National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center
Project Title
A final grant in support of the Free Sundays for New Yorkers Program
Date
Mar. 05, 2026
Duration
12 months
Description
Since opening in 2014, the 9/11 Museum has engaged more than 27 million people, yet New York City residents account for only four to six percent of total attendance. With support from Carnegie Corporation, the Museum launched New York First Sundays in January 2025 to address this gap, providing free monthly admission and welcoming more than 8,000 New Yorkers in its first year—approximately 80 percent of whom were first-time visitors, demonstrating strong demand for local access. As the 25th anniversary of September 11 approaches, renewing support for this program will sustain and expand local engagement through targeted outreach, ensuring New Yorkers are active participants in this important moment of reflection.
Website
Project Title
In support of Free Sundays for New Yorkers program
Date
Dec. 12, 2024
Duration
12 months
Description
Through commemoration, exhibitions, and educational programs, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum bears solemn witness to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. While nearly 24 million individuals have come to the Museum from around the nation and the world since it opened, New York residents–those physically closest to the devastation and loss at the World Trade Center site—make up less than 6% of Museum visitors. To better serve New Yorkers, a Carnegie Corporation grant will support the New York First Sundays initiative, expanding on the success of the pilot program, New York First Mondays. Free museum access will be offered to New Yorkers from 4-7p.m. on the first Sunday of every month in 2025, welcoming an additional 3,600 New Yorkers in 2025. Additionally, the museum will offer free on-site resources and activities for children and multi-generational audiences to help them navigate challenging conversations around 9/11 and its continued relevance.
Website
Project Title
As a final grant for core support of its education programs
Date
Jun. 09, 2022
Duration
36 months
Description
Founded in 2003, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center honors the 2,983 people killed in the September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993, terrorist attacks, as well as those who risked their lives to save them. It has stood as a globally recognized symbol of healing, renewal, and hope in the aftermath of tragedy. The fund has virtual and in-person educational programs. One example is its annual 5K Run/Walk, a family-friendly event to raise awareness of the memorial’s mission, promote its educational programming, and sustain the museum’s ongoing operations. With Corporation support, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum will continue its mission of educating the public about the history and lessons learned from the September 11 and February 26 terrorist attacks. It will also resume its in-person 5K Run/Walk, which was postponed for the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Website
Project Title
For general support
Date
Sep. 02, 2021
Duration
3 months
Description
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum stands as a globally recognized symbol of healing, renewal and hope in the aftermath of tragedy. The site remembers and honors the 2,983 people killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993, as well as those who risked their lives to save others. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum had closed for six months in 2020. Although the institution transitioned many of its programs to online formats, its ability to preserve its on-site offerings were significantly constrained. Unlike many cultural institutions in New York City, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum earned 90 percent of its operating revenue through ticket sales from an average of 8,500 daily visitors—approximately $230,000 a day. With Corporation support, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum aims to emerge from the pandemic as a renewed symbol of resilience as it resumes in-person operations and programming.
Website
Project Title
For general support
Date
Sep. 10, 2020
Duration
12 months
Description
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum stands as a globally recognized symbol of healing, renewal and hope in the aftermath of tragedy. The site remembers and honors the 2,983 people killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993, as well as those who risked their lives to save others. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum has been closed indefinitely since March 13, 2020. Unlike many cultural institutions in New York City, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum earns 90 percent of its operating revenue through ticket sales from an average of 8,500 visitors each day—approximately $230,000 a day. When the museum does reopen, it is expected to do so with significantly reduced visitation. Corporation support will help maintain the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and support its plans for a major fundraising initiative.
Website
Project Title
For support of the Tribute in Light project
Date
Dec. 10, 2020
Duration
12 months
Description
Since 2001, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum has become the global locus for preserving the history of 9/11 and exploring its evolving significance. A place of tribute, reflection, and learning, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum honors our collective promise never to forget and offers a living testament to the myriad of ways that unforgettable day continues to shape the world in which we live. Every September 11th,the iconic Tribute in Light has illuminated the night sky and become a national symbol of remembrance and resilience. With corporation support the 9/11 Memorial and Museum will be able to continue this unique installation, which has proved more challenging this year, ensuring safety and social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Website
Project Title
As a final grant for the Tribute in Light
Date
Sep. 12, 2019
Duration
3 months
Description
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc.’s “Tribute in Light” is the annual commemorative public art installation that uses two vertical vertical towers of light to represent the Twin Towers in remembrance of the September 11 attacks to honor those who were killed, and also serves a national symbol of resilience celebrating the spirit of New York. The installation is visible for a 60-mile radius around lower Manhattan. In connection with the Tribute in Light event, the Museums offers an adverse set of inquiry-based programs designed to challenge students to think critically about a wide range of topics related to 9/11. With Corporation support the Museum will continue to expand on its educational programming.
Website
Project Title
As a one-time only grant for the Tribute in Light
Date
Jun. 14, 2018
Duration
7 months
Description
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc.’s “Tribute in Light” is the annual commemorative public art installation that uses two vertical towers of light to represent the Twin Towers in remembrance of the September 11 attacks to honor those who were killed, and also serves a national symbol of resilience celebrating the spirit of New York. The installation is visible for a 60-mile radius around lower Manhattan. In connection with the Tribute in Light event, the Museums offers an adverse set of inquiry-based programs designed to challenge students to think critically about a wide range of topics related to 9/11. With Corporation support the Museum will continue to expand on its educational programming.
Website
Project Title
As a one-time only grant for support of its K-12 education and enrichment programming to students in the New York metropolitan area
Date
Sep. 17, 2015
Duration
34 months
Website
Project Title
Toward support, in honor of John C. Whitehead
Date
Dec. 01, 2005
Duration
6 months