What Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation does

The Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2000 to conduct private and public fundraising and community outreach supporting the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum (ASOM) in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Foundation is a non-federal entity separate from the Department of Defense; the museum itself is owned and operated by the U.S. Army as part of the Army Museum Enterprise under the U.S. Army Center of Military History. The Foundation's scope is fundraising, operating the Museum Store and Memorial Paver/Monument Program, and community engagement.

The Foundation's products and services revolve around the physical museum and its programming: museum exhibits covering 80+ years of Airborne and Special Operations history (1940–present), a museum store selling books and commemorative merchandise, virtual tour access, continuing education programming (Distinguished Speaker Series, author discussions, curator presentations), the Field of Honor flag display, tribute paver and monument sales, event rental of the lobby, video theater, Reflection Garden, and Parade Field, and a Curatorial Apprenticeship Program in its fourth year. The technology stack is conventional: a WordPress-based website (asomf.org), an e-commerce storefront (shop.asomf.org), standard social media properties, and email newsletter infrastructure. No AI, proprietary platforms, or patents are present.

The Foundation's business model is donation-driven with diversified earned income: private and public fundraising (individual donations, corporate contributions, federal/state/county/city grants), museum store retail, tribute paver sales ($600 for 8x8, $800 for 12x12, $4,000 for 24x24), an annual Friend of the Museum membership, and event rentals. Admission is free. The institution is rated the #1 Attraction in Fayetteville, has received a GuideStar Silver Seal of Transparency (2020), and operates with a small paid staff supplemented by volunteers. The Foundation's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across walk-in visitation, group/school tours, organized military and civic events, and digital channels.

Name

Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation

Legal name

Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation

Website

https://asomf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that fundraises and operates the gift shop and memorial programs for the official U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina, serving the public, students, veterans, and active duty military through exhibits, education, events, and tribute offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Military Heritage Museum Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (71211)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE), Historical & Military Collectibles Retail (CRALAGAM)

Keywords

• Museum admissions
• Military heritage exhibits
• Educational programming
• Tribute memorial products
• Nonprofit fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Fayetteville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Private and public fundraising including individual donations, corporate contributions, and government grants. The museum was originally funded through a combination of federal grants, state funding from North Carolina, and county/city contributions.
2. Museum Store Sales: Museum store sells books, merchandise, and commemorative items related to airborne and special operations history.
3. Tribute Gifts and Pavers: Engraved granite paver sales (8x8 for $600, 12x12 for $800, 24x24 for $4,000) and monument sales for memorialization of soldiers and supporters.
4. Membership Program (Friend of the Museum): Annual Friend of the ASOM membership program providing exclusive benefits, early access to events, and ongoing connection to museum activities.
5. Event Rentals: Rental of museum facilities including video theater, lobby, reflection garden, and parade field for military, civic, and private events.
6. Field of Honor Flag Sales: Sale of flags for the Field of Honor display on museum grounds, honoring service members and veterans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation operates the support organization for the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum, preserving and presenting Airborne and Special Operations history from 1940 to the present through immersive exhibits, educational programs, and commemorative events. The Foundation raises funds through donations, memberships, museum store sales, tribute paver/monument purchases, and event rentals, with all proceeds supporting museum exhibits, programs, and preservation.

Product overview

The Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation operates a physical museum as its primary offering, with the core museum exhibits showcasing U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations history from 1940 to present. Supporting the museum experience are the Museum Store for merchandise, Virtual Tour for remote access, and Continuing Education Programs including the Distinguished Speaker Series and virtual book discussions. The organization offers Event Rental Facilities (lobby, video theater, Reflection Garden, Parade Field) for military, civic, and private events. Memorial and tribute offerings include Tribute Paver Program, Monument Program, Memorial & Honor Gifts, and an Endowment Program managed through Cumberland Community Foundation. The Friend of the Museum membership program and Volunteer Program support community engagement, while specialized services include Military Records Research Assistance and Artifact Donation Program. Annual signature events include Field of Honor, National Airborne Day Commemoration, Operation Fun Fridays, Operation Husky Commemoration, and 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Exhibits Immersive exhibits featuring artifacts covering U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations history from 1940 through the Global War on Terrorism, including displays on World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and modern operations. Free admission; open to the public, school groups, and organized tours.
• Museum Store Official gift shop offering merchandise including books, apparel, commemorative items, and specialty products such as Ghost Army merchandise. Operates both on-site and via online e-commerce, with proceeds supporting museum exhibits and programs.
• Event Rental Facilities Rental of museum venues including a 5,000 sq ft lobby with five-story glass walls, a 40-seat video theater, the Reflection Garden, and the Parade Field with seating for 60. Available for military, civic, and private events such as ceremonies, receptions, and reunions.
• Tribute Paver Program Engraved granite paver stones available in three sizes (8x8 for $600, 12x12 for $800, 24x24 for $4,000) placed in the Reflection Garden or museum entrance to honor or memorialize individuals who served in Airborne or Special Operations units. 24x24 pavers offer optional custom artwork for an additional $300 per symbol.
• Monument Program Large monument stones representing Airborne and Special Operations units lining the museum entrance walk. Purchased by units or associations as permanent memorials.
• Friend of the Museum Membership Annual membership program providing supporters with updates on programs, special events, exhibits, early access to events, and exclusive engagement opportunities. Creates ongoing connection to museum activities.
• Continuing Education Programs Educational programming including the Distinguished Speaker Series, virtual book discussions with authors, Hidden Treasures curator presentations, and historical educational content for students and the public.
• Virtual Tour Digital exploration tool allowing remote visitors to experience the museum's galleries and exhibits virtually from anywhere in the world.
• Field of Honor Annual patriotic tribute featuring American flags displayed on the museum's Parade Field, honoring service members, veterans, first responders, and loved ones. Runs from September 11 through Veterans Day each year.
• Endowment Program Endowment managed by Cumberland Community Foundation allowing donors to make gifts dedicated to honoring or memorializing individuals who served in Airborne or Special Operations units. 100% of each contribution is added to the principal of the fund.
• Memorial & Honor Gifts Monetary gifts made in memory of loved ones or to mark special occasions such as military retirements or promotions, with acknowledgement sent to donors and honoree families.
• Volunteer Program Program recruiting individuals to assist with sharing museum collections, exhibitions, research, and educational programming with the public.
• Military Records Research Assistance Guidance and resources for researching military service records, including assistance for active U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations units for Lineage and Honors research.
• Artifact Donation Program Formal process for accepting artifact donations with provenance to Airborne or Special Operations Soldiers, units, or operations, subject to Center of Military History approval.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 82nd Airborne Division MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating museum that showcases the legacies of Airborne and Special Operations Soldiers. Both museums work together to preserve and present military history.
• John F. Kennedy Special Warfare MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner museum showcasing special warfare history. Joint efforts to display and preserve military heritage.
• U.S. Army Center of Military HistorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe museum is part of the Army Museum Enterprise and falls under the umbrella of the U.S. Army Center of Military History, which manages and oversees museum operations.
• Cumberland Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwns and manages the ASOM Foundation Endowment. For 40 years has provided essential funding to improve quality of life in Cumberland County. 100% of each contribution is added to the principal of the fund.
• Cool Spring Downtown DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the annual Field of Honor event at the museum.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Museum of the United States Army: The official U.S. Army museum located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Directly comparable as a federally-affiliated Army history museum with similar funding model (private nonprofit foundation supporting an Army Museum Enterprise institution) and overlapping content focus on military history preservation.
• National Infantry Museum: U.S. Army infantry-focused museum at Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), Georgia. Comparable as a specialty military museum operated in partnership with the U.S. Army, with similar tribute/memorial program offerings and veteran-engagement focus.
• National WWII Museum: Major military history museum in New Orleans with similar donation-supported, free/paid admission model and educational programming focus. Comparable as a large-scale nonprofit museum dedicated to a specific military historical subject.
• National Veterans Memorial and Museum: Columbus, Ohio-based veterans museum and memorial. Comparable as a nonprofit museum dedicated to honoring U.S. military veterans, with similar donation/revenue model and educational programming approach.
• John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum: Partner museum at Fort Liberty focused on Special Forces history. Directly comparable as a formal partner institution with shared subject matter (Special Operations history) and joint programming efforts with the ASOM Foundation.
• Pritzker Military Museum & Library: Chicago-based military museum and library founded by the Pritzker family (the same donor family that matched the ASOM Legacy Fund). Directly comparable as a private military heritage institution with shared donor network and similar educational programming.
• 82nd Airborne Division Museum: Partner museum at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) dedicated to the 82nd Airborne Division. Directly comparable as a partner institution with overlapping content on Airborne history and shared geographic audience.

Broad incumbents

• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: Large New York City museum complex featuring military and aerospace artifacts including a recovered aircraft carrier. Comparable as an established military/aviation heritage museum with significantly larger visitor scale and broader scope (sea/air/space).
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History: Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C. featuring broader American historical artifacts including military collections. Comparable as a federally-affiliated museum with military content overlap, though substantially broader in scope and scale.

Regional players

• Cumberland County Veterans Services: Local government veterans services organization in Cumberland County, NC. Comparable as a regional veterans/military family support organization sharing the same geographic base (Fort Liberty area) and overlapping veteran and military family customer segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ASOMF
• Facebookfacebook.com/ASOMF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asomf
• Instagraminstagram.com/ASOMF

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation