Museum Foundation Statement Concerning Automatic Revocation of Tax-Exempt Status

On 25 October 2022, the MCRD Museum Foundation received notice of an automatic revocation of its tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service because of the failure to file a Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) for three consecutive years. This means, among other things, that the Museum Foundation is no longer eligible to receive tax deductible contributions.

The Museum Foundation is a self-sustaining, nonprofit, non-federal entity that supports the mission accomplishment of the MCRD Command Museum. Transparency is at the heart of everything we do and fundamentally important to the Museum Foundation’s operations and communications.

The Museum Foundation uses the services of a Certified Public Accountant Firm to complete annual audits and Form 990 filing requirements. Delays in completing both requirements began in 2020, due to an investigation into financial transactions by a former Museum Foundation employee.

Museum Foundation corrective actions include, among others, a forensic examination to determine why the Form 990 filing requirement went unfiled. Furthermore, the Museum Foundation is taking immediate steps to file the Form 990s for the last three years. Finally, the Museum Foundation is applying to have its tax-exempt status retroactively reinstated to the date of revocation. If the Internal Revenue Service approves, then the Museum Foundation resumes its eligibility to receive tax deductible donations.

The Museum Foundation remains confident the Internal Revenue Service will retroactively reinstate our tax-exempt status once provided with a full explanation, to include our implementation of corrective measures to ensure timely filing compliance going forward. The Museum Foundation will announce the results of our forensic investigation (subject to individual privacy concerns) and the findings of the Internal Revenue Service when received.

In the meantime, the Museum Foundation will individually communicate with those donors that the revocation of tax-exempt status may impact, to include discussing with them the Museum Foundation’s willingness to return their respective donations.

We appreciate your patience and understanding while the Museum Foundation works diligently to resolve this unfortunate error.

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Museum San Diego

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Where The Past Touches The Future

Dedicated to all who have and will commit themselves to the most honorable service. The MCRD Museum opened its doors in 1987 due to the hard work of Marine retirees and veterans, their families, and friends of the Marine Corps. Since its opening, the Museum has served the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego/Western Recruiting Region through its misson to train recruits and provide for the continuing education of Marines, support the recruiting effort, and serve as a bridge to the civilian community.

The Museum is open to the general public six days a week. It is closed on Sundays and all Federal Holidays. Normal musuem operating hours are Monday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Tuesday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Saturday 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Visitors should enter through Gate 5, the Washington Street gate, and if visiting Monday - Friday, stop first at the base's Visitor Center (Pass & ID) to request a visitor pass. Note: Visitors 18 years of age and older must have REALID compliant government issued identification. For questions about base access and ID types, please contact the base's Visitor Center (Pass & ID) at (619) 524-4200, Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM (3:00 PM on Fridays; closed on Federal Holidays).

The MCRD Museum's major galleries are: Recruit Training at San Diego; the Mexican-American War in California; the Centennial of the Base; World War I; World War II; the Korean War; the Vietnam War; and the Forward Deployed Gallery, an amalgam of history post-Vietnam featuring operations in the 1980's and 1900's such as Grenada and Beirut, Panama, Somalia, Haiti, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and the 2000's and 2010's Global War on Terror featuring conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Smaller exhibits include the history of the Marine Corps Womens Reserve (MCWR) in World War II; Medals and Decorations, Edged Weapons, and Firearms. Field guns are displayed in the museum's courtyard behind the museum building.

museum education

MCRD Museum Education Program

The MCRD Museum offers free tours, classes, and curricula. Staff can also travel to local schools and classrooms. Explore our free programming...

research reference

MCRD Museum Reference Center

Photographs, maps, manuscripts, and more are in the MCRD Museum Reference Center. No cost! Access by appointment. Explore our Reference Center materials...

Tun Tavern Holiday Party

On December 3rd the Museum will be having a Christmas event. RSVP by clicking the button below.

In order for you to get on the base for museum events, we need to collect certain information in advance.

This form is only for those who are 18 and older and who do not already have base access. Those who may already have access include people who have active duty/reserve ID cards, 100% disabled ID cards, Dependent, Retired, or Retired Dependent ID cards, DOD civilian employee ID, or VA health ID that says 'service connected' and has already been registered at MCRD's Pass and ID office (the VA cards registered at other bases don't apply).

GET BASE ACCESS

support the regiment

Join the Support Regiment

The MCRD Museum Foundation depends upon membership fees, grants, and donations to conduct its business of supporting the MCRD Command Museum, the Marines and Sailors of MCRD, San Diego, and the Western Recruiting Region.

sponsors and donors

Sponsors & Donors

The MCRD Museum Foundation established a Sponsors and Donors Wall to honor and recognize Marines and organizations, especially those with a connection to MCRD San Diego, and recognizes donors and supporters at various levels of giving.

Our Impact

Over the past 8 years the MCRD Museum Foundation has contributed over 1 million dollars to the Command Museum. We've recently announced a number of new Museum programs and technological upgrades.

veteran outreach

Veteran Outreach & Increased
Community Engagement

VOICE is the MCRD Command Museum's latest program supported by the Foundation, which is aimed at bringing together Marines, veterans, and the community together at a familiar place, the Depot where Marines are born.

© MCRD Museum. All rights reserved

This not an official USMC website. THIS IS A NON-FEDERAL ENTITY. IT IS NOT PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, OR ANY OF ITS COMPONENTS, AND IT HAS NO GOVERNMENTAL STATUS.

MCRD Museum Foundation
Building 26 Post Office Box 400085
San Diego, CA 92140-0085

Federal Tax ID: 33-0290006

MCRD Museum Foundation 990

Museum Hours of Operation:

Mon 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Tue-Fri 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Family Day Thu 8:00 AM to 5:45 PM

Sat 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Foundation Hours of Operation:

Monday-Thursday, 8:00AM-4:00PM

Friday, 8:00AM-3:00PM

Telephone: 1-619-524-4426

Gift Shop: 1-619-524-0663

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