Museums face the same fundraising pressures as all nonprofits - rising competition for donor attention, shrinking government support, and increasing operational costs. However, they also face challenges unique to their structure and culture, which make it difficult to revitalize membership programs that may be underperforming, spur growth in mid-level supporters from long-time annual donors, cultivate major or principal gifts, and keep up with rapidly evolving fundraising practices and economic conditions affecting philanthropic giving. This handbook for museum fundraisers and leaders aims to address these issues through a combination of strategies and tactics that are applicable across institutions of myriad sizes, from small volunteer-only historic sites to massive organizations with budgets in the tens of millions of dollars. This book adapts proven fundraising pipeline strategies from large-scale nonprofits to the museum environment, providing a practical, step-by-step guide for development professionals and executive leaders.

Fred Gold, CFRE, is a seasoned fundraising professional, focusing his efforts on museums and higher education. He has served in advancement roles at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Western Washington University, and the Museum of Flight. He founded Gold Standard Fundraising, LLC, a consultancy that helps nonprofits design effective donor pipeline programs. He is a Certified Fundraising Executive and a former board member of the Ohio Museums Association.