Advocacy
It is important for folks in Maine's community of collecting institutions to understand how they can best advocate for their organization and others in the field. Staff and volunteers of nonprofits may worry about how speaking to elected officials and the public about important issues may jeopardize their nonprofit status, but these concerns are largely unfounded.
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It's important that we keep making calls about the gutting of the IMLS & NEH, and the subsequent cancellation of grants from these two agencies (as well as NPS, which also provides grants to museums!). Maine's Congressional delegation can be reached at the following numbers: Senator Susan Collins: 202-224-2523 I am calling to express strong concerns over the gutting of Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) and the termination of legally awarded grants. I urge {Rep/Sen _____} to speak up to the Administration stressing the importance of these agencies continuing to operate as a Congressionally authorized independent agencies at their current scopes, agencies that have been appropriated funds on a bipartisan basis for decades. Protecting these essential agencies is critical to preserving the vital role museums play in education, the economy, and community infrastructure across the country. {Talk about how IMLS and/or NEH is important to your museum and the community it serves. Support you receive from IMLS and/or NEH, how many people in the community might be impacted, economic benefit, etc.} Thank you for your time and for passing along my message to {Rep./Sen ___} Upcoming MAM advocacy events
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Advocacy is information
You have the right, and the duty, to talk to your elected officials and the public about issues affecting your museum. They need to know the good work you do, and what you need to continue your good work. It is as straightforward as a conversation.
Advocacy is not lobbying
Educating public officials and the public about issues affecting your museum is not prohibited by law and will not endanger your nonprofit status. You have a right to advocate on behalf of a cause you believe in. Our legislators and elected officials need the information we provide to help them make informed decisions. Find out more about advocacy vs. lobbying and learn about the rules for nonprofits from the IRS.
Advocacy is Important
Advocacy is active support for a cause – your museum, archive, library, historical society, or historic property. Without advocacy, collecting institutions are not at the table when decisions are made about funding, regulations, public policy, taxes, etc. Cultural organizations are affected in many ways by all levels of government: federal, state, and local.
(adapted from the Virginia Association of Museums)
Video: The American Alliance of Museums offers this video training series.
Paper: The American Library Association offers this printable training outline.
Interactive online: The Maine Office of Tourism offers this free online training course in customer service for folks in the tourism industry.
In-person: MAM offers a free in-person advocacy training at Maine Museums Day. In addition, these organizations host workshops and conferences that often include training in advocacy:
- Maine Library Association
- Maine Association of Nonprofits
- Governor's Conference on Tourism (Maine)
- New England Museum Association
- New England Library Association
- New England Archivists
- American Alliance of Museums
- American Association for State and Local History
- Society of American Archivists
An economic impact statement is a tool that utilizes statistics and compelling narrative to demonstrate the impact that an organization or group has on the economy. Download MAM's 2019 economic impact statement of Maine's museums Make your own using this guide from the American Alliance of Museums (yours doesn't need to be as pretty as MAM's) Feel free to borrow statistics from these reports:
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Developing a Plan for Advocacy: Check out this guide from Community Toolbox or the MAM Advocacy Policy
Advocacy All Year: Check out this sample annual plan for MAM members of small advocacy efforts throughout the year
Read these rules for nonprofits from the IRS. There is very little risk of jeopardizing your nonprofit status.
Getting your news to the media is a great way to advocate for your institution on the local level.
Find your local TV and radio stations using these lists from the Maine Association of Broadcasters
Find your local newspapers using this list from the Maine Press Association
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Join now! Start receiving benefits of membership.
Donate! Support Maine's collecting institutions with a tax-deductible gift.
Use the MAM member app by Wild Apricot to register for events, manage your member profile, and access the member directory.
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