Dear Friends:
It has come time to share with you the difficult news that the Museum is under serious financial duress, and if we don’t raise $80,000 for operating costs by March 31 the Museum will be forced to close in the near future.
All areas of revenue at the Museum have experienced a decline in the last fiscal year with the most significant being support from foundations and corporations. The staff has been incredibly diligent and has taken advantage of every appropriate available opportunity to seek funding and write grant proposals to corporations, foundations, and government. More grants have been written in the last year than in previous years, but foundation dollars have been reduced and overall funding for the arts is dwindling. Admissions revenue only accounts for 3.5% of the museum’s total operating budget of $710,000.
The Board, in partnership with the Executive Director, has made numerous reductions since July 2012 that include closing the Museum an additional day a week, reducing non-essential expenses, reducing staff hours, and eliminating positions. The Museum’s Executive Director also agreed to a pay reduction of 20% that has been in effect since October of 2012. But no matter how much we reduce expenses, there are bills that have to be paid—the PG&E bill alone is $2,600 each month.
We’ve made new fundraising efforts, we recently added a new lecture series titled Fiber Talks!, launched a request for proposal process for artists to teach classes at the Museum, and added a new membership category at $35 for our quilt guild and fiber art friends to encourage every quilter and fiber artist in Northern California to support the Museum.
We have sought the help of several longtime funders of the Museum including the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, which is committed to help, but cannot give us the funds to cover the entire deficit.
If the Museum is important to you, now is the time to show us that you want the Museum to continue to promote the art, craft, and history of quilts and textiles.
If you are asking yourself what will happen if you don’t make a gift—the truth is—the doors will close. It is only through the dedication and efforts of the staff and volunteers that exhibitions and programs have not yet been affected by the downsizing. But we cannot continue without additional support from individuals like you.
Please join or make a gift today so that we can ensure the future of the Museum. You can make a donation by clicking here. The Board of Directors is heavily invested in seeing the Museum succeed, remain open, and thrive for years to come. Won’t you join us?
Sincerely,
Marie Strait
President, Board of Directors