Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Inc

Programs

1. Memorial Legacy - The Organization preserves the legacy of the Memorial and promoting healing through public outreach and awareness, as well as promoting visitation of the Memorial to the general public. The Fund interacts with the public both in person and online to provide information about the Memorial's legacy. In person, Fund staff provide tours, answer questions about The Wall and its history, and do name rubbings for those that can't visit. Online, the Fund's website provides historical and educational information about the Memorial and those whose names are inscribed on it. The Wall of Faces portion of the website provides a page for each service member whose name is inscribed on The Wall and allows families, friends, and veterans to post remembrances and photos, extending the healing power and emotional impact of The Wall to millions of people through the internet. The Fund also uses social media and other digital content and technologies including a mobile app to share the story of the Memorial and its legacy with people all around the world.

   $2,182,115 spent
   50% of program spending

2. The Wall That Heals - The Organization promotes healing and provides education about the impact of the Vietnam War through the traveling Memorial called "The Wall That Heals." The Fund exhibits a 3/4-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in cities and locations throughout the United States, making it possible for individuals who are unable to travel to Washington, D.C., to recognize, remember, and honor those who served and died, and to experience a connection with lost comrades and loved ones. The traveling Memorial also includes a mobile education center to teach visitors of all ages about the Vietnam War and the era.

   $792,196 spent$384,989 earned by the program
   18% of program spending

3. Memorial Maintenance - The Organization works in cooperation with the National Park Service to provide for special maintenance needs of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., including the adjacent Three Servicemen statue, flagpole, Vietnam Women's Memorial, In Memory plaque, and the three-acre site where the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located; to maintain the site's function as a place of reflection on the Vietnam War; a place of honor, recognition, and remembrance of those who served and those who died; a place of spiritual connection with lost comrades and loved ones; and a symbol of healing for our nation. In 2023, VVMF assumed maintenance responsibility for the Vietnam Women's Memorial through its partnership with the Park Service. VVMF now cares for and helps maintain the entire memorial site including the Wall, the Three Servicemen Statue, the Vietnam Women's Memorial and the In-Memory plaque. The Memorial has been visited by more than 95 million people, making it one of the most visited memorials on the National Mall. This year nearly 5 million people visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

   $415,250 spent
   10% of program spending

4. In Memory - VVMF's In Memory program honors Vietnam veterans who served, returned home, and later died, but are not eligible for inscription on the wall under Department of Defense guidelines. Examples of causes of death that fit the criteria for inclusion in the program include: exposure to Agent Orange, PTSD/suicide, cancer, diabetes, and heart attack. The In Memory program also conducts a reading of the names and In Memory events.

   $375,851 spent
   9% of program spending

5. Education Programs - The Organization seeks to educate students about the impact of the Vietnam War and preserve the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial through programs related to the education of students and teachers regarding the Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Memorial's legacy in culture and society. The Fund's education programs reach teachers and students from grades 7 to 12, as well as higher education. The Hometown Heroes program, developed to promote a greater understanding of the Vietnam War, the Vietnam era, and the personal sacrifice of the individuals whose names are inscribed on the Memorial, provides curriculum to schools and community organizations to encourage students. The podcast Echoes of the Vietnam War tells the stories of Vietnam veterans and those still affected by it.

   $258,459 spent
   6% of program spending

6. Ceremonies and Events - The Organization plans, organizes and conducts ceremonies and events each year to recognize, remember, and honor those who served and died, as well as to bring healing to their families, their friends, and the nation. Related costs are associated with planning, organizing, and conducting a number of ceremonies at the memorial and elsewhere to bring people together to remember and honor the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and those who died.

   $246,204 spent
   6% of program spending

7. Outreach - Outreach efforts include all activities to make people aware of VVMF various programs and activities: presentations to visitor groups, veteran groups, or students about the Vietnam War; its veterans; and the Memorial. Outreach also makes people aware of the In Memory Program, The Wall That Heals, ceremonies and other activities that take place as part of VVMF's mission.

   $72,472 spent
   2% of program spending

The 7 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $4,342,547.