Open Forum

Can anyone share how they have developed funding for ongoing building maintenance. At the Speed we have recently conducted a facility assessment of the building and mechanicals over the next 20 years. While we now have numbers for budgeting purposes we are looking for ideas on how to fund these needs.

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Catherine Surratt
Chief Operating and Business Officer
The Speed Art Museum
Louisville KY
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Congratulations on executing a facility assessment plan; that's a solid foundation on which to build funding. You already know that feeding a sinking fund for such projects from annual budgeting is a laborious process. And, let's face it, a restroom update/expansion or a new roof may not be "sexy" projects to shop around to potential funders. But, it's not impossible to find support if your numbers are solid, there's a clear tie to improving the guest experience, and you have a broad pool of donors from which you can find a match of abilities, passions and a call to action. The key is having planning portfolios prepared for each project - with renderings and regularly updated costing estimates - so as to be able to search for a match or immediately respond to questions or opportunity.

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John Wharton
Museum Docent &
Retired Museum Professional
Bonita Springs FL
http://linkedin.com/in/john-wharton-9629149
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I think you're asking more about strategy than actual funding sources, but if you don't already know about this grant line from the NEH, it could be helpful to you. NEH Challenge Grants

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Dawn Salerno
Executive Director
Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum
New Bedford MA
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