Appendix E: Director Survey Data Tables
Museums Moving Forward Director Survey
Fielded November 2024–February 2025
1. Through what group or fund is your salary as a museum director predominantly (or wholly) paid?
The museum’s general operating funds |
60% |
An endowment or restricted funding for a named position |
15% |
Another form of endowment or restricted funding |
4% |
A municipality |
0% |
A university |
19% |
Other |
1% |
2. How would you rate your museum's current performance in each of the following areas?
Negative |
Neutral |
Positive |
|
Efficient operations |
15% |
26% |
59% |
Financial stability |
22% |
38% |
40% |
Providing living wages for employees |
9% |
40% |
51% |
Providing fair compensation for artists who participate in our exhibitions or programs |
4% |
35% |
60% |
Providing a healthy workplace culture sustainably |
4% |
21% |
75% |
Fostering a culture that supports experimentation, risk taking, and/or continual learning |
1% |
12% |
87% |
Diversity of our visitors |
15% |
37% |
49% |
Diversity of our staff |
25% |
38% |
37% |
Diversity of our board |
29% |
35% |
36% |
3. Please select up to three of the following areas that you're prioritizing at your museum over the next few years.
Efficient operations |
46% |
Financial stability |
73% |
Providing living wages for employees |
25% |
Providing fair compensation for artists who participate in our exhibitions or programs |
6% |
Providing a healthy workplace culture sustainably |
45% |
Fostering a culture that supports experimentation, risk taking, and/or continual learning |
31% |
Diversity of our visitors |
27% |
Diversity of our staff |
27% |
Diversity of our board |
18% |
4. In your last complete fiscal year, approximately what proportion of your annual budget was allocated to staff compensation and benefits?
Average |
56% |
5. For your last complete fiscal year, approximately what proportion of your organization’s revenue was directly contributed by board members?
Average |
11% |
6. How many (voting) board members do you have?
Average |
20 |
7. Thinking of new board members who joined within the past year, how were they recruited? Please select all that apply.
Personal networks of board members |
76% |
My [the director’s] personal networks |
60% |
Personal networks of other staff members |
27% |
Research of community members who may be a good fit |
52% |
Advertising |
2% |
A formal search process (including a recruiting agency or board matching service) |
0% |
Other |
24% |
8. How would you rate your board's performance over the past year in the following areas?
Negative |
Neutral |
Positive |
|
Understanding your organization's mission, programs, and priorities |
7% |
28% |
65% |
Understanding the individual duties and responsibilities of board membership |
14% |
45% |
41% |
Overseeing the museum's financial sustainability |
20% |
36% |
44% |
Supporting the museum's fundraising efforts |
29% |
34% |
36% |
Providing guidance and support to the museum director |
12% |
34% |
54% |
Providing legal and ethical oversight of the museum |
13% |
31% |
56% |
Attending board meetings |
5% |
40% |
55% |
Serving on a board committee |
12% |
33% |
55% |
Serving as an ambassador for the museum |
15% |
32% |
53% |
Supporting board recruitment |
31% |
38% |
31% |
Increasing the diversity of the board |
36% |
26% |
38% |
Promoting transparency and collaboration with museum staff |
14% |
42% |
44% |
Evaluating the performance of the museum director |
24% |
34% |
42% |
Evaluating the performance of the museum |
14% |
54% |
32% |
Evaluating the performance of the board |
48% |
37% |
15% |
9. Do you know the gender, race, and ethnicity of each of your board members?
Yes |
84% |
No |
16% |
10. How many people of each gender are on your board?
Transgender woman |
0% |
Cis-gender woman |
51% |
Transgender man |
0% |
Cis-gender man |
45% |
Nonbinary |
3% |
I don’t know |
2% |
11. How many members of each race and ethnicity are on your board?
African American or Black |
16% |
Asian or Pacific Islander |
7% |
Hispanic or Latine/x |
4% |
Middle Eastern, North African, or West Asian |
2% |
Native American / Alaska Native / First Nations / Native Hawaiian |
2% |
White |
69% |
I don't know |
1% |
12. Only keeping in mind the board members who serve on the executive committee, how many people are of each gender?
Transgender woman |
0% |
Cis-gender woman |
50% |
Transgender man |
4% |
Cis-gender man |
44% |
Nonbinary |
2% |
13. Again, only keeping in mind the board members who serve on the executive committee, how many members are of each race or ethnicity?
African American or Black |
12% |
Asian or Pacific Islander |
6% |
Hispanic or Latine/x |
5% |
Middle Eastern, North African, or West Asian |
1% |
Native American / Alaska Native / First Nations / Native Hawaiian |
1% |
White |
75% |
14. Do any of the following support or inhibit your ability to implement DEAI initiatives at your museum?
Negative |
Neutral |
Positive |
|
Board |
2% |
18% |
81% |
State, municipal, or governmental policies |
17% |
38% |
45% |
Union(s) |
12% |
72% |
16% |
Local values or norms |
11% |
21% |
68% |