Tainted Money
Fundraising Ethics in Changing Times
William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, is alleged to have said, “the problem with tainted money is there t’aint enough of it,” expressing the idea that it doesn’t matter where the money comes from as long as it goes to a good cause. But that philosophy today is being put to the test. Activists, artists, and museum workers are pushing back, calling out museum donors who have made their money from weapons, drugs, fossil fuels, or activities that conflict with the mission. As a result, museum leaders are confronting ethical conundrums concerning philanthropic paradigms, staff relations, power dynamics, and social justice. A recent national survey (led by NEMA in cooperation with other museum associations) uncovers critical data and insights from the museum field. Survey results will be the jumping-off place for workshop attendees to understand the issues, offer their own experiences and opinions, and help formulate ways the field can respond to the changing nature of fundraising. The workshop will include discussion of the field’s ethical standards and an opportunity for participants to craft or redraft a gift policy for their institution. (Participants should bring their museum’s current gift policy if applicable.)
Schedule
1:00 – 2:00: Introduce the topic; present the national survey that NEMA led; discuss results
2:00 – 2:15: Break
2:15 – 3:00: Current museum field ethical standards around fundraising
3:00 – 4:00: Gift policies; participants will craft or redraft gift policies for their institution based on the day’s discussion
4:00 – 4:30: Final discussion
Your Presenter
Dan Yaeger was named executive director of the New England Museum Association in April, 2010. His passion is to strengthen capacity in museums and build skills in the leaders that serve them. Dan has a 20-year history with museums, most recently as the director of the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation in Waltham, Massachusetts. He has developed communications programs for the Museum of Fine Arts/Boston, Peabody Essex Museum, Cleveland Museum of Art, Portland Museum of Art, Currier Museum of Art, Old Sturbridge Village, John F. Kennedy Library, and Plimoth Plantation among others. He has been adjunct professor, guest lecturer, advisor, and fellow at Tufts, Harvard, Brown, and Bentley universities and Lasell College. Dan holds a B.A. from Gettysburg College and received his master’s degree from Harvard University.
The Venue
This event is hosted at the Yarmouth History Center, located at 118 East Elm Street in Yarmouth, Maine. The facility is wheelchair accessible. Bathrooms are single-user unisex. Parking is available on-site and across the street at Royal River Park.
Online registration will be open through February 17. To register after this date, contact Katie Worthing at 207-846-6259.
The fee for members is $25. Non-members pay $35.
Due to space limitations, this workshop is limited to 36 participants. Register early to reserve your space!
Members of MAM and NEMA enjoy discounted registration (MAM members please log in first; NEMA members contact Dugan Murphy at info@mainemuseums.org or 207-400-6965). If you're not a MAM member, join today!
