I have never worked at a museum where the board members received pay for their service.  At my last job (arts, about a $2M annual budget from a variety of earned and contributed sources) the full board meetings were held every other month and always took place after 5:00 p.m. There were about 35 people on the Board.  Although not required, senior staff (department heads) were encouraged to attend as part of their salaried responsibilities.  Board members also had committee responsibilities—depending on the committee, some of these responsibilities may have been quite time-consuming.  Also, Board members had the requirement to commit some cash to the organization—the way it worked, the people who contributed less cash ended up doing more service, and vice versa.

 

Julia Muney Moore

Public Art Administrator

Blackburn Architects, Indianapolis, IN

(317) 875-5500 x219

  

 

 

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Erin Storc
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 11:34 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] pay for board members?

 

I am the curator at a medium-sized county historical society in the Midwest.  At our recent monthly board meeting (regularly scheduled for early afternoon), a newly elected board director began a discussion about board members receiving compensation for attending monthly meetings, and potentially committee meetings as well.

 

We are a 501c3 with a budget of under $250,000, most of which is an allotment from the county.  We have three full-time and two part-time employees.  Our organization has never paid board members in the past and while its articles of incorporation allude to this fact the legal language of "empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered" seems like it could be translated differently by the parties involved.

 

Questions for similar institutions:

1.  What is your organization's annual budget? And where does the money come from?

2.  How many members sit on the board?  What qualifications must they meet to be elected?

3.  What time does the board meet?

4.  Are staff requested/required to attend?  If after hours, are the staff compensated?

5.  Do members of the board get compensation for meetings? If so, how much?

 

Thanks for all those who can offer some info!

 

Erin

 

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