Museum professionals know the modern philanthropic landscape is more competitive than ever. With fewer funding opportunities and growing donor fatigue, museum fundraising partnerships aren’t just a nice idea—they’re a practical, powerful way to collaborate and raise more together.
For professionals dedicated to preserving culture and serving the public good, joint fundraising campaigns can amplify impact, build stronger community ties, and secure resources far beyond what a single institution can achieve alone. By combining creativity and leveraging collective influence, museums can launch joint initiatives that resonate powerfully with foundations, corporations, and individual donors.
In this post, we’ll look at three real examples of collaborative fundraising—and the repeatable elements that make these partnerships work.
Why Collaborate? The Case for Collective Giving
Creative partnerships in fundraising go beyond simply sharing a donor list; they involve weaving a shared narrative that demonstrates a larger collective impact on the community. Donors and foundations are often attracted to initiatives that show efficiency, sustainability, and a broad reach. A collaborative campaign often signals good governance and a commitment to shared institutional health, making it a more attractive investment than an isolated project. These efforts allow institutions to reach new audiences, cross-promote membership programs, and ultimately strengthen the entire cultural ecosystem.
The benefits of collaborative fundraising at-a-glance include:
- Improving collective impact on the community
- Promoting collective health (museums, partners, and community)
- Demonstrating efficiency and sustainability
- Signaling good governance
- Broadening the donor audience
- Creating cross-market promotional opportunities
- Strengthening the broader cultural ecosystem
Example 1: The Henry Ford and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
A powerful example of shared fundraising comes from The Henry Ford (THF) museum and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO). These two iconic Michigan institutions recognized a unique and geo-specific shared demographic: Michiganders who winter in Florida.
Instead of competing for the attention of these seasonal residents, they partnered on a unique engagement event in Florida. The DSO brought its musicians and THF provided one of its prized artifacts for the musicians to play: a Stradivarius violin.
This high-value, bespoke event offered an exclusive experience that would be hard for either organization to replicate on its own. The partnership resulted in a sophisticated joint cultivation event and introduced a shared pool of potential high-level donors to both institutions’ unique assets and missions.
Example 2: The Design Museum of Chicago and Cards Against Humanity
Sometimes an unusual collaboration with a commercial entity can generate extraordinary results and buzz. This creative partnership was between the Design Museum of Chicago and the popular card game company Cards Against Humanity to create “The Design Pack.”
The Design Pack was an expansion deck featuring illustrated cards from notable artists and appealed to more than “just” museum supporters. This creative, quirky initiative was a massive success, raising over $130,000 for the museum in just a few days. And it worked because it was based in fun and offered a tangible, collectible, and distinctly unique product in return for supporting the museum.
Example 3: The Ringling Museum and the Lighthouse of Manasota
One of my favorite examples of a collaborative fundraising initiative is the partnership between The Ringling Museum and the Lighthouse of Manasota, an organization that supports those with vision loss.
These two partners co-hosted an annual gala called “Art in the Dark”. The event centered on the experience of art with senses other than sight. A theme that directly aligned with the museum’s cultural mission and Lighthouse of Manasota’s nonprofit focus.
The event successfully combined elements from both organizations:
- Sensory experience: The evening highlighted a specific artwork from the collection, and the food was themed around the painting to engage taste and smell.
- Accessibility focus: Participants received visual descriptions of the artwork and handled small tactile objects that mirrored textures found in the selected piece.
- Fundraising mechanism: The gala included both a silent and a live auction, which successfully raised funds for both organizations by offering a unique, engaging experience that neither could provide alone.
This creative partnership not only raised significant funds but also fostered community awareness and engagement with the arts in an inclusive way.
Joint Fundraising Efforts Are Both Fun and Lucrative
Creative fundraising partnerships offer museums a fun yet lucrative strategy to navigate a challenging financial landscape. By looking beyond competition and embracing shared goals, institutions can leverage collective strength to engage new donors, generate significant revenue, and better serve their communities.
Museum Fundraising Partnerships: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are examples of museum fundraising partnerships?
Examples include joint donor cultivation events, co-branding products, and shared galas that align missions and audiences.
How do museums fundraise together without damaging donor relationships?
Agree up front on donor stewardship, list usage, recognition, and how (and when) future solicitations will occur.
What makes a joint fundraising campaign successful?
A successful museum fundraising partnerships requires a shared story, complementary assets, clear roles, at least one shared impact metric, and a pilot approach that tests and refines before a full-scale campaign launch.
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