Legal and Tax Status Information - United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Contact

Address: 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, Washington, DC 20024-2136

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is both part of the United States Federal government and a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt establishment. Congress created the Museum as “an independent establishment of the United States Government.” 36 U.S.C. § 2301. Congress also authorized the Museum to accept donations, which are considered gifts to the United States for purposes of Federal income, estate, and gift taxes. 36 U.S.C. § 2307. Accordingly, the Internal Revenue Service granted the Museum 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. See Links of Interest.

The Museum is governed by the United States Holocaust Memorial Council (“Council”). The Museum was initially established in 1980 under the auspices of the Council pursuant to 36 U.S.C. § 1401. Congress later revised the statute in 2000 to change the formal name of the establishment to “United States Holocaust Memorial Museum” instead of the “United States Holocaust Memorial Council.” This revision did not substantively change the status, structure, or purpose of the Museum. See Links of Interest.

Information is below regarding Contact Information for Common Issues, filing Tort Claims, filing Requests for Information, issuing Subpoenas, the Office of General Counsel, and Links of Interest.

Contact Information for Common Issues

For requests to change, update, or delete your contact information for the Museum’s mailing lists, contact: membership@ushmm.org.

For permission to use items in the Museum’s collections or on the Museum’s website, contact:

For images: photoarchives@ushmm.org
For films: filmvideo@ushmm.org
For maps, Museum articles, or text: permissions@ushmm.org

For research assistance, contact: reference@ushmm.org.

For questions or concerns not addressed on this page, contact: ogc@ushmm.org.

Tort Claims

If you become injured or your property is damaged, and you believe that the injury or damage was caused by the negligence or wrongful act or omission of the Museum or its employee(s) acting within the scope of their official duties, you may file a tort claim against the Museum. The Museum processes claims in accordance with the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b) and §§ 2671-2680. To file a claim, complete these steps:

Complete a Standard Form 95 (“SF-95”). Explain in detail what happened, using additional pages if necessary. Make sure you specify the total amount of money you seek in block 12d and sign the form in block 13a.
Attach all documents that support your claim, which may include the following:
1. For property damage: Attach relevant receipts, estimates, invoices for repairs, and photographs of the damaged item. If the item cannot be repaired, provide the age of the item and its purchase price. If you were involved in a car accident, send a copy of the police report.
2. For personal injury: Attach medical records, including the doctor’s diagnosis, records of treatment, treatment plans, receipts, medical bills, and a statement indicating what portion of your treatment, if any, is being paid under a medical insurance plan. Include all documents that support the injuries you are claiming.
3. For lost wages: Attach proof of employment and salary, a statement from your employer for the time you were absent, and a doctor’s statement indicating you were unable to work due to the injury.
Submit the completed Standard Form 95 and supporting documents to ogc@ushmm.org. If you submit protected personal information by email, please encrypt your email and/or password-protect the documents you are sending and email the password in a separate email.
The Museum will investigate and make a determination on your claim. The decision will be forwarded to you by certified mail. This process may take several months. Please email ogc@ushmm.org with any questions.

Requests for Information

Please note that the Museum is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) due to its status as an independent establishment of the United States Government. Nevertheless, the Museum endeavors to respond to requests for information in the interests of openness and transparency to the extent possible and reasonable under the circumstances. You may direct a request for information to ogc@ushmm.org.

Subpoenas

A request submitted in the form of a subpoena involves a specific litigation process and imposes certain legal obligations and deadlines. The Museum will respond to subpoenas in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and rules of judicial and administrative entities.

As the Museum is an establishment of the United States Government, it is represented in litigation by the Department of Justice and the Offices of the United States Attorney. Therefore, you must issue a subpoena to the Attorney General of the United States pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as follows:

Attorney General of the United States United States Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530-0001.

You must also send a copy of the subpoena to the Museum’s Office of General Counsel to ogc@ushmm.org.

The Office of General Counsel

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) protects the legal interests of the Museum. OGC attorneys provide legal advice and counsel to the Museum and its staff on a myriad of issues, including–but not limited to–the legal nature and administration of the Museum, intellectual property, employment, collections management, contracts, ethics, tax, and tort claims.

The OGC represents the Museum in (1) litigation and other adversarial proceedings to which the Museum is a party in administrative matters; (2) issues final determinations on administrative tort and personal property claims against the Museum; and (3) generally monitors developments in the law for application to the Museum. The Museum is represented in litigation by the Department of Justice and the Offices of the United States Attorney.

Links of Interest

Updated September 5, 2024