This document discusses how museums can successfully fundraise during times of crisis by focusing on innovation, public service, and thinking beyond the immediate crisis. It recommends that museums (1) move out of survival mode and think into the future, (2) preserve their core values and mission during the crisis, (3) focus on what makes them unique and better than other organizations, and (4) invite donors to be part of their work. This will allow museums to not just survive difficult times but thrive in the future.

1. Fundraising SOS

4. Museums must not be afraid to innovate when crisis strikes Museums do their best work when they embrace public service as a core mission Museums have the potential to do even better when they think beyond the current crisis at hand and look into the future

5. …think beyond the current crisis at hand and think into the future

6. “It is clear that non-profits will, increasingly, leverage the power of relationships (through social media, e-mail, in-person requests, text messaging and more) to spark action around issues using new technologies.” March 2009 Fundraising Success Sarah Durham Think into the future

7. Twitter and YouTube Across the board Facebook Mid 20’s and up My Space Generally for teens and young adults 18-23

8. “We find that if a donor is engaged in our on-line community, their average gift is 50% higher than a donor who is only responding through direct mail.” Roy Jones Liberty University Lynchburg, VA

10. “As non-profits, museums are built to survive, not to succeed. Unlike startups and rock stars, museums aren’t structured to shoot for the moon and burn up trying. They’re made to plod along.” Eric Siegel New York Hall of Science

11. “….problems arise when the desire to sustain overcomes the desire to be superlative and more resources go to surviving than succeeding.”

12. “For some museums, awesomeness has never been part of the mission statement or core services.”

13. AWESOMENESS

14. List your core services that people depend on and need to survive 2. List services you provide that make you awesome. Identify what draws people to your door, gets them excited, and connects them passionately with your content.

15. “It’s not enough to relegate these grand, heroic goals to mission statements. We have to pursue them – foolishly or rashly or successfully in our activities every day.”

16. Pursue grand and heroic goals everyday!

17. Move out of survival mode, think into the future, and reach for 1 AWESOMENESS

22. During the crisis be especially aware that you preserve the core values of your museum 2

24. “Enduring great companies preserve their core values and purpose while their business strategies and operating practices endlessly adapt to a changing world.”

27. Focus on what you can do better than any other organization – in other words – What can we be the most awesomest at? 3

28. The good to great companies understood that doing what you are good at will only make you good; focusing solely on what you can potentially do better than any other organization is the only path to greatness.

29. Invite your donors to be part of your awesomeness 4

31. “When the economy finally swings upward and more wealth is created, that wealth will go to the relationships created when the economy was down.”

32. Summary Move out of survival mode, think into the future 1

33. During this crisis be especially aware that you preserve the core values of your museum 2

34. Focus on what you can do better than any other organization 3

35. Invite your donors to be part of your awesomeness 4