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University museums: a case study of fundraising in non autonomous institutions
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University museums: a case study of fundraising in non autonomous institutions

Kristine Medley Farmer
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
2014
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-6213
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Abstract

Fund raising Public interest lobbying Arts--Management Education Museums Strategic Planning
There have been a significant number of studies on independent museums, but university museums are rarely researched, and such studies have focused primarily on differences in governance structures between them and independent museums. The lack of research on the funding models of university museums, particularly on small to mid- size, is a significant problem, because the well-established protocols of the independent museum do not always apply to university museums. This research uses the literature available to form a picture of what questions need to be asked to understand the unique needs of university museums. Our primary research consisted of a case study of a particular university museum. I conducted focus group, interviews and surveys with Glencairn Museum's audience to discover what did or might motivate them to become members and eventually donors. The literature suggested that university museums lack autonomy from the parent organization, which may prevent fundraising at high levels of funding, especially when they are prevented from forming long-term relationships with those members who are likely to give and this was borne out in our research with Glencairn.

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