A proposed institution

To remember, to document, to never look away.

A nonprofit center dedicated to preserving the memory of Palestinian lives lost across generations, documenting the long history of displacement, occupation, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, and educating the public in service of peace, justice, and human dignity.

LocationLos Angeles, CA
StatusIn proposal
Timeline18–36 months
Structure501(c)(3) nonprofit
Scroll
Why this museum

A permanent space for memory and witness.

The institution exists to document the human cost borne by the Palestinian people, from the displacement of 1948 through the decades of occupation to the catastrophe in Gaza today. It works to preserve the memory of those lost and to educate the public, advancing peace, justice, and human dignity.

The name evokes the gravity and moral urgency of this history while marking the museum clearly as a documentation of the Palestinian experience, curated with historical accuracy and ethical care.

Los Angeles, home to large Arab, Muslim, Jewish, and progressive communities, is an ideal place to foster dialogue and understanding across divides. The museum will operate independently, guided by historical accuracy, ethical curation, and inclusivity.

50k+Expected annual visitors
5,000+Students reached through school programs
GlobalDigital reach via virtual exhibits
Indep.Advisory board safeguarding accuracy
What visitors will encounter

Exhibits & programming.

Permanent galleries trace the Palestinian experience across more than a century, from homeland and displacement to occupation and the present crisis in Gaza. All content is curated by an independent advisory board of historians, journalists, and human rights experts to ensure accuracy and sensitivity.

01

A People's Timeline

A chronological account stretching from the early twentieth century through 1948, the years of occupation, and into the present, grounding visitors in the long arc of events.

02

Homeland & Memory

Villages, cities, and landscapes as they were: the places, homes, and ways of life carried in memory across generations of displacement.

03

Displacement & Exile

The refugee experience from 1948 onward: the camps, the diaspora, and the enduring meaning of return for millions of Palestinians.

04

Voices & Testimonies

Oral histories from survivors, elders, and displaced families across generations, told in their own words.

05

Humanitarian Impact

The scale rendered legible: casualty figures, famine risk, child victims, and the loss of essential infrastructure, with Gaza documented in depth and presented with statistical care.

06

The Children's Gallery

A dedicated space centered on resilience and hope, offering a way to hold grief alongside the possibility of repair.

Education

  • School tours aligned to California human-rights & genocide-studies standards
  • Public lectures & panel discussions
  • Film screenings
  • Online webinars & virtual tours

Rotating Exhibits

  • Traveling displays on related human-rights issues
  • Collaborations with Palestinian artists
  • Filmmaker showcases
  • Visiting collections

Community

  • Interfaith dialogues
  • Resource center for scholars & journalists
  • Lectures & commemorations
  • A robust, freely accessible digital archive
Phase 1 · first 24 months

The road to opening.

A staged path from incorporation to public opening, with a longer horizon for digital expansion, endowment, and international partnerships.

Months 1–3Foundations
Refine the mission, incorporate, file for 501(c)(3) status, and form the initial board.
Months 4–6Feasibility
Feasibility study, preliminary site search, and content-development planning.
Months 7–12Build the base
Secure funding commitments, lease the space, hire core staff, and begin exhibit design.
Months 13–18Construction
Renovation permits, artifact collection, and exhibit fabrication.
Months 19–24Opening
Staff training, a soft opening for stakeholders, and the grand public opening.
Years 2–5Phase 2
Digital expansion, endowment building, and international partnerships.
Investment

Budget & funding.

A Phase 1 startup budget of roughly $2.6M–$4.7M, followed by an annual operating budget of $750K–$1.2M sustained by admissions, donations, grants, and memberships.

CategoryEstimated cost
Legal & incorporation$15K – $25K
Facility: lease & buildout$800K – $1.5M
Exhibit design & fabrication$600K – $1.2M
Staffing (two years)$500K – $800K
Marketing & launch$150K – $250K
Collections & research$100K – $200K
Operations & insurance$200K – $300K
Contingency (10–15%)$250K – $400K
Phase 1 total$2.6M – $4.7M

Funding will be diversified across seed donations, major gifts, philanthropic and cultural grants, and earned revenue, with a permanent endowment targeted within five years.

01Seed Funding

Private donations, crowdfunding campaigns, and aligned philanthropic foundations.

02Major Gifts

Targeted outreach to individuals and organizations committed to human-rights advocacy.

03Grants

Applications to cultural funds, progressive foundations, and humanitarian donors.

04Earned Revenue

Ticketing, memberships, the gift shop, event rentals, and digital content licensing.

Structure & place

Built to last, and to be trusted.

Incorporated as a California public benefit corporation with federal 501(c)(3) status, governed by a board of at least five members with expertise in museums, education, law, and community advocacy, alongside an advisory council safeguarding content integrity.

The museum will seek a central Los Angeles site of 5,000–10,000 sq ft with strong transit access, climate-controlled storage, and full ADA, seismic, and fire-safety compliance. Initial plans favor a commercial lease, with future expansion to owned property.

Next steps

Help ensure these stories are remembered.

We invite partners, donors, and advisors to join a founding committee, support early fundraising, and help bring this institution to life. Together, we can build a place that ensures “never again” applies universally.

Get in touch

Start a conversation.

Whether you're interested in joining the founding committee, exploring an advisory role, making a gift, or reaching out with a press inquiry — we'd be glad to hear from you.