NGO Funding Request


The recipient entity's full legal name:  The National WWII Museum

The recipient entity's physical address:
           945 Magazine Street
New Orleans, La 70130


The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           945 Magazine Street
New Orleans, La 70130


Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Robert Dupont

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  0790

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $10,000,000

What type of request is this?  Capital Outlay Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           BOARD OF TRUSTEES
2021-2022
Stephen E. Ambrose, PhD
Founder (1936-2002)
Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller, PhD
Founding President & CEO Emeritus

OFFICERS
John E. Koerner III, Chairman
Ted Weggeland, Vice Chairman
John D. Georges, Vice Chair
Sonia A. Pérez, Vice Chair
C. Paul Hilliard, Immediate Past Chairman
John M. Hairston, Secretary
Suzanne T. Mestayer, Treasurer
Stephen J. Watson, President & CEO

TRUSTEES
R. Ryan Adkerson
Clifford S. Asness
Justin T. Augustine III
Lawrence E. Bathgate II
Brandon B. Berger
The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell
Donald T. “Boysie” Bollinger
Jessica Brandt
Michael S. Bylen
James S. Chanos
Kevin G. Clifford
Henry L. Coaxum Jr.
James A. Courter
Arnold W. Donald
Peter N. Foss
William A. Goldring
Charles W. “Chip” Goodyear
Thomas A. Gruber
Hunter G. Hill
LTG Charles W. Hooper
C. Jeffrey Knittel
H. Merritt Lane III
Dennis P. Lauscha
Alan M. Leventhal
Robert E. Smith Lupo
James E. Maurin
Peter J. Merlone
Robert W. Merrick
Michael A. Morris
Dennis A. Muilenburg
David Nierenberg
Pete November
Jane T. Olson
William M. Osborne III
Stephen G. Oswald
Robert J. Patrick
Lisa Pearl, PhD, JD
Robert L. Priddy
James J. Reiss, Jr.
Todd Ricketts
Wyatt G. Rockefeller
Edwin R. “Rod” Rodriguez Jr.
Caren Rubin
Joe F. Sanderson Jr.
Philip G. Satre
Robert A. “Bobby” Savoie, PhD
W. Gray Stream
Sharon Estill Taylor, PhD
André F. Villeneuve
Governor Christine T. Whitman
Governor Pete Wilson


Provide a summary of the project or program:
           1. Reconstruction of the original D-day gallery (now 20 years old) in the Louisiana Pavilion. The Museum must continually renew older exhibits to take advantage of new technology and storytelling strategies to enhance the visitor experience and maintain their reputation as one of the top rated history museums in the country and the world.
2. Build new facilities and renovate existing facilities for storage, maintenance, curatorial and other operational functions at our Constance Street warehouse. This project will improve the efficiency and productivity of Museum operations necessary to support anticipated increased visitation along with expanding educational programming. The project includes construction of critically needed artifact restoration, artifact storage, curatorial offices, facilities and event rental storage and retail operations.
3. Renovate the Kushner Restoration Pavilion. This work will be executed in concert with the Constance Street Warehouse project and 1040 Magazine Street. It involves repurposing existing space to increase operational efficiency and relocating the Stem Gallery to an adjacent room in order to create space to move the PT boat back into the Kushner Restoration Pavilion.
4. Construction of a new museum entry. The existing museum entry is nondescript and doesn’t provide the visitor first impression that reflects the museum experience. It’s operationally inefficient and provides no protection from the elements. The proposed new entry creates an attractive architectural element that identifies the entry location and visually connects the original museum building to the expanded museum.
5. Renovation of 1040 Magazine Street (in the event the Museum is able to acquire that property). If the Museum successfully acquires this property this project would mitigate some of the renovation requirements at Constance Street Warehouse by providing space for retail operations, an artifact storage vault, and event rental and facilities storage among other uses.
6. Major upgrades to Museum’s feature media attraction “Beyond all Boundaries”. Beyond all Boundaries has been the “must see” media attraction at the Museum since it opened in 2009. When opened it established the standard for multisensory media productions. Major upgrades are needed to maintain this presentation as the leader in creative use of technology and media


What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $2,000,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $13,000,000
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The mission of The National WWII Museum is to tell the story of the war that changed the world - why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today - so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Tom Hanks, an earlier spokesman for the S400M capital campaign, said, "The National WWII Museum is a place where you come to learn with your heart as well as your head." It is been described as a place where you go to feel America's greatness.

The State of Louisiana is fortunate to have America's National Museum honoring the generation that fought in World War II located in New Orleans. But beyond the mission of the Museum, the Museum is a major destination attraction for the City and the State. It is rated by Zagat's as the attraction with "Top Appeal" in the City of New Orleans. Almost 80% of the visitors to the Museum are from outside the New Orleans region. In surveys, fifty percent of the out-of-town visitors state the Museum as the first or second reason they came to New Orleans. Thirty percent of those visitors state The Museum is the primary reason for their visit. This defines The National WWII Museum as one of the true destination venues in the City and State. Surveys also show that visitors to New Orleans stay an average of three days in the City. Current visitation for the Museum is over 800,000 and visitation is projected to grow to 1,000,000 upon completion of the expansion. The Museum is an economic engine for the City and the State responsible for driving 385,000 room nights a year. Additionally, the expanded Museum is driving ever increasing tax revenue.

State funding for the Museum is a great investment because the State dollars are substantially leveraged with private funds.

As important as the direct economic impact is, the Museum has possibly a more profound impact on the City and State as a result of the positive image it creates arising out of the often very emotional visitor experiences, as well as the many national and international events sponsored by the Museum both here and in other parts of the country. The Museum is fortunate to have relationships with several national personalities such as Tom Hanks, Tom Brokaw, and Steven Spielberg, who often speak about the importance of the Museum to national audiences.

The National WWII Museum remains committed to our mission and to our City and State.


What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          The National WWII Museum has been rated by Trip Advisor as one of the best museum visitor experiences in the world. To successfully achieve its mission the Museum must continue to enhance the visitor experience using cutting edge technology, immersive environments, interactive exhibits and creative media producers to improve its storytelling. In addition to the on site brick and mortar campus experience, the museum is expanding its education outreach through distance learning, teacher training, production of documentaries and offering advanced college degree courses.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           3 years

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 n/a
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 n/a

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 n/a

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  n/a

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               n/a

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               n/a

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                n/a

          What is the nature of the relationship?  n/a

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 n/a

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               n/a


Contact Information
name:  Robert Farnsworth 
                                       address:  945 Magazine Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

                                       phone:  5042741220
                                       fax:  n/a
                                       e-mail:  bob.farnsworth@nationalww2museum.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Senior V.P. for Capital Programs