USS Midway Museum's 20th Anniversary Series: Foundation and Membership Departments

Welcome back to Midway's 20th-anniversary blog series, where we highlight a specific Museum department every month, looking back at the department’s early days and the developments it has experienced over the last 20 years.

Today, our sixth article in this series dives into the development of Midway's Foundation and Membership Departments.

After more than a decade of struggle, the USS Midway Museum finally opened to the public in June 2004 and quickly proved financially successful. Within a few years, the museum had repaid its initial debts and could begin covering its operating expenses. With the public’s faith in the viability of Midway assured, it was time to think of returning the favor and establish ways to support the community and nation that sustained the museum.

Enter the USS Midway Foundation – a parallel organization to the museum whose mission is to guide long-term fundraising efforts that ensure Midway’s ongoing maintenance and education programs, manage endowments and preserve a philanthropic focus for financial grants. The Foundation went into high gear in 2007 under the leadership of Ari Petersen, who managed a multi-faceted capital campaign with both near-term goals and lengthy donor cultivation programs that produced mutually rewarding relationships with major retailers, the telecommunications industry, and defense contractors. 

With “Giving" being the hallmark of the Foundation, and even after Ari’s departure in 2013, Dan Beintema, a former naval aviator, furthered the Foundation’s leadership in both the community and nationally through charitable support of more than $2.4 million in donations to more than 50 organizations. Additionally, a planned giving arrangement was established, which ensured that the posthumous wishes of Midway supporters were realized.  Early successes of these efforts saw more than $1 million raised in just six months to preserve the “Kiss” statue located next to the museum and the increased prestige of the annual Midway American Patriot Award.

Now, under the direction of Laura White, the Foundation’s current president, the organization is committed to extending the museum’s success into the 21st century and guaranteeing Midway’s preservation in the future. The education opportunities made possible by the Foundation today embrace the entire arc of K-12 grades, to college and postgraduate levels, with an educational reach that encompasses not only the local community but the nation and even federal service officers.

Charitable outreach through the Foundation’s Pillars of Freedom, established in 2016, has granted more than $4 million to more than 130 worthy organizations supporting active-duty military, veterans, and first responders. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $125,000 have positively impacted the lives of more than 100,000 individuals.  A new feature of the Pillars of Freedom grants is the Catapult Endowment Fund, which will assist organizations that help military veterans transition into civilian careers.

A current high-profile project for the Foundation is the construction of Freedom Park at Navy Pier.  Being built on the land surrounding the USS Midway Museum, this park will be the West Coast’s largest memorial parkland. This ambitious endeavor, decades in the making, will be completed by early 2028 at a cost of approximately $65 million.

As attractive as a day’s visit to Midway is to millions, there are benefits to extending the relationship with a membership. Midway’s arrival in San Diego in 2004 was due to the support of thousands of volunteers, and from the start, maintaining a connection to thousands more has provided a new avenue for museum supporters.

The strength of Midway’s membership has grown steadily over the years. Midway Circle Level Members now enjoy a variety of discounts, unlimited admission, guest passes, and advance notice of Midway events. Members can also attend exclusive membership events, including Steel Beach in the summer and Member Appreciation Week in February. With a roster now holding over 14,000 generous supporters, the Midway membership program continues to offer outreach and other appreciative initiatives for the people who care about Midway the most.