Museums hold fundraisers for a lot of things: new buildings, improved outreach programs, acquisitions, etc. There are even annual appeals that raise funds for general operating costs, which could theoretically be used to support and improve staff salaries if museums were so inclined. Still, people like to know where their money is going. Why not have a fundraiser specifically for improving staff salaries? For giving full-time benefits to hourly workers that work 40 hours per week?
Melanie's idea is to host either an event (for larger organizations) or an appeal (for smaller organizations) focused on the contributions of lower-level staff to museums. As museos we're acutely aware of the fact that museums couldn't run without us, but donors need to be reminded. It would be ideal if staff contributions could be quantified: per diem educators allow us to process X more school groups per year leading to an annual income of $Y; the people at the membership desk process Z memberships per year; the evaluators on the gallery floor have collected information that allowed us to improve processes as well as qualify for $X in grants. Melanie suggests that the employees themselves present a summary of what they do. Front line workers rarely get to meet donors and trustees, and vice versa, so this type of event could really open up a lot of eyes.
Fundraising only for lower level positions makes the assumption that museos in higher level (but non-Director) positions are making an adequate salary. We know from the salary survey (and common sense) that this isn't true. Still, improvements have to start somewhere. People often reject attempts at change because the changes aren't perfect; this is the equivalent of cutting off your nose to spite your face. A small step would change things for the better and demonstrate that improvement is possible. Besides, if the event set up an endowment for salaries (another of Melanie's suggestions) then all staff could potentially benefit.
Do you have an idea for improving museum salaries? Want to write a guest post? Email us!
Public service, that's the corner stone of all museos career path.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the wage differences between those who make it onto the 990 and those of us who, let's say run volunteer programs are huge and totally uncalled for. I also understand that museos who make over 100,000 a year are on call 24hrs, shaking things up with politicians, and taking all the heat when things go wrong, which often costs them their job, public humiliation in the New York Times and their street cred, but they are public servants too.
In my low-man-on-totem-pole mindset I understand the top tier of museos to be in it, not just for the money but for the good of the order. Every time they bring in a politician, a newspaper company, a Donald Trump type donor they do it to build a better institution which serves the public. Those who donate the big bucks most often do it for the generosity towards humanity and because greed often leads to awkward and humiliating Scrooge or Bernie Madoff situations.
If a museum director was tasked with raising money for one of two causes, salary endowment or better access for those who are partially sighted, I know they would choose the later. Philanthropists don’t want to help salaries, even though it would be for public servants, they want to do with their money what is most marketable in the public eye. There is always something a museum needs and payroll is often the largest chunk of the budget.
Can you picture this conversation happening? Mr. Philanthropic Millionaire “Hey, Ms. Museum Director I have 3 million dollars and I love what you are doing. What do you need help with?” Ms. Director sets down her martini, looks around at the surrounding fundraiser attendees and replies, “Well, I am working on a new cutting edge project. I would love to build an endowment for my lesser paid staff to elevate their salaries to those comparable with for-profit institutions of equal size….these folks work so hard and deserve to be compensated as if they worked for, let’s say you.” Mr. Philanthropic Millionaire, “Wow! I love it! As long it says at the bottom of their paychecks ‘Your salary was made possible by the generous contributions of the Mr. Philanthropic Millionaire Co.’”
It goes without saying, but due to my rant I will say it…of COURSE I want a raise and competitive salary, but I am making ends meet (I am not on public assistance or working the street corners at night to pay off graduate student loans). I didn’t become a museo to become wealthy. I became a museo so that I could have a career that would make me feel good about what I do for the next 50 years because I do it for the greater good of the people.
I think Gandhi did more for humanity then Jacob Astor, but they are both considered by most to generally be good humans who helped others. Gandhi was poor, Astor was rich. One made a career about caring for humanity and the other made a career from industry which allowed him to accumulate wealth, some of which he gave to organizations in public service.
I agree, change is hard. It takes real guts to be among the first to fight for something that is considered unchangeable because it’s “just the way it is.” I applaud you for your forward thinking, but the chances of getting anyone outside of other underpaid museos to attend a benefit for, indirectly, your piggy bank, I doubt it will happen.
Your plan to sway the potential donors by presenting them with financially structured proposal - I perform XY&Z at the museum which brings about T profit; therefore, I deserve A raise – is a good one, but it’s what you should present to your boss individually before he or she submits their budget to the board. This way your boss will know you want more money, see why you deserve it and be able to justify to the board your pay increase.
You don’t need to get paid more to do a better job. You are public servant and should be doing your best. If that doesn’t satisfy you maybe you need to ask yourself if you are more of an Astor or a Gandhi.
@Anon This is part of a series. If you can think of a potential solution since you clearly do not agree with this one, please send us an email at museosuniteblog@gmail.com. This idea is one that was submitted to us in just this way.
ReplyDeleteThe gist of your comment is the very thing/expresses the same attitudes that Museos Unite is against. Museum work is NOT the same thing as being an acetic. Working in a museum should in no way be likened to being "a Gandhi." Firstly, how insulting to Gandhi! Of course the work museums do is important, but it's not anything like fighting for equality and freedom. Secondly, signing up to work in a museum does not mean you're signing up for a life of poverty. True "public servants" (government employees) make twice and three times what most museos do. (If comparing entry level salaries, around GS-7 level say, the government pays $33-43K + benefits. Have you EVER seen a $43K + benefits entry level position in a museum?)
The solution to poor salaries isn't to gaze deeply into our souls and decide to be more selfless and work for peanuts. There are any number of communes and religious organizations better suited for people with this mindset. In the real world we work for pay. Not riches, but a reasonable amount of pay. There are (several) steps between an Astor and a Gandhi.
I only discovered this blog about a week ago, so I’m not up-to-date on any of the latest discussions. Like many others in the museum field, I too have multiple degrees but still struggle to pay my monthly rent. When I was still in graduate school, I realized this career path was going to be a difficult one to pursue and that it might leave me struggling financially for quite a while, but I honestly could not see myself working in any other field and was prepared to deal with whatever obstacles came my way.
ReplyDeleteWe can all agree that there needs to be a solution to our poor salaries and benefits, but we’re also looking at them from different angles. It’s great that we can come together to discuss our ideas, but I’m not quite sure if this particular solution is very feasible. While I understand Kirsten’s argument, I agree with (the other) Anonymous’ comment – it is going to be extremely difficult to find philanthropists who are willing to donate funds to improve staff salaries. I tend to think most donors are interested in funding programs that benefit the “whole” of an institution and its visitors rather than a select few individuals.
I don’t know if this has been discussed before, but what about the idea of unionizing? There are teachers unions, and even a freelancers union. While I’ll admit that I’m rather ignorant as to how they are organized, I’m wondering if forming a “museos union” is a concept worthy of consideration.
@2nd Anon: I would like to be clear, as Kirsten, that this is not Kirsten's argument. This is a guest submission from Melanie Fraticelli. It is her argument, but it has been posted to the blog by me, Kirsten, because Melanie is not a regular contributer to the blog and thus does not have posting access.
ReplyDeleteThe initial impetus behind Museos Unite was to pursue (or at least discuss) unionization. If you think it's difficult to get people to admit that they think their work is worthy of compensation, you should try to get them talking about unionization! It's not easy. However, it's definitely one solution the Solutions Series hasn't discussed yet. I think it's worth revisiting! If you have anything you'd like to contribute to that discussion, please feel free to email or leave comments :)
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Vachel
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Vachel
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