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NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM INC
COOPERSTOWN, NY · EIN 150572877 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A540 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Large ($10M-$50M) · baseballhall.org
revenue
$17.2M
expenses
$16.5M
net assets
$67.8M
employees
236
volunteers
83
program ratio
62%
mission · from form 990

THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION DEDICATED TO FOSTERING AN APPRECIATION OF THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE GAME OF BASEBALL AND ITS IMPACT ON OUR CULTURE BY COLLECTING, PRESERVING, EXHIBITING, AND INTERPRETING ITS COLLECTIONS FOR A GLOBAL AUDIENCE, AS WELL AS HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE MADE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATIONAL PASTIME.

profile · synthesized from sources

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a nonprofit educational institution in Cooperstown, NY, dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of baseball and its cultural impact. It collects, exhibits, and interprets artifacts for a global audience, honors outstanding contributors to the sport, and operates a museum and research center open to the public year-round.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Giamatti Research Center
On-site research facility open to scholars and the public for study of baseball history and artifacts, open Monday–Friday
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Annual public event honoring newly elected Hall of Famers, held at Clark Sports Center with live broadcast on MLB Network and webcast
Private Collections Showcase
Guided, up-close viewing of select Museum and Library collection items; available by reservation for $500 with options to customize by team
The Hall of Fame Starting Nine
Curated scavenger hunt and exhibit experience highlighting nine must-see artifacts from the Museum’s collection
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
    • Collecting, preserving, and exhibiting baseball artifacts
      Collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets baseball-related artifacts and collections, including over 140,000 baseball cards, 40,000 unique objects, and 250,000 images, using professional museum standards for conservation, documentation, research, and cataloging.
  • Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
    • Conducting annual awards for baseball broadcasting and journalism
      Hosts an annual Awards Presentation to recognize excellence in baseball broadcasting and journalism.
  • Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
    • Hosting author events and public discussions
      Hosts an Author Series featuring book discussions and signings in the Baseball Discovery Zone, with events streamed on Facebook to reach a broader audience.
  • Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
    • Hosting private and guided collection viewings
      Offers the Private Collections Showcase, a guided experience allowing visitors to view select museum and library collection items up close, available multiple times daily Monday through Saturday.
  • Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
    • Offering membership and paid public programming
      Provides membership benefits including free admission, exclusive programs, a bi-monthly magazine, and retail discounts, and offers paid access to special events such as live podcast tapings with Hall of Fame inductees.
  • Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
    • Operating educational and interactive visitor programs
      Offers interactive experiences such as the Bartholomay Baseball Discovery Zone, Curiosity Cart activity stations, daily trivia, and the America 250 Discovery Tour to engage visitors of all ages in learning about baseball history, equipment evolution, and national ideals.
  • Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
    • Providing accessibility services for visitors with disabilities
      Ensures full physical and programmatic accessibility by offering wheelchair loans, elevators, Braille and large print guides, OrCam and Clover 6 assistive devices, and free Wi-Fi to support visitors with mobility, visual, or technological needs.
  • Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
    • Supporting access through community programs
      Provides free admission to individuals presenting an EBT/SNAP card and valid ID through the Museums for All program, allowing up to four adults per card to visit at no cost.
  • Uncategorized 4 activities
    • Hosting Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and related events
      Conducts annual enshrinement ceremonies to honor individuals with exceptional careers in baseball, including a free public induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center, Hall of Fame Weekend programming, and related events such as the Parade of Legends and fireworks display.
    • Operating permanent and rotating museum exhibitions
      Organizes permanent and rotating on-site exhibitions using its own collections and loaned materials to showcase significant aspects of baseball history, including exhibits on early baseball rules, patriotism, and American national ideals such as liberty and equality.
    • Presenting awards for contributions to baseball
      Presents the John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award at its discretion, no more than once every three years, to individuals who have enhanced baseball’s positive impact on society, and maintains a permanent bronze statue of Buck O’Neil as part of the award’s home in the Museum.
    • Providing public access and visitor programs during Hall of Fame Weekend
      Offers extended museum access, free shuttle transportation, retail and membership tents, and special programming during Hall of Fame Weekend, including events featuring Hall of Famers, former MLB players, and participants from women’s and adaptive baseball leagues.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$17.16M
Contributions & grants$4.45M26%
Program service revenue$7.65M45%
Investment income$2.16M13%
Other revenue$2.90M
expenses
Total expenses$16.48M
Program expenses62%
Admin / overhead33%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$7.66M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$71.50M
Cash$12.99M
Investments$32.91M
Liabilities$3.68M
Net assets$67.82M
Liquid reserves33.4 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +25.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 10
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JOSH RAWITCH PRESIDENT 35 $489K
SEAN GAHAGAN VP RETAIL MARKETING & LIC. 35 $293K
SHILPA KETHARAJU VP FINANCE AND ADMIN/CFO 35 $243K
EVAN CHASE SECURITY DIRECTOR 35 $173K
KENNETH MEIFERT VP SPONSORSHIP & DEVELOPMENT 35 $172K
LISA ANDERSON VP OF MUSUEM AFFAIRS 35 $166K
JONATHAN SHESTAKOFSKY VP COMMUNICATIONS & CONTENT 35 $150K
RYAN SELZNER VP PEOPLE & CULTURE 35 $148K
ANNE SMULLENS DIRECTOR OF FINANCE 35 $142K
TOM SHIEBER SENIOR CURATOR 35 $128K
board members · 14
  • ARTE MORENO — DIRECTOR
  • CAL RIPKEN JR — DIRECTOR
  • CRAIG BIGGIO — DIRECTOR
  • DR HARVEY W SCHILLER — DIRECTOR
  • JANE FORBES CLARK — CHAIRMAN/DIRECTOR
  • JERRY REINSDORF — DIRECTOR
  • JOE TORRE — DIRECTOR
  • KEN GRIFFEY JR — DIRECTOR
  • KEN KENDRICK — DIRECTOR
  • KEVIN S MOORE — TREASURER/DIRECTOR
  • KIM NG — DIRECTOR
  • OZZIE SMITH — DIRECTOR
  • PAUL BEESTON — DIRECTOR
  • ROBERT D MANFRED JR — DIRECTOR, EX OFFICIO
relationships · 28

Who they work with

  • Adirondack/Pine Hill Trailways Partner — Bus service provider connecting major cities, airports, and train stations in New York State to Cooperstown.
  • Arizona Diamondbacks Partner — Collaborates through its Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick, who serves on the Hall of Fame Board and has pledged a dollar-for-dollar match for the first $250,000 of the America 250 Campaign.
  • Bill Janetschek Funder — Provided financial support for the Tom Seaver display.
  • Billy Wagner Partner — Hall of Famer participating in the Turn Two event.
  • Facebook Partner — Streams Author Series programs on the Hall of Fame's Facebook page.
  • Hayden Trubitt Partner — Lender of The Rules of Base Ball documents from circa 1857.
  • Ken Kendrick Funder — Arizona Diamondbacks owner and Hall of Fame Board Member who pledged to match the first $250,000 in gifts to the America 250 Campaign.
  • Ken Kendrick Partner — As Managing General Partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Board Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, he has pledged to match the first $250,000 in donations to the America 250 Campaign.
  • Leatherstocking Trolley Partner — Trolley service provider operating the Village Trolley that connects parking lots and attractions including the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum.
  • MLB Network Partner — Broadcasts the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony live and exclusively.
  • MLB Network Partner — Broadcasts the Induction Ceremony live nationally.
  • MLB Network Partner — Collaborates with MLB Network for live television broadcast of the Induction Ceremony and through Jon Morosi, who hosts the Hall of Fame's podcast and serves as event host.
  • MLB Network Partner — Partners to broadcast the Induction Ceremony live annually.
  • MLB.com Partner — Partners to webcast the Induction Ceremony.
  • NYS Empire State Development Government — State agency that powers the Cooperstown Free WiFi network alongside the Village of Cooperstown.
  • New Era Partner — Title sponsor of the Hall of Fame Military Classic event.
  • Ozzie Smith Partner — Education Ambassador who hosts the Turn Two fundraising event.
  • Rick Monday Partner — Lender of the American flag he rescued in 1976, on display at the Museum through Labor Day Weekend.
  • Robin Yount Partner — Hall of Famer participating in the Turn Two event.
  • Sirius XM Partner — Partners to broadcast the Induction Ceremony via MLB Network Radio.
  • SiriusXM Partner — Nationally broadcasts the Induction Ceremony via MLB Network Radio.
  • Sports Travel and Tours Partner — Collaborates to offer travel packages for fans attending Hall of Fame Induction Weekend.
  • Sports Travel and Tours Partner — Museum’s travel partner offering Hall of Fame travel packages.
  • Village of Cooperstown Government — Local government entity that co-sponsors the Cooperstown Free WiFi network and operates trolley services used by museum visitors.
  • Wheel the World Partner — Partner organization that granted Accessibility Verified Status to the Museum based on inclusive access practices.
  • William Behrends Partner — Commissioned nationally renowned sculptor William Behrends to create the life-size bronze statue of Buck O’Neil located at the Museum.
  • William Montgomery Funder — Provided financial support for the Tom Seaver display.
  • research library Network — Functions as one of three integrated entities within the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum to support research and documentation.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Cultural Reflection Through Sports
    methodology: cultural_values_alignment
    By framing baseball as a lens to explore American ideals such as liberty, equality, perseverance, and unity, the organization reinforces national identity and civic values, because connecting sports to foundational cultural themes deepens public appreciation and educational relevance.
  • Immersive Storytelling for Engagement and Preservation
    methodology: immersive_storytelling
    By using personal narratives, live events, and rotating exhibits to create immersive storytelling experiences, the organization enhances visitor engagement and emotional connection to baseball history, because emotionally resonant and interactive encounters drive long-term support, membership, and preservation funding.
  • Integrated Cultural Institution Model
    methodology: cultural_heritage_preservation
    By combining a museum, Hall of Fame, and research library in one institution, the organization connects generations through the preservation and interpretation of baseball history, fostering deeper public engagement with the sport’s cultural legacy because integrated access to artifacts, recognition, and scholarship strengthens collective memory and educational impact.