Donations

We take pride in knowing we were voted among the Top 5 Best History Museums in 2020 while being honored with accreditation through the American Association of Museums, an accomplishment only 3% of U.S. museums can claim. Your donation helps ensure we can sustain our goal of educating current and future generations through museum visitation or by experiencing these lessons through virtual programming and educational content. We appreciate you and your generosity knowing you make an impact.

Latest Donation Impact

Your generosity has enabled countless additions and improvements to the 55,000 sq. ft., 6-acre museum complex. Visitors can walk through the Admiral Nimitz Gallery and immerse themselves in the life and legacy of Chester Nimitz. They will soon be able to experience the ballroom as it looked in the 1940s when a victorious Admiral Nimitz visited his hometown in celebration. Live Re-Enactments at the state-of-the-art Pacific Combat Zone place the visitor close to battle in the Pacific and bring to life the Museum's exhibits. Young visitors will soon experience the new Children’s Exhibit in the Bush Gallery and learn how America used language, math, and science in the Pacific War. These young visitors will also learn about heroes from diverse backgrounds and communities, such as Carl Gorman, one of the original Navajo Code Talkers, or Doris Miller, an African American Sailor from Texas who earned the Navy Cross for his actions at Pearl Harbor. Educational programming available via our website and through virtual community events and Distance Learning programs with schools are just a few examples of how we are transforming how we deliver value to the community. All of this is possible because of tremendous generosity. Every donated dollar helps provide these programs and projects, and sustains us despite the challenges associated with the on-going pandemic.



My dad served in the Pacific during WWII, and I think it’s important that we continue to educate people about how significant WWII was to all of our lives – not just the families of those who served. This is a world-class museum that does just that, and I am glad to support it.

Jim Mikula
Member and Donor


A Letter from Our President & CEO | Mike Hagee

Dear Friends and Supporters,

On behalf of the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to create a world-class experience for visitors of the National Museum of the Pacific War, thank you for all that you do to support us.

Surveys show that about 12% of U.S. museums remain closed after the pandemic, and the museums that are open are averaging a 38% drop in attendance when compared to pre-pandemic times. While we have seen a softness in admissions recently, our outlook is very optimistic. In fact, we are in a strong position to improve and expand our efforts, thanks to the generosity of many supporters like you.

This year, we resumed our Living History reenactments called “Pride in the Pacific” and an expanded series of “Outpost” demonstrations with several thousand visitors thus far. We continue airing Webinars, the latest one about Midway, for which attendance was our best ever. We are well on track to open the new Children’s Exhibit in Q1 2023 and further renovations in the George H.W. Bush Gallery for state-of-the-art improvements will continue in 2023.

We are receiving attention far beyond Texas for the work we have done in the educational space to reach K-12 students through Distance Learning (DSL). After a DSL program for her students, a San Antonio teacher said, “I rarely use the word exceptional, but I would use it to describe the virtual museum visit today. You touched on some of the most vital pieces of our 5th grade curriculum, but beyond that, you told our students a story that is vital to the fabric of our country.”

I am very proud of the way we navigated the pandemic, and the Admiral Nimitz Foundation was recently recognized with the Charity Navigator 4-Star designation - for the 7th year in a row! In his letter to us, Charity Navigator President and CEO Michael Thatcher said, “only 10% of the charities we evaluate have received at least 7 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that The Admiral Nimitz Foundation outperforms most other charities in America. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets The Admiral Nimitz Foundation apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness.”

One of our goals is to strengthen our national prominence, specifically in the educational space. We are actively identifying ways to deliver award-winning educational programming and content to even broader student, teacher and parent audiences. We are making a difference.

You are a key part in that success. Because this requires continued investment, I ask for your support. Please be assured your investment will always align to our mission as we expand our outreach, which is to honor the history and the lasting global relevance of the lessons of WWII in the Pacific. As a member, donor, or visitor, you should have confidence that you are part of something special by supporting our efforts.

Thank you for being a part of our expanding journey. Stay well and stay safe.

Best,

Mike Hagee , General, USMC (Ret)

President and CEO | The Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Planned Giving