Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation

What Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation does

The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, designated by Congress in 2015, whose sole purpose is to plan, fund, and build the National Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The foundation, headquartered at 1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, serves post-9/11 veterans (approximately 3.7 million who served from September 11, 2001 to 2018), Gold Star families, uniformed and non-uniformed personnel (including CIA, FBI, and contractors), and the broader American public, seeking to fill the gap that the GWOT—America's longest war—has no dedicated national memorial. Its core product is the memorial itself, designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates with input from 20,000 Americans and a 23-member Design Advisory Council, featuring 9/11 relics, reclaimed war steel, a classically inspired amphitheater, a path of honor with embedded footprints, and reflecting pools; the initial design concept was unveiled in May 2026 for the Site A location at 23rd Street NW, Constitution Avenue NW, and Henry Bacon Drive NW, with construction targeted for 2029.

The foundation is funded entirely through private contributions—no federal funding is used—and operates with a small staff of 1–10 employees. Revenue mechanics span individual donations, donor-advised fund distributions, stock and appreciated securities, IRA qualified charitable distributions, corporate matching gifts, foundation grants, planned or legacy gifts, real estate, and multi-year pledges, all processed through a website platform using Donorbox and supported by tiered giving programs (Liberty Gift, Star Gift, Valor Gift, Servant Leadership Council). Supporting products and programs include the Operation Jawbreaker Fellowship Program (honoring uniformed and non-uniformed personnel), the Johnny Micheal Spann Ally Program (for partner organizations), the Welcome Home Podcast, Ruck the Reserve community events, and an online merchandise store. The organization has received the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency and a Four-Star Charity Navigator rating, and counts former President George W. Bush as Honorary Chairman, with Michael "Rod" Rodríguez (retired U.S. Army Green Beret) serving as President and CEO. Approximately $23M has been raised toward the $125M capital goal, and the foundation has accumulated multiple federal, commission, and design authorizations required to proceed.

Name

Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation

Legal name

The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation

Website

https://gwotmemorialfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designated by Congress to plan, fund, and build the National GWOT Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., serving post-9/11 veterans, Gold Star families, and the American public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Memorial Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

Keywords

• Memorial foundation services
• Nonprofit veteran advocacy
• Charitable fundraising campaigns
• National monument construction
• Gold Star family support

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation is funded entirely through private contributions. No federal funding is used. The foundation accepts donations via check, donor-advised fund (DAF) distributions, stock and appreciated securities, IRA qualified charitable distributions, corporate matching gifts, foundation grants, planned or legacy gifts, and real estate. Multi-year pledges are also available.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that plans, funds, and builds the National Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The foundation raises private donations and corporate sponsorships to construct a permanent memorial designed by architect Kengo Kuma that honors uniformed and non-uniformed Americans who served in the Global War on Terrorism. Supporting programs include fellowship and ally partnership programs, a podcast, community ruck events, and an online merchandise store.

Product overview

The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation operates primarily as a nonprofit organization dedicated to building the National Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The foundation's core offering is the memorial itself—a permanent tribute designed by architect Kengo Kuma that honors Americans who served since 9/11. Supporting products include the Operation Jawbreaker Fellowship Program (which honors uniformed and non-uniformed personnel), the Johnny Micheal Spann Ally Program (for partner organizations), the Welcome Home Podcast, Ruck the Reserve community events, and an online merchandise store. The foundation also engages in public outreach, education, and fundraising activities. All donations are 100% tax-deductible and the memorial is funded entirely through private contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Global War on Terrorism Memorial A permanent memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. honoring generations of Americans who served, sacrificed, and supported loved ones through more than two decades of conflict following September 11, 2001. The memorial features sacred relics from 9/11 sites, reclaimed war steel, a classically inspired amphitheater, a path of honor in marble, and shallow reflecting pools with interactive elements. Construction is targeted for completion by 2029.
• Operation Jawbreaker Fellowship Program
• Johnny Micheal Spann Ally Program
• Welcome Home Podcast
• Ruck the Reserve Community Events
• Online Merchandise Store

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000 Americans provided design input through Help Design History campaign
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MCONminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025MCON joined the Johnny Micheal Spann Ally Program to support construction of the GWOT Memorial. The partnership involves showcasing programs at national and international events and utilizing networks to educate the public about the legacy and impact of the conflict.
• Tunnel to Towers FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTunnel to Towers Foundation is a Valor Gift donor. The foundation, which supports fallen first responders and military heroes, shares aligned values with the GWOT Memorial mission.
• Wounded Warrior ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWounded Warrior Project is a Valor Gift donor supporting the GWOT Memorial Foundation, with aligned mission to support veterans who served in post-9/11 conflicts.
• Kengo Kuma & AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally renowned architect Kengo Kuma and his firm were selected to design the GWOT Memorial. Kengo Kuma lost a friend in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The design incorporates input from thousands of veterans and Gold Star families.
• Enrique 'Ric' PradominorOthersRetired CIA Chief of Operations and New York Times bestselling author joined the Operation Jawbreaker Fellowship Program as a distinguished veteran member. The 24-year CIA veteran served as Chief of Operations in the Counterterrorist Center during the September 11th attacks.
• Nahsir Knight-BellminorOthersNahsir Knight-Bell joined the Operation Jawbreaker Fellowship Program as a Gold Star Child Fellow in 2025, honoring his father 1st Sgt. Russell R. Bell who was Killed in Action in August 2012.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Tunnel to Towers Foundation: Large-scale veteran and first-responder nonprofit (Valor Gift donor and Strategic Partner of GWOTMF) serving fallen military and first-responder families—a broader-program incumbent in the same patriotic donor ecosystem with overlapping family-support programming.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Major post-9/11 veteran service nonprofit and GWOTMF Strategic Partner (Valor Gift donor), with overlapping mission, donor base, and post-9/11 veteran beneficiary focus—but operates a multi-program service model rather than a single memorial asset.

Direct peers

• Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation: Supporter organization for the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the National Mall. Comparable peer as a single-asset memorial foundation raising private funds to honor a specific U.S. conflict's veterans.
• National September 11 Memorial & Museum: Manages the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York and shares GWOTMF's 9/11 origin story, donor base (Gold Star families, first responders, defense community), and national-scale civic memorial mission. Most relevant peer for donation mechanics, relic stewardship, and education programming tied to post-9/11 service.
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund: Founded to build and sustain the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall—the closest analog to GWOTMF as a congressionally authorized, donor-funded national war memorial foundation. Operates with a similar donation, preservation, and education mission and a small staff focused on a single Mall-based memorial asset.
• National WWII Museum: Congressionally designated national WWII museum, donor-funded, with a far larger scale and operating endowment but the same fundamental model of channeling patriotic giving into a national tribute to a specific conflict's veterans and families.
• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund: Operates the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in D.C., another donor-funded national memorial foundation with a similar Gold Star/fallen officer family orientation and Mall-adjacent tribute mission.
• National World War I Memorial Foundation: Pershing Park WWI Memorial redesign on the National Mall, built via a privately raised ~$80M campaign with congressionally authorized site. Highly comparable operating model: small foundation, donor-funded Mall memorial with similar federal commission approval pathway.

Emerging players

• George W. Bush Presidential Center: Senior Advisor Michael McMahan's prior affiliation, and President George W. Bush serves as GWOTMF Honorary Chairman and introduced the design concept—closely coupled institutionally with overlapping donor networks and post-9/11 thematic mission.
• U.S. Naval Institute Foundation: Where GWOTMF's CDO (Heather Lancaster) and Senior Development Officer previously led fundraising—a directly comparable donor-development organization supporting the naval/defense community, indicating talent and donor-network overlap with GWOTMF.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GWOTMF
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKqTW0t9gKm7c7k_G8xv9Cw
• Facebookfacebook.com/gwotmf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-war-on-terror-memorial-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/gwotmf

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation