irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $12KMAINTAINED VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL PLAZA FROM THE EFFECTS OF AGE AND WEATHER.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Memorial Plaza Maintenance and Beautification
Ongoing program to preserve, restore, and enhance the Vietnam Veterans Plaza in Lower Manhattan, including structural repairs, landscaping, and ADA-compliant improvements to ensure the memorial remains accessible and dignified for visitors.
Phelps Award
Annual award honoring individuals who support military service members and veterans, named in honor of Navy veteran John Phelps and his son, Lance Cpl. Chance Russell Phelps, killed in action in 2004. The award features a sculpted replica of a Vietnam-era battle helmet mounted on a green glass block inscribed with excerpts from "Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam."
Walk of Honor
Features granite plinths listing the names and ages of the 1,744 New Yorkers who died in the Vietnam War, forming a solemn path for reflection and remembrance within the plaza.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
-
Memorial and Veteran Honor Services 2 activities
- Hosting veterans-oriented events and ceremoniesHosts an annual Phelps Award ceremony to connect generations of military service members and organizes other veterans-focused events and concerts at the Vietnam Veterans Plaza following its restoration.
- Installation and curation of memorial features honoring Vietnam War veteransInstalled and maintains key commemorative elements at the plaza, including a Walk of Honor listing the names of 1,744 New Yorkers who died in the Vietnam War, a 70-foot-long glass block and granite memorial wall etched with excerpts from 83 letters written by veterans, and a sculpted replica of a Vietnam-era battle helmet used in the annual Phelps Award. Also displays a 10-by-20 foot map of South Vietnam showing military bases and major battle locations.
-
-
Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
- Physical maintenance and preservation of the Vietnam Veterans PlazaPerforms ongoing maintenance, beautification, and restoration of the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza at 55 Water Street to protect it from deterioration due to age and weather. Activities include cleaning, repairing, and upgrading structural and landscape elements such as the reflecting fountain, glass block and granite memorial wall, and surrounding plaza features.
-
-
Veteran Story Preservation & Public Education 1 activity
- Providing remote access and educational programmingOffers a live feed of the Vietnam Veterans Plaza for remote viewing, particularly to support disabled veterans, and provides educational content about the Vietnam War, including historical context, U.S. military service and casualty data, and information on Medal of Honor recipients.
-
-
Disaster and Line-of-Duty Memorialization 1 activity
- Rededication of the Vietnam Veterans Plaza after 9/11Reopened and rededicated the Vietnam Veterans Plaza in November 2001 as the first public space officially dedicated and reopened in lower Manhattan following the September 11, 2001 attacks, reaffirming its symbolic role in the city’s recovery.
-
-
Uncategorized 2 activities
- Establishment of endowment for perpetual maintenanceEstablished and seeded with approximately $100,000 an endowment fund dedicated to the long-term preservation and maintenance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, ensuring its upkeep beyond immediate renovation efforts.
- Renovation and expansion of the Vietnam Veterans PlazaRedesigned, funded, and rebuilt the 90,000 square foot Vietnam Veterans Plaza, completing major renovations in 2001. The project included structural upgrades, ADA-compliant ramps, ceremonial entrances with U.S. service flags, and enhanced landscaping to improve accessibility and dignity of the memorial space.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$110K
Contributions & grants$61K55%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$49K44%
Other revenue$162
expenses
Total expenses$97K
Program expenses62%
Admin / overhead38%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$11K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$1.06M
Cash$258K
Investments$797K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.06M
Liquid reserves130.4 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -22.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 17
- BILL NELSON — BOARD MEMBER
- BRIAN WHITING — CHAIRMAN
- CHRISTOPHER PAGE — BOARD MEMBER
- DAN PALINO — BOARD MEMBER
- DOUGLAS MCGOWAN — BOARD MEMBER
- GABRIEL STEFANIA — BOARD MEMBER
- GERRY BYRNE — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMES BARNES — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMES HENDON — BOARD MEMBER
- JASON BREZLER — BOARD MEMBER
- JOE ATHERALL — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN J CAMPBELL — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAEL O'CONNOR — BOARD MEMBER
- RICHARD WOOD — BOARD MEMBER
- ROBERT SANTOS — BOARD MEMBER
- RYAN S COLT — BOARD MEMBER
- SALVATORE J CASSANO — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 7
Who they work with
- 55 Water Street Partner — Pledged to maintain the revitalized Vietnam Veterans Plaza.
- Flexible IT Partner — Technology partner providing website and digital marketing support.
- Friends of Vietnam Veterans Plaza Inc. Network — Identified as the tax-exempt entity receiving donations for the memorial's preservation; likely an alternate name or legal designation for FRIENDS OF THE PLAZAVVP CORPORATION.
- John Phelps Partner — Collaborated with the organization to design the Phelps Award
- New York City Government — Officially recognizes the plaza as New York City’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
- New York City Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation Partner — Works closely with the Friends of the Plaza to raise funds and drive the development of the memorial.
- Vietnam Veterans of NYC Partner — Collaborates on the memorial display featuring letters from veterans.
strategies · 5
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.
- Intergenerational Linking through Ceremonial Recognitionmethodology: intergenerational_linkingBy annually presenting the Phelps Award to connect current and past service members, the organization fosters intergenerational understanding and continuity of military values, because formal recognition rituals bridge historical divides and reinforce shared identity.
- Perpetual Memorial Preservation through Physical and Symbolic Stewardshipmethodology: perpetual_memorial_preservationBy maintaining and enhancing the physical and symbolic elements of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza, the organization sustains a lasting culture of recognition, respect, and reflection on New Yorkers' sacrifices in the Vietnam War, ensuring that public memory persists across generations.
- Personal Narrative Memorialization to Foster Emotional Connectionmethodology: personal-narrative-memorializationBy displaying personal letters and veterans' voices in the memorial space, the organization humanizes the experience of war and deepens public reflection, because authentic narratives create emotional resonance that abstract remembrance cannot achieve.
- Reflective Environmental Design to Promote Contemplationmethodology: reflective-designBy designing the plaza with flowing water over light stones on polished black granite, the organization creates a calming, contemplative atmosphere, because sensory elements in built environments shape emotional and psychological states conducive to reflection.
- Spatial Education to Enhance Historical Understandingmethodology: spatial_educationBy incorporating a large-scale physical map of Vietnam War sites into the memorial, the organization educates visitors about the war’s geography and context, because spatial visualization improves public comprehension of complex historical events.