International African American Museum

Charleston, SC · Founded 2007

Honoring untold stories of the African American journey at one of America most sacred sites through collections and research

Primary audience
General public
Work area
Museum
Topic
African American history
Contact
Dr Tonya Matthews
Website Contact

About Organization

Founded in 2007 and opened in Charleston, South Carolina, the museum operates with 69 staff members and 107 volunteers. The Center for Family History helps people trace African American genealogy through resources, research tools, and monthly webinars, while exhibits steward stories grounded in diasporic, national, and South Carolina history.

What They Focus On

Historical Preservation

Stewarding collections and stories grounded in African diaspora, national, and South Carolina history, ensuring obscured narratives are documented and shared publicly.

Genealogy Research

Teaching African American family history research through Center for Family History resources, staff expertise, webinars, and databases helping people uncover ancestral stories.

Cultural Impact

Sharing influence of African American culture and history through museum exhibits, educational programming, and research tools making untold stories accessible to visitors.

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2024)

$11.2M

+50.6% vs 2023

Expenses (2024)

$12.0M

-14.4% vs 2023

Assets (2024)

$73.5M

+-0% vs 2023

Employees (2024)

69

-43.4% vs 2023

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Employees
2024 $11,151,191 $12,034,464 $73,547,323 69
2023 $7,405,662 $14,059,329 $73,552,670 122
2022 $11,921,609 $19,120,880 $63,921,905 35
2021 $29,654,302 $5,955,188 $69,899,271 24
2020 $5,717,337 $5,060,651 $45,790,957 17
2019 $18,695,151 $1,800,800 $44,515,957 12
2018 $14,823,486 $4,692,084 $27,696,773 11

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

How They Work

Learn more
  • 01

    Story Collection

    Gathering and stewarding stories, records, and artifacts documenting African American journey from international diaspora to local communities.

  • 02

    Research Support

    Providing databases, staff expertise, and training helping visitors trace African American genealogy and uncover obscured family histories.

  • 03

    Public Programming

    Delivering monthly webinars, tours, and educational experiences sharing research methods and historical context for African American stories.

  • 04

    Community Impact

    Inspiring visitors to begin family history journeys and understand African American cultural impact through accessible, research-based education.

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by International African American Museum

Museum Exhibits

Collections and installations sharing impact of African American culture and history, focusing on untold stories at one of America most significant historical sites.

Family History Center

Research facility teaching African American genealogy from beginner to advanced level, with staff support, databases, and monthly webinars.

Educational Programs

Monthly Saturday webinars, in-house programming, and educational resources helping public learn research strategies and uncover family histories.

Collections Stewardship

Preserving and sharing stories grounded in African diaspora, national, and South Carolina history through responsible collection management.

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind International African American Museum.

DT

Dr Tonya Matthews

President and CEO of International African American Museum
Full-time
Compensation: $229,982
DF

Dianne Firment

Chief Financial Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $229,191
MP

Malika Pryor

Chief Learning & Engagement Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $144,925
RW

Robyn Waterston

Development Director
Full-time
Compensation: $109,621
RW

Robyn Webb Williams

Development Director
Full-time
Compensation: $108,010
RB

Ronald Burnette

Facilities Director
Full-time
Compensation: $102,500
VD

Virginia Deerin

Major Gifts Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $151,605
MD

Melanie D. Collins

Director of Human Resources, Talent & Culture
SC

Shawn Crawford

Senior Director of Safety and Security
DF

Dr. Felice Knight

Director of Education
MM

Martina Morale

Director of Curatorial and Special Exhibitions
BR

Brandon Reid

Public Historian
BS

Brian Sheffey

Director of Center for Family History
DH

Dr. Harry H. Singleton III

Lilly Director of Faith-Based Education & Engagement
BC

Bishop Claude R. Alexander, Jr.

Bishop of The Park Church
RA

Ross A. Appel †

City of Charleston Councilmember (District 11)
DB

Donald Beatty

Ret. Chief Justice South Carolina, Supreme Court
KL

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Former 60th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
RE

Robert E. Branan

Financial Manager with The Private Office
VB

Vernita Brown

Entrepreneur, Worlds Apart Leadership
DT

Dr. Tamara Butler

Executive Director of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture
MC

Mignon Clyburn

Principal, MLC Strategies
MW

Mayor William Cogswell Jr.†

Mayor, City of Charleston
GL

Grady L. Crosby

Vice President of Enterprise ESG, Northwestern Mutual
HE

Henry E. Darby †

Charleston County Councilmember (District 4)
AG

Anna Glass

Executive Director of Dance Theater of Harlem
DG

David Goltra Ph.D

National/Regional CJCLDS
JH

James Hairston

Director of Policy of Reality Labs
RD

Rev. Dr. Isaac Holt Jr.

Pastor of Royal Missionary Baptist Church
WE

Wilbur E. Johnson, Esq.

Attorney and Managing Partner at Clement Rivers, LLP
GS

George S. Loening

Chairman and CEO of Select Equity Group LP
KM

Kent Matlock

Chairman and CEO of Matlock Advertising and Public Relations
LM

Lenard McKelvey

Radio host of “The Breakfast Club” and known as Charlamagne tha God
RK

Rev. Kylon Jerome Middleton, EdD†

Charleston County Council Member (District 6) and Pastor of Mt. Zion AME Church
CM

Carolyn Murray

Co-anchor of WCBD Channel 2
JP

Joseph P. Riley, Jr.

Former Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina
DS

Dale Strange

President and SVP, Corporate Impact, Blackbaud
JO

Jim O. Stuckey

Chief Counsel, Dominion Energy
EA

Entrepreneur and Investor

KW

Keith Waring

City of Charleston Councilmember (District 7)
DW

Dwaun Warmack Ph.D

President, Claflin University
NW

Nika White Ph.D

Principal, Nika White Consulting
HA

Heather Andrew Williams, Ph.D.

Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought, University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Africana Studies
DW

Dennis W. Archer

Former Mayor of Detroit, MI
JM

Jeanne Moutoussamy Ashe

Photographer and widow of legendary tennis player Arthur Ashe
DB

David Beasley

Former Governor of South Carolina
LB

Lonnie Bunch

Fourteenth Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
JC

James Clyburn

United States Representative (District 6)
DD

David Dinkins ∗

Former Mayor of New York City, NY
HD

Howard Dodson

Director of Howard University Library
DF

Don Fowler ∗

Former National Chair of the Democratic National Committee
HG

Harvey Gantt

Former Mayor of Charlotte, NC
HL

Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University
JH

Jim Hodges

Former Governor of South Carolina
SC

Sheila C. Johnson

Founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts
JL

John Lewis ∗

Former United States Representative
JM

Jon Meacham

Pulitzer Prize-winning Author
MH

Marc H. Morial

President and CEO of National Urban League
RM

Robert Moses ∗

Founder of the Algebra Project
PR

Phylicia Rashad

Nationally-acclaimed Actress
RF

Richard F. Riley

Former United States Secretary of Education
SR

Steve Roberts

Professor of journalism and political communication at George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs
KS

Kurt Schmoke

Dean of Howard University Law School
CS

Cleveland Sellers

Former President of Voorhees College
HT

Henry Tisdale

Former President of Claflin University
WW

William Winter ∗

Former Governor of Mississippi
RD

Rev. Dr. R. Marshall Blalock

First Baptist Church of Charleston
RP

Rev. Patricia Bligen Jones

Hebron Zion PCUSA
RA

Rev. Alverta G. Bowens

United Church, Beaufort
ME

Minister Eleanor Cooper Brown

Wesley UMC, Penopolis
MB

Ms. Barbara G. Clark

St. Patrick Church
MP

Ms. Pamela Cornwall Duncan

Bethel UMC, Charleston
DM

Deacon Madlyn L. Gabe

Manna Life Center
MN

Ms. Naomi Gorestein

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
RI

Rev. Iris Johnson Brown

MS

Ms. Stephanie LeVan

Seacoast Church
MH

Ms. Heather Lyn Mann

Indigo Sangha, Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism
DM

Dr. Marion C. Platt, III

Star Gospel Mission
AC

Apostle Cleo Pringle

Manna Life Center
IH

Imam Herbert Fraser Rahim

Masjid Al-Jami Ar-Rasheed
ML

Ms. Leslie Skardon

Unitarian Church in Charleston
RD

Rev. Dr. Gregory A. Snyder

St. John's Parish Church
RD

Rev. Dr. William Swinton, Jr.

Ebenezer AME Church
RS

Rabbi Stephanie Alexander

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE)
RC

Rev. Cecelia Armstrong

St. James Presbyterian
RS

Rev. Spike Coleman

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church
RA

Rev. Archie R. Fair

Greater St. James AME Church
EL

Evangelist Linda Gadson

Wesley UMC, Youngs Island
MJ

Ms. Jakki Jefferson

Manna Life Center
MG

Mr. Gerald Mackey

Wesley United Methodist Church
RS

Rev. Sherri McClain-Brown

Great Present AME Church
JA

Judge Arthur McFarland

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
RD

Rev. Dr. Adam Shoemaker

St. Stephens Episcopal Church
MP

Ms. Priscilla Shumway

The Unitarian Church in Charleston
RL

Rev. Luciano Soto

El Lugar de su Gloria
RW

Rev. Walter Strawther

United Methodist Church
IE

Imam Edward Washington

Masjid Al-Jami Ar-Rasheed

Milestones

2007

Organization Founded

2007

Established in Charleston to honor untold African American stories at historically significant site where many enslaved Africans entered America.

Early 2020s

Virtual Programming

Early 2020s

Launched monthly online webinars making African American genealogy research training accessible nationally during pandemic period.

2023

Museum Opening

2023

Opened museum building and Center for Family History with staff support, research databases, and programming helping public trace genealogy.

2024

Volunteer Network

2024

Mobilized 107 volunteers supporting operations, visitor services, programming, and research assistance at museum and family history center.

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

AG
Anna Glass Director 1.00 hrs/week
BC
Bishop Claude Alexander Director 1.00 hrs/week
CM
Carolyn Murray Director 1.00 hrs/week
DD
Dr David Goltra Director 1.00 hrs/week
DD
Dr Dwaun Warmack Director 1.00 hrs/week
DH
Dr Heather Andrea Williams Director 1.00 hrs/week
DT
Dr Tamara Butler Director 1.00 hrs/week
EM
Erwin Maddrey II Treasurer 1.00 hrs/week
GL
George Loening Director 1.00 hrs/week
GL
Grady L Crosby Board Chair 1.00 hrs/week
HT
Halle Tecco Director 1.00 hrs/week
HE
Henry E Darby Director 1.00 hrs/week
JH
James Hairston Secretary 1.00 hrs/week
JP
Joseph P Riley Jr Director 1.00 hrs/week
KM
Kent Matlock Director 1.00 hrs/week
LM
Lenard McKelvey Director 1.00 hrs/week
MP
Michael P Gianoni Director 1.00 hrs/week
MC
Mignon Clyburn Director 1.00 hrs/week
MM
Minor Mickel Shaw Director 1.00 hrs/week
PK
P Keith Waring Vice Chair, Ex-Officio 1.00 hrs/week
RD
Rev Dr Isaac J Holt Jr Director 1.00 hrs/week
RD
Rev Dr Kylon J Middleton Director 1.00 hrs/week
RD
Richard D Elliott ESQ Director 1.00 hrs/week
RE
Robert E Branan Director 1.00 hrs/week
RA
Ross A Appel Director 1.00 hrs/week
VB
Vernita Brown Director 1.00 hrs/week
WE
Wilbur E Johnson ESQ Director 1.00 hrs/week
WC
William Cogswell Director 1.00 hrs/week

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2024)

$1.1M

Highest Paid

$243K

DR Tonya Matthews

Compensated Officers

7

Name Title Base Other Total Hrs/Wk
DR Tonya Matthews Chief Executive Officer $229,982 $12,566 $242,548 40
Dianne Firment Chief Financial Officer $229,191 $11,821 $241,012 40
Virginia Deerin Major Gifts Officer $151,605 $9,914 $161,519 40
Malika Pryor Chief Learning & Engagement Officer $144,925 $10,764 $155,689 40
Robyn Webb Williams Development Director $108,010 $6,666 $114,676 40
Robyn Waterston Development Director $109,621 $753 $110,374 40
Ronald Burnette Facilities Director $102,500 — $102,500 40

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Individual Political Donors

People from this organization who contributed to political campaigns

$100 Total Given
Democratic $100 (100%)
1 Contributions
$100 Avg Each

Top Individual Donors

1 Individual Donor
VD
Virginia Deerin 1 contribution • $100 avg
$100

Quick Insights

🏆
Most Active Donor Virginia Deerin with 1 contributions
🎯
Top Recipient HARRIS VICTORY — $100

Data from Federal Election Commission • Individual contributions only

COVID-19 PPP Loans

Paycheck Protection Program (2020-2021)

Fully Forgiven

Total Approved

$156K

Total Forgiven

$158K

101% forgiven

Jobs Retained

10

Loan Details 1 loan

$156,493
Forgiven
Forgiven: $157,836 100%
Approved Apr 14, 2020
Lender SouthState Bank, National Association
Jobs Reported 10
Forgiven On Mar 3, 2021

Source: Small Business Administration • Paycheck Protection Program (2020-2021)

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$591K Grants Received
6 Organizations

Top Funders

6 total
CC
Coastal Community Foundation
$394K
CB
Coastal Bend Community Foundation
$100K
FI
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund
$47K
CF
Community Foundation Of New Jersey
$31K
BF
Barnet Foundation
$10K
AO
American Online Giving Foundation Inc.
$10K
Coastal Community Foundation Coastal Bend Community Foundation Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Community Foundation Of New Jersey Barnet Foundation American Online Giving Foundation Inc.
Coastal Community Foundation Coastal Bend Community Foundation Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Community Foundation Of New Jersey Barnet Foundation American Online Giving Foundation Inc.

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Related Organizations

1 affiliated entity reported on IRS Form 990 Schedule R

1

Tax-Exempt Affiliates

1
Iaam Supporting Organization
Charleston, SC
Supporting Organization
501(c) 501(C)(3)

Source: IRS Form 990, Schedule R (Related Organizations and Unrelated Partnerships)

Contact

Get in touch with International African American Museum

Phone

(843) 872-5352

Social

Visit Website
Po Box 22761 Charleston, SC 29413