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  • 1.  Soliciting Small Donations at Ticketing, Gift Shop, and/or Concessions

    Posted 08-10-2022 01:55 PM
    We are contemplating asking visitors at ticketing, argue shop, and/or concessions if they want to make a $5 donation toward our Community Access Fund, with possibly an entry into a raffle if one donates. We would do this for only a month in conjunction with our Community Access Fund mailer campaign

    Some concerns have been voiced as to whether 1) asking guests for donations at ticketing will elicit negative reactions since they're already shelling out money for your own tickets and/or 2) whether asking for donations at the gift shop or concessions will lead them to spend less on gift shop items/concessions, thereby decreasing earned revenue.

    I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who asks for low level donations from guests during their visits. Has this been an effective way to raise funds? Do you see any of the negative side effects such as those mentioned above? How much do you ask guests to give? Any other advice on this topic would be welcome as well.

    Thanks!

    Betsy Matt Turner

    Vice President of Strategic Advancement

    Putnam Museum and Science Center

    1717 W. 12th Street Davenport, Iowa

    (563) 505-2363 | putnam.org





  • 2.  RE: Soliciting Small Donations at Ticketing, Gift Shop, and/or Concessions

    Posted 08-11-2022 07:27 AM

    We have not had negative reactions from visitors at Admissions.
    We haven't seen decreased Gift Shop sales.
    We do ask visitors if they wish to round up with GS sales, and many do.
    We also have a few small plexi donation boxes scattered around the facility. 
    HOWEVER, the bigger issue is you need to find out about raffle rules in your State.


    Martin



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    Martin S. Fisher
    Executive Director
    Science Central
    Fort Wayne, IN
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  • 3.  RE: Soliciting Small Donations at Ticketing, Gift Shop, and/or Concessions

    Posted 08-11-2022 08:44 AM
    We are a free museum with a suggested donation of "$10 or more" but we find that some people who have only given $5-$10 at the start of their tour will give a second time after seeing everything and making a purchase by debit/credit card when we say "would you like to add a donation to that." Some say "round it up to X" and others say add $10-500, but mostly $10.

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    Sally Corbett-Turco
    Executive Director
    Stepping Stones-Historic Home of Bill & Lois Wilson
    Katonah NY
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  • 4.  RE: Soliciting Small Donations at Ticketing, Gift Shop, and/or Concessions

    Posted 08-11-2022 09:18 AM
    Dear Ms. Turner - I would say much depends upon the level of your admission fees.  If they are very reasonable, you might ask visitors to donate on the way OUT rather than in.  In my most recent museum, where our fees were ridiculously low, we had a donation box that could not be missed on the way out with signage explaining that the average true cost of each guest's visit was X percentage amount above what they'd paid.  The box (a slotted plexi bonnet on a pedestal) was invariably filled on a daily basis with gifts of cash well beyond the actual admission fees charged.

    Vivian F. Zoë, Director (retired)
    Slater Memorial Museum 





  • 5.  RE: Soliciting Small Donations at Ticketing, Gift Shop, and/or Concessions

    Posted 08-11-2022 02:09 PM
    Hi Betsy,

    At the 400+ Museums and/or cultural institutions from smallest to largest, I have seen where the store and/or dining (concessions) 'round up' purchases and donate the difference to the museum or a cause of the museum. This includes self-operated and outsourced too.  A $10.10 purchase, with the customer's okay, is rounded up to $11 for example, with $.90 going to the Museum. There is signage, of course, so the visitor, member, etc. knows about it and where the $$ go.

    I have been to Putnam, long, long ago, and recall it (and the snow that day) well!

    Hope his helps.
    Art

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    Art Manask
    Founder/Principal
    Art Manask Consulting
    artmanask@gmail.com
    818 358-3588
    www.artmanaskconsulting.com
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  • 6.  RE: Soliciting Small Donations at Ticketing, Gift Shop, and/or Concessions

    Posted 08-12-2022 09:51 AM
    I agree about checking to see what the raffle laws are in your state. In Virginia, it's illegal for non-profits. 
    Our tickets are pretty high since we're partnered with the National Park Service, but there are donation boxes on the property as well as donor cards given out after guided tours to those folks who want them. We probably take in about $2500 a month from all of those options.

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    Lauren T. Furey
    Director of Visitor Services
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