (TV & Radio)/Public/Nonprofit Broadcasting (PBS/NPR-style)

Keywords

• Holocaust education
• Museum exhibits
• Oral history preservation
• K-12 educational programs
• Survivor testimony documentation

Headquarters

HQ city

Dania

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, memorial donations, tribute cards, and general contributions. Donations accepted at various levels ($18, $36, $50, $180, $500, $1000, $1800, and custom amounts) with options for recurring giving
2. Museum Admission and Tours: Revenue from tour admissions: General Admission $15, Student Admission $10, with Survivors, Liberators, and Service members admitted free. Large group/school tours also available
3. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Life & Legacy program allowing supporters to leave bequests, gift life insurance, retirement plans, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts to ensure long-term museum sustainability
4. Raffles and Fundraising Events: Annual online raffle with tickets at $100 each (buy 5 get 1 free), offering prizes including Royal Caribbean cruise for 2 valued at $2000 and over 30 additional prizes
5. Naming Opportunities: Capital campaign naming opportunities for museum exhibits including Remembering the Children ($1,500,000), Liberation Exhibit ($1,000,000), Resistance Exhibit ($500,000), Final Solution ($1,000,000), Oral History Interactive Center ($2,000,000), Interactive Learning Center ($1,250,000)
6. Government Grants: State of Florida funding including $1,500,000 earmarked in Governor DeSantis' Framework for Freedom Budget FY2023-24 for Multipurpose Orientation Theater buildout
7. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship arrangements with corporate partners including JM Family Enterprises, Jewish Federation of Broward County, Broward County, and Leslie and Susan Gonda Foundation for exhibitions and programming

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

HDEC operates a Holocaust museum and educational organization that documents and preserves Holocaust history through a collection of 2,500+ oral histories from Survivors, Liberators, and Rescuers and 1,000+ artifacts anchored by a Holocaust Railcar and a U.S. Army Sherman Tank. It sells guided museum tours, Interactive Student Awareness Days for K-12 schools, Teacher Institute professional development, a Speakers Bureau of Survivors and Second Generation speakers, and online programming including webinars, the Sunday Salon Series, and the Meet the Author series. Programming is delivered in compliance with Florida's Holocaust Education Statute across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties with global reach through virtual events.

Product overview

The Holocaust Documentation & Education Center (HDEC) operates as a museum and educational organization with a multi-product portfolio centered on Holocaust documentation, education, and remembrance. The core offerings include the Oral History Collection (over 2,500 documented testimonies), the Artifact Collection (over 1,000 items including Holocaust Railcar and Sherman Tank anchor artifacts), and the Museum facility with various exhibitions. Educational programs include Interactive Student Awareness Days, Teacher Institute, Library Collection, and Speakers Bureau. The Center also provides online programming including webinars, podcasts, and the Meet the Author series. The organization is constructing additional facilities including a Multipurpose Orientation Theater and Hall of Remembrance memorial space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Tours Guided tours of the Dania Beach, Florida museum featuring the authenticated Holocaust Railcar, U.S. Sherman Tank, oral history center, and themed exhibition galleries covering Precursors to Holocaust, Rise of Nazi Party, Ghettos, Genocide, Resistance, Rescuers, Final Solution, Liberation, and Reflection. General Admission $15, Student Admission $10, with Survivors, Liberators, and service members admitted free.
• Interactive Student Awareness Days Educational programs compliant with Florida's Holocaust Education Statute, hosting K-12 students at school sites and large venues such as the Broward County Convention Center to educate about the dangers of bigotry, hatred, and intolerance through direct engagement with Holocaust Survivors, Liberators, and Second Generation speakers via roundtable discussions.
• Teacher Institute Professional development programs for K-12 teachers providing Holocaust education curriculum resources, including downloadable K-12 Teacher Manuals and training aligned with Florida's Holocaust Education Statute.
• Speakers Bureau Program connecting Holocaust Survivors and Second Generation speakers with schools, community groups, and organizations for educational and commemorative presentations.
• Online Programming Virtual events including webinars, podcasts, the Sunday Salon Series, the Meet the Author series, and commemorations delivered globally via Zoom and Microsoft Teams, providing Holocaust education programming to remote audiences.
• Violins of Hope Exhibition Exhibition featuring over 70 violins, violas, and cellos collected and restored since the end of the Holocaust by Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein, telling stories of Jewish musicians before, during, and after the Holocaust through music and culture.
• Anne Frank Exhibition Traveling exhibition featuring Anne Frank's story and historical context, hosted at HDEC with viewing extended to June 30, 2025.
• Hall of Remembrance Memorial space designed to honor and remember family members lost in the Holocaust, providing a dedicated venue for reflection, remembrance, and tribute for Survivors, Second Generation family members, and the broader community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,500 oral histories documented and preserved
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• U.S. Army Center of Military HistorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2007Provided authenticated Sherman Tank (M-4A3E8) on permanent loan from Fort Benning. Tank markings of the 20th Armored Division, 9th Tank Battalion participated in liberation of Dachau. Seven-year effort to secure artifact.
• Government of Poland / Bureau of Polish Railroad LinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2007Polish authorities authorized shipment of Holocaust Railcar to HDEC museum. Railcar (Karlsruhe number 37657 G) transported from Gdynia, Poland, arriving at Port Everglades January 25, 2007 after advocacy from HDEC.
• Harriet & Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of multiple online programs including 'Circuitous Exchanges' NEH Colloquium series and various commemorative events. Deep collaborative partnership for Holocaust education programming.
• Ghetto Fighters' House MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsraeli Holocaust museum partner for joint programming including 'Talking Memory' webinar series and International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorations.
• International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner35-country network acting to preserve Holocaust memory. HDEC co-sponsored 80th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation program featuring IHRA Secretary-General.
• Vancouver Holocaust Education CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in 'Hidden Holocaust Papers' podcast production, sharing resources for Holocaust education across institutions.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Yad Vashem: Israel's official Holocaust memorial and museum is the global reference institution for Holocaust documentation and education. Directly comparable mission and overlapping artifact/oral history collection activities, with significantly broader international reach.
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: The U.S. national Holocaust museum in Washington, D.C. is the dominant American institution in the same mission space, with vastly larger collections, headcount, and funding. Directly comparable in mission (documentation, education, remembrance) but operates at a fundamentally different scale.

Direct peers

• Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center: One of the largest Holocaust museums in the U.S., combining survivor testimony, artifact preservation, and K-12 education in a regional catchment. Closest direct comparable in scope, programming mix, and educational mission.
• Museum of Tolerance (Simon Wiesenthal Center): Los Angeles-based museum combining Holocaust history with broader tolerance education and survivor testimony. Comparable as a regional museum anchor with educational programming and artifact-driven visitor experiences.
• Holocaust Museum Houston: Texas-based Holocaust museum with a similar mix of survivor testimony, artifact collection, and K-12 student programming. Comparable size, scope, and educational mission, serving a regional U.S. market.
• Harriet & Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Center: New York-based Holocaust center with which HDEC co-sponsors online programming. Directly comparable in combining oral histories, exhibitions, and educational outreach, though smaller in scale.

Regional players

• Jewish Museum of Florida: Florida-based Jewish heritage museum with overlapping South Florida audience and cultural-heritage preservation mission. Comparable as a regional cultural institution, though focused on broader Jewish history rather than Holocaust-specific documentation.
• Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre: Canadian Holocaust education center collaborating with HDEC on podcast production. Similar educational mission and survivor-testimony focus, but serves a different North American geography.
• Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach: South Florida Holocaust memorial with a shared geographic catchment and overlapping educational mission. A natural regional counterpart, especially for community commemoration events HDEC co-hosts.

Emerging players

• Ghetto Fighters' House Museum: Israeli Holocaust museum and HDEC programming partner for joint webinars and commemorations. Comparable in survivor-testimony-centered education but operates as a kibbutz-based historical site rather than a standalone museum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sfhdec
• YouTubeyoutu.be/AEQgCk0X6SY
• Facebookfacebook.com/hdecm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holocaust-documentation-and-education-center-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Holocaust Documentation & Education Center