Museum Capital Campaigns

What Makes Museum Campaigns Challenging?

Many years ago I worked as the corporate and foundation fundraiser for Field Museum of Natural History. Over the years I've helped several museums with their capital campaigns. I'm writing today from current client Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings, Montana.

What makes these museum campaigns's challenging? What advantages do museums have?

Many times the challenge is similar to many arts and cultural organizations — the need for operational fundraising is so acute that all fundraising energy goes into annual memberships, exhibit sponorships, special events, and annual donations. Unless outside help is brought into the museum for the campaign in the form of a consultant and eventually additional staffing, the campaign doesn't have enough dedicated infrastructure support to succeed.

What kind of additional fundraising staffing? At least one additional major gifts officer to serve as campaign director and at least one administrative assistant to serve as campaign coordinator.

The good news is that most museums have an ambundance of high energy from current and past board members, volunteers, the general membership, and staff around the mission of the museum. While new donors are always needed in every capital campaign, many museums just need to tap into their long history of people committed to the cause.

By the way, Yellowstone Art Museum has raised $4.3 million toward their phase 1 objective of $6 million; well on the way toward their overall goal of raising $17 million by 2014.

TomWilsonMajorGiftsGuru@gmail.com

Permanent Link: Museum Capital Campaigns

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