Advocate from Anywhere

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

Take Action: Contact 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 personalize and send messages to your legislators with just a few clicks.

Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum

• There’s never been a more important time to engage with the elected officials and stakeholders that represent your museum. Our updated Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum materials – now 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 this summer and throughout the year. Don’t forget to use #InviteCongress on social media!

Download and Share Critical Data

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.

Speak Up for Museums on Social Media

• Use #museumsadvocacy and #museumsadvocacy2020 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).
• Share the updated Museums Facts Infographic and Issue Briefs.
• See our Museums Advocacy Day 2020 Museum Advocates Media Kit to find sample posts, messages, links and images you can use on your own feeds.
• 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

Maximize Your Efforts: Updated Media Kits

• Raise the visibility of your museum and your advocacy efforts with our Museums Advocacy Day Museums Media Kit and Museum Advocates Media Kit. These updated toolkits include templates and graphics to help you spread the word through your website, email, social media platforms, and the press. These pieces can be used by Museums Advocacy Day participants and those advocating from anywhere.

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

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.
• Get ideas for year-round advocacy.
• Learn about the Policy Issues.

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.