>Date:    Mon, 30 Sep 1996 09:53:59 EST
>From:    [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Soliciting donations
>
>I work at a museum with free admission, however to some extent we rely on
>visitors making voluntary contributions. We have donation boxes where visitors
>can do this. I'm keen to find out how we can make these boxes more effective.


Our museum also has free admission.  The donation box is by the entrance,
with a volunteer greeter stationed close by to provide both encouragement
and security.  The box is built into a wood cabinet, with the donation slot
and one panel made from plex.  Funds are deposited weekly, and we have never
had a scam or break-in.  The cabinet also holds the visitors' log, which our
greeters encourage people to sign as they exit the building.  Though not all
visitors do, those who sign are far more likely to make a donation.

The log itself has also proved usefull.  It asks for basic demographic
information, and how the visitor liked the museum.   The data isn't
great,(too biased and incomplete for a formal survey), but it provides great
anecdotal evidence about the number and diversity of visitors, and how
wonderful they thought the museum was.

Margaret Lyman
Curator of Collections
Silver City Museum
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