Texas Museums Together

When you're speaking up for your museum:

• Think about who you’re talking to. Your main points won’t change, but how you share them should fit what each audience cares about most.

• Ground it in your reality. Highlight local programs, staff roles, partnerships, or visitor experiences that demonstrate what’s at stake and show why your museum’s work matters.

• Keep it clear and conversational. Speak plainly, from the heart, and focus on why this matters for your community.

• Stay consistent. When everyone on your team uses the same core messages, whether in media interviews, board meetings, or outreach, it reinforces the story you’re trying to tell.

• Make it a habit. With only so many hours to dedicate to this work, choosing where to place your emphasis is critical. Set aside time in your calendar each week (or even every two weeks) to send messages to community stakeholders.

Documenting your museum’s successes and challenges strengthens the case for public support and helps other institutions learn and adapt. The Record of Impact collects stories from across Texas, creating a network of evidence that shows how museums contribute to communities. By sharing your experiences:

• You build collective knowledge that strengthens advocacy efforts statewide.

• You highlight real-world impact, giving funders, policymakers, and the public concrete evidence of your museum’s value.

• You connect with peers, learning from others’ strategies, solutions, and lessons.

Every story matters.

Texas Museums Together focuses on helping institutions across the state speak with a collective voice to support local communities, but we’re part of a bigger picture. Other organizations are working to unite voices at the national level. 

• The American Alliance for Museums provides Advocacy Alerts, resources and data, and ways to get involved, particularly at the federal level.

• The American Association for State and Local History’s Advocacy and Leadership Initiatives connect institutions across the nation to key topics of particular interest to history practitioners. 

Most museums operate as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, which can engage in advocacy, including talking to elected officials and the public, as long as it's not partisan and doesn't constitute a substantial portion of your activities.

You can:

• Educate public officials about your museum’s impact

• Share the importance of public funding (like IMLS or NEH)

• Encourage your community to value and support cultural organizations

You cannot:

• Endorse or oppose political candidates

• Use government grant funds for lobbying activities

Want to dive in further? Check out this resource from the National Council of Nonprofits.