Advocacy in action

MPMA’s Advocacy Efforts

MPMA advocates for its members and museums across the region by supporting organizations with training, connecting its members, providing resources, and more. Members are encouraged to alert MPMA to any issue or legislation that requires help.

Economic Impact

Museums play a pivotal role in their communities. Now more than ever, legislators and grantees want to know how your museum impacts its community. This includes both engagement with the public and your fiscal impact.

Here is a template to create your own Economic Impact Statement:

[Name of your Museum]

Our museum employs ____ people in our community.

Our institution spends $______ annually on goods and services in our community.

We serve _____ visitors each year, including ____% from out of state.

Our institution engages with ______ school children through field trips and outreach programs every year.

To help strengthen your Economic Impact Statement, make sure you include the most recent data from your state.

Click Here for example Economic and Educational Impact Statements
(https://www.aam-us.org/programs/advocacy/sample-economic-and-educational-impact-statements/)

Advocacy Tips

• When advocating on behalf of your institution, remember to leave your personal opinions out. 

• Remember, you are a representative of your institution when engaging legislators on behalf of your museum.

• Museums cannot directly or indirectly participate in political intervention activities such as political campaigns, endorsements, etc. 

• Make sure you know the legislative cycle and calendar dates. 

• Remember, effective advocacy is a year-round endeavor, and communication is key. 

• Build relationships with your elected officials through regular engagement. 

• Keep communication short and specific. 

• Be prepared! Know what information you will need to help your legislator understand how the legislation will affect your museum. 

• Build legislator fact sheets for each of your elected officials that include basic voting histories, committee assignments, and important topics for your elected officials. Do they prefer a phone call or an email? Make sure you know who their aids and office staff are. 

• Don’t be afraid to let them know you don’t have an answer but will follow up.

Contact Your Legislators

One of the most effective ways to engage your legislators and make your voice heard is to contact them directly. You can find more information on how to contact your elected officials using AAM’s interactive map. 

https://www.congressweb.com/aam/legislators/