Program areas at Marine Corps Heritage Foundation
Programs for the national museum of the Marine Corps include support for museum collections/exhibits, artwork, educational programs, community outreach efforts, a volunteer docent program, payroll support for interns and special assistants, marketing, and Heritage center property/grounds maintenance. The Foundation conducts all retail operations within the museum which include the gift shop, two restaurants, special events, a laser rifle range, and a giant screen movie theater showing the Foundation's feature film, "we, the marines". During 2022, the museum hosted 42,169 virtual and in person students and a total of 307,595 visitors. The intern/special assistant programs had 28 staff members with support totaling $317,833, traveling exhibits support totaled $74,322, and maintenance support totaled $195,225. Total expenses include $5.3m depreciation on the museum and Heritage center.
Other Foundation programs include support for annual national history day (nhd) competitions, grants for usmc historical projects; usmc band concerto and "call for scores" music competitions and staff assistance; events honoring significant dates in usmc history, and an annual awards program recognizing exemplary work that furthers the understanding of Marine Corps history and traditions. Grants in support of nhd totaled $3,500. The awards program had 18 winners receiving a total of $36,000 in cash prizes. Usmc band support included 4 music competition cash prizes totaling $9,000 and 1 staff member with support totaling $22,751. Special project grants totaling $10,507 were issued to 3 recipients; and 2 grants totaling $90,000 were awarded to the usmc historical company and university of sc educational Foundation.
Historical programs include support for the Marine Corps university history division's interns, research grants and fellowships, and academic degree scholarships. During 2022, 2 educational grants were awarded totaling $122,500; and the usmc history division intern / special assistant program had 6 staff members with support totaling $36,632.