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.com818 358-3588
www.artmanaskconsulting.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 08-10-2022 01:54 PM
From: Betsy Matt Turner
Subject: Soliciting Small Donations at Ticketing, Gift Shop, and/or Concessions
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