Advocate from Anywhere

You don’t have to be in Washington, D.C. to make the case for museums. Your voice matters wherever you are advocating from. Use the advocacy tools below to join the cause and speak up for museums during Museums Advocacy Day and throughout the year.

COVID-19 Advocacy for Museums

• There’s never been a more critical time to advocate for museums and your role in the field. The Alliance has been working hard to advocate for the museum field, and provide you the resources needed to let your legislators know the impact the pandemic has had on you and your museum, and how museums are continuing to serve communities even when closed. During this time nearly 60,000 messages have been sent to Congress over the Alliance’s online advocacy tools – messages that continue to be critical to securing important financial relief and resources for museums. Learn more about about ways you can advocate today.

Take Action: Contact and Connect with Congress

• Throughout the year Congress considers many legislative issues affecting museums. Our template messages make communicating with your legislators easy. The templates include key issue information. You can personalize and send messages to your legislators with just a few clicks.

Also download your copy of the AAM Guide to Working with a New Congress!

Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum

• There’s never been a more important time to engage with the elected officials and stakeholders that represent you and your museum. Our updated Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum materials – including information on participating in and hosting virtual events and telephone meetings – make it easy for museums of all types and sizes to participate and connect with your elected officials each summer and throughout the year. Don’t forget to use #InviteCongress on social media!

Download and Share Critical Data

National Snapshot of COVID-19 Impact on United States Museums

• AAM survey data gathered across 2020 and 2021, and shared in July 2020, November 2020, and June 2021, shows the dire and lasting impacts of the pandemic on museums, and the critical assistance needed by museums as they continue to serve and impact their communities.

Museums as Economic Engines

• Did you know that the total economic contribution of museums in 2016 amounted to more than $50 billion in GDP, 726,200 jobs, and $12 billion in taxes to local, state, and federal governments? Get the full, free report and download the your state’s infographic.

Museums & Public Opinion

• National public opinion polling shows that Americans overwhelmingly appreciate and recognize the work of museums as educational and economic assets to their communities. Even more, Americans broadly support federal funding of museums and approve of lawmakers who take action to support them. The data speaks clearly, Americans value the museums in their communities.

Alliance Advocacy Alerts

• Your voice matters. Members of Congress carefully consider input from their constituents when making policy decisions and casting votes. See recent calls-to-action and stay up-to-date on opportunities to weigh-in with your federal legislators. Email us to sign up for Alliance Advocacy Alerts.

Alliance Policy Issues

• The Alliance closely tracks several legislative and policy issues affecting museums—including funding for grant-making federal agencies, tax incentives for charitable giving and education policy. See the Issue Briefs (PDFs) and related information below for a detailed look at these priorities and how policymakers can advance them, then contact your legislators to speak up for museums!

Nonprofit Voter Resources

• The Alliance shares these materials providing answers to frequently asked questions about how nonprofits, including museums, and their staff and leadership can participate in advocacy and lobbying, nonpartisan election activity and voter engagement.

Build Your Advocacy Skills

We offer a deep bench of advocacy resources and tools to make it easy for you to join the cause and make the case for your museum and the cause of museums, no matter your current position or advocacy experience level. Get started today.

• Find your legislators.
• Learn more about getting to know your legislators.
• Engage your board in your advocacy efforts.
• Create a Year-Round Advocacy Plan.
• Get ideas for year-round advocacy.
• Learn about the Policy Issues.

Engage Your Board in Advocacy

Download our report and discussion guide on how your museum and trustees can be more effective at integrating advocacy into the work of your board. Download your copy of Stand for Your Mission now. Learn more about the role your board can play and visit our Trustee Resource Center for additional information about working with your museum’s trustees.

 

Museums Advocacy Day Videos – Get Inspired!

See and share these short videos to get inspiration for Museums Advocacy Day and year-round advocacy for museums.

• Using Our Voice to Speak Up for Museums
• Telling Our Powerful Stories
• Working Together Toward a Common Goal

See the Museums Advocacy Day 2021 Advocate Materials

Speak Up for Museums on Social Media

• Use #museumsadvocacy and #museumsadvocacy2021 to join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Share our posts and tweets and your own photos and stories.
• Post positive comments about your interaction with legislators, and don’t forget to “Like” and “Follow” your legislators (our directory listings include Facebook, Twitter and YouTube information for legislators).
• Get our updated Museums Advocacy Day 2021 Museum Advocates Media Kit (zip file) and Museums Media Kit (zip file) to find sample posts, messages, links and images you can use on your own feeds.
• Share updated Museums Facts Infographic and Issue Briefs.
• Get video inspiration from past Museums Advocacy Day participants – Using Our Voice to Speak Up for Museums, Telling Our Powerful Stories, Working Together Toward a Common Goal.
• Learn more about Museums Advocacy Day and AAM’s Advocacy for museums.