2023 Impact Report
From Your AAM Team
In 2023, our communities faced massive challenges, and museum professionals were there to respond in ways that expanded our understanding of how museums can touch lives, support communities, and transform society. We extend our gratitude to all who are a part of the Alliance—our members, donors, volunteers, and supporters—for all the ways you make the museum sector stronger. As we plan for the years ahead, we are committed to providing you with even more of the tools, resources, connections, and inspiration you need to further this work; and to championing your work. From all of us at AAM, thank you for being a part of our Alliance!
– Marilyn, Brooke, Caitlyn, Megan, Grace, Elizabeth, Natanya, Dean, Cecelia, Joseph, Rachel, Sakina, Carys, Jennifer, Eileen, Michelle, Susan, Tiffany, Tieyara, Julie, Diya, Danyelle, Brianne, Martha, Stanneke, Carol, Amy, Vanessa, Barry, Alana, Joshua, Anthony, Carlos, Ryan, Shelon, Grace, Kristin, Kyle, and Ren
2023 by the Numbers
4,500
new members welcomed into the Alliance
92
museums participated in the Museum Assessment Program
291
volunteer Peer Reviewers participated in Excellence programs
113
museums received Accreditation or Reaccreditation
4,000
attendees at the 2023 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo
138,753
learners used AAM resources and programs for professional development
Our Work
AAM’s daily work is informed and inspired by our mission to champion equitable and impactful museums. We are committed to:
• Developing resources that build resilience, support professional practices, and encourage creativity and innovation
• Offering places to convene for inspiration, professional development, and networking
• Advocating for funding and policies that support museum staff and programs
Browse a few highlights from 2023.
New Standards for Museums with Native American Collections
Excellence
The School for Advanced Research and AAM announced the release of the SMNAC, the result of years of work from experts who are guiding a field-wide effort to take NAGPRA several steps further. The document will be used as guidance to inform AAM Museum Assessment Program and Accreditation reviews for museums with Native American collections.
80% increase in funding to OMS over the past decade
Advocacy
In 2023, we witnessed an advocacy milestone: an 80% increase in funding over the past decade to the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Office of Museum Services. This accomplishment would not be possible without the rigorous advocacy work of our collective Alliance.
Museum-Goer Data
Partnerships
In 2023, we partnered again with Wilkening Consulting to help museums gain deeper insights into their visitors’ behaviors and values through the Annual Survey of Museum-Goers, which focused this year on three themes: connection to humanity, civic participation, and rebuilding museum visitation.
New Member Resource Library
Resources
With thousands of articles, toolkits, tipsheets, and videos, AAM’s resource library was in need of an upgrade to deliver this wealth of resources to members in an easy-to-use way. In 2023, AAM launched a new member resource library that has since had a 40% increase in use.
Nearly 200 New Resources & Articles
Thought leadership
From topics on exhibitions and decolonization to workplace trends and emotional intelligence, 191 resources, blog posts, articles, and books were published in 2023, powered by the thought leadership of museum professionals from across the field.
National Snapshot of US Museums
Research
The 2023 National Snapshot of United States Museums tracked key metrics the Alliance began to collect in June 2020 to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on museums and other topics of concern for the museum field.
Future of Museums Summit
Convening
Using the profound disruptions of the past several years, museums can create a better, more equitable, and resilient future. In 2023, AAM launched the virtual Future of Museums Summit, with nearly 1,000 attendees, to explore how.
Upgrades to Museum Junction
Community
With a major upgrade offering a more dynamic experience and new peer communities, Museum Junction, AAM’s online community, has grown by nearly 20% with 5x the number of peer communities and 70,000 users.
Museum Leadership Circle
Museum Leadership Circle members know the power of working collectively as an Alliance. With their unrestricted annual gifts, they support the whole of our work, from advocacy and the Center for the Future of Museums to Annual Meeting scholarships and research. We thank them for their support:
Devon & Dharma Akmon • Dina Bailey • Carrie Rebora Barratt • Ford W. Bell, DVM • Ruth Berson • Frederic Bertley • Alison Rempel Brown • Carole Charnow • Jessica Chavez • Kippen de Alba Chu • Marcia P. DeWitt • Larry Dubinski • Ann B. Friedman • Jennifer Calvert Hall • William Harris • Linda Harrison • Lela Hersh • Steven S. High • Nik Honeysett • Chevy Humphrey • Douglas S. Jones • Charles L. Katzenmeyer • Nancy D. Kolb • Laura & Steve Lott • Julissa Marenco • Kelly McKinley • Patricia Mooradian • Patsy Phillips • Christine & Stephen Reich • Nathan Richie • Melissa Russo • Karol B. Wight • Susie Wilkening • Erin Younger • Jorge Zamanillo
Our Donors
We are grateful to our donors, supporters, and sponsors whose generosity has an immediate impact on our ability to address the challenges facing our field with creativity and resilience amidst a landscape of significant change.
View the full list of AAM’s generous individual donors.
AAM is a 501(c)3 and all gifts are tax-deductible according to the extent of the law. Our tax identification number is EIN 53-0205889.
Recently, AAM earned a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency on GuideStar, the very highest level attainable.
To learn more, visit candid.org.
Questions? Contact AAM’s development team.