MMC recognizes that every institution is unique in its culture, circumstance, and constituency. Our approach to planning is specifically tailored for each client so that the resulting plans are realistic and achievable.

MMC's comprehensive expertise in planning, management, finance, and marketing will provide you with an objective, knowledgeable perspective on your institution. Whether you need to develop a strategic plan, business plan, or marketing plan, expand your facilities/plan for a new museum, or develop new staffing or governance procedures, MMC will guide your board, staff, and community through the development of a realistic, individualized plan that reflects your institutional vision and leads to action.

Strategic Plans

The MMC process for developing strategic plans for museums and other cultural organizations includes establishing consensus among your stakeholders so that everyone has a clear and shared understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The process of building consensus around the strategic plan may be as valuable to your institution as the plan itself.

An increasing number of MMC clients have used their strategic plans to solicit funds by showing potential contributors how their dollars can directly assist in fulfilling institutional priorities. Some clients use their plan as a basis for staff and board evaluation.

According to the American Association of Museums publication, Characteristics of an Accreditable Museum, museums must have "current and appropriate evidence of planning for the museum's future." The museum should also have "a clear sense of mission and organize its governing authority, staff, financial resources, collections, public programs and activities to focus on meeting its formally stated mission."

Click here to see MMC's Components of a Strategic Plan.
Click here to see an example format of a strategic plan goal.

Governance

Governance is one of the three issues cited most frequently as a factor limiting non-profit organizational advancement and excellence. According to the American Association of Museums, one quarter of the organizations tabled for accreditation in the past three years had governance-related problems. If your organization is facing these issues, MMC can work with your leadership and governing authorities to examine organizational structure and roles and responsibilities. MMC can also help establish governance structures for newly formed museums and cultural organizations, including clarifying legal, ethical, and fiscal responsibilities.

Business Plans

MMC business planning can help you form a comprehensive understanding of the financial implications of your organization's future growth and sustainability. MMC provides staffing and operating budget projections, including an analysis of potential revenues and operating expenses, based on the size of your facility, the needs of your operation and programs, and on comparable profiles of other cultural organizations. Since personnel account for approximately 50% of operating costs in the typical nonprofit, particular attention is paid to estimating the number and type of staff required for operation. MMC provides recommendations for realistic operating revenue (earned and contributed) and expenses based on comparable nonprofits in relation to your specific situation. Many MMC Business Plans also include comprehensive Staffing Plans complete with job descriptions and organizational charts.

Master Plans & Feasibility Studies

Master planning is a comprehensive process that guides the long-term operational, programmatic, and physical development of your organization. MMC most often creates master plans and conducts feasibility studies for beginning expansion and renovation projects. Additionally, we have worked with civic, regional, and/or state governments to develop phased plans for new cultural organizations as part of an economic redevelopment strategy. Throughout any master planning process, MMC builds consensus and engages your community to deliver a study that provides specific steps associated with each recommended action.

Master plans also include other planning components such as strategic plans, business plans, and visitor experience plans.

Marketing Plans

Building larger and more diverse audiences requires strategic marketing efforts, and a well-developed marketing plan will set you in the right direction. The MMC process for developing a Marketing Plan begins with an assessment of your past marketing efforts and visitor and marketplace research to uncover public perceptions of your organization. Our analysis includes strengths and weaknesses of your organization's "brand" and positioning and will also examine staff resources and budget allocations assigned to your marketing program. MMC then recommends a positioning strategy for the organization, including consistent messages for communicating with your various constituencies. Once the positioning is established, MMC develops a plan of action outlining key marketing goals with appropriate tactics.

Selected Project Examples

• The Pink Palace Family of Museums
  Memphis, TN

• Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for the Arts at Stanford University
  Stanford, CA

• Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art
  Biloxi, MS

• San Bernardino County Museum
  Redlands, CA

• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
  San Francisco, CA

• The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art at Auburn University
  Auburn, AL

• City of Downey, Space Science Learning Center
  Downey, CA

• City of Independence, Visitor Orientation Center
  Independence, MO

• Rhode Island Historical Society
  Providence, RI

• Museum of Hip Hop and Center for Urban Expression
  Oakland, CA

• West Kowloon Cultural Development Project
  Hong Kong, China