Excellence: The Institute works to meet the highest standards of accuracy and quality in all of our programs and services.
Accessibility: The Institute brings together the academy, other WWII authorities, enthusiasts, and public audiences.
Relevance: The Institute educates, informs, and encourages those who want to understand the price of freedom and preserve our democratic heritage. 

The Institute for the Study of War and Democracy explores the war’s history and enduring legacies, and seeks to inspire civic engagement by:

• Becoming the preferred resource for audiences seeking fresh scholarship, public history, public programming, and commentary on World War II.
• Extending the reach of the Museum’s public programs and publications to larger national and international audiences.
• Sustaining a network of the world’s preeminent scholars and cultural leaders to promote and broaden the history, memories, and legacies of the war. 
• Attracting new generations of Americans to study, research, and write about the American experience in World War II through fellowships, collections, Museum tours, lifelong learning, and additional  outreach efforts.