Advocacy
Oklahoma Museums Association Advocacy Piece - 2009
For Oklahoma Museums Week 2009, the Oklahoma Museums Association produced a museum advocacy piece. The information was delivered to the Oklahoma legislature. OMA encourages Oklahoma museums to utilize this information. View 2008 Advocacy Piece
American Association of Museums Speak up for Museums Website
The American Association of Museums advocates for the museum community before Congress, federal agencies and the media. They have announced the release of their advocacy website, http://www.speakupformuseums.org/. The site has been designed to be a one-stop resource for information about key legislative issues affecting museums, AAM legislative updates and alerts, resources for advocacy, and contact information for members of Congress. The new site is a public site, and does not require membership with AAM. To explore the site, go to http://www.speakupformuseums.org/. Please share or forward any ideas, suggestions or questions you have about the new website to Ember Farber, Legislative & Advocacy Assistant, via phone or e-mail (202-218-7703 or efarber@aam-us.org).
New Survey on State Museum Associations and Advocacy
A survey of state museum associations, conducted by the State Readiness Committee of the Federal Formula Grant Coalition, reveals new data on the advocacy role of state museum associations and existing state agencies that provide funding specifically for museums. The purpose of this survey was to obtain a clearer picture of the role state museum associations play in representing the interests of museums in state legislative affairs, the kind of funding programs that currently exist through state governments, and the training needed to enhance and improve these activities. The results of this survey will assist the State Readiness Committee in organizing and preparing a training program for state museum associations in Fall 2008. Read the survey highlights.
How to Be Your Museum's Best Advocate
by Jason Hall
Do you know your senator, member of Congress, and state representative? Do they know that your museum is integral to the vitality of their district and serves their constituents everyday? This report will show you how to make every contact with politicians and their staff positive and beneficial for your museum. Face-to-face, meetings, case-making, ongoing contact and more are covered in clear and simple language. This book may be purchased from the American Association of Museums online bookstore.
The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide
by Bob Smucker
A demonstration of the many ways nonprofits can use lobbying to advance their causes in federal, state and local legislatures. This definitive guide to advocacy and lobbying is a must-have for nonprofits already engaged in public policy work and an invaluable resource for nonprofits that want to get started. This book is out of print, but may be downloaded for free from the Independent Sector Web site. Independent Sector is a non-partisan coalition that leads, strengthens and mobilizes the charitable community.
Online Resources
Connect with lawmakers and exercise your rights as a museum advocate year-round!
AAM Guide to Nonprofit Advocacy
Americans for the Arts - Arts Action Center
Get Involved a handbook from Americans for the Arts
Guide to Effective Citizen Lobbying
Learn more about using e-mail as an effective advocacy tool.
Ten Reasons to Lobby for Your Cause from Independent Sector
The Ballot Initiatives Strategy Center
The Democracy Center Resources
Federal Resources
Contact Your Representatives in Congress
Legislators rely on the opinions and positions of their constituents to inform their votes throughout the annual appropriations process. Visit www.house.gov/writerep/ to write or e-mail your Representative or www.senate.gov/ to get your Senators' contact information. If you send an e-mail, be sure to include the topic, bill or agency in your subject line so that it can be directed to the appropriate staff member responsible for the issue. Or call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for the office of your Representative or Senators and request to speak to the staffer responsible for the issue.
Find your state and federal elected officials here. Be sure to scroll down through the list of choices.
The Library of Congress offers THOMAS - a free service by which users can search for legislation that has passed or is being considered in the U.S. Congress.
Stateline.org is operated by the Pew Center on the States and helps journalists, policy makers and engaged citizens become better informed about innovative public policies. Follow the development of major issues as they appear on the public agenda in a critical number of states.
State Resources
Oklahoma State Senate
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma Legislative Information System
Economic Impact
Oklahoma Museums Association Advocacy Piece - 2008
Oklahoma tourism industry facts and stats.
Estimate the economic impact of your museum-or even your entire nonprofit arts community-on your local economy with the Economic Prosperity Calculator from Americans for the Arts. Americans for the Arts also offers a downloadable pdf of facts and figures.
Economic Impact of the Nonprofit Arts Industry one-page summary from Americans for the Arts.
How much do people spend when visiting museums?
AAM's Museum Financial Information survey found that the median cost for museum admission is $6, but that more than one-third charge no admission at all. On average, visitors spend an additional $1.55 in museum stores and $.81 for food service. This earned income, however, covers only a fraction of a museum's cost of serving its visitors. The median cost of serving a visitor is $23.35. A museum's earned income generates only about one-third of this amount. Private charitable donations are the largest source of operating income for museums (about 35%). Government funding provides just under 25%, and investment income about 10%. The 2006 Museum Financial Information survey is available in the AAM Bookstore.
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