The American Association for State and Local History’s Performance Management visitor survey program recently opened several new benchmark groups including military museums, state historical societies, state operated museums, museums in the New England region, and budget categories $201,000 to $400,000 and $401,000 to 1 million. Existing benchmark groups include budget categories of $1-3 million and $3+ million. All other regions of the country are already represented in benchmark groups as are the general categories of history museum, historic site, and others.

 

AASLH’s Performance Management program helps museums, historic houses, and related institutions define success by how well they are meeting visitors’ wants and needs. Through the use of a proven survey and resulting report, participating institutions receive important visitor data plus valuable support material for strategic planning, fund raising, marketing, and program development.

 

According to many past participants, benchmarking is one of the most valuable benefits of the Performance Management program. Benchmarking allows your museum to compare its visitor survey results with institutions of similar type, budget size, governance structure, and geographic location. A benchmark group is created only after five or more institutions that meet criteria for that group have participated in the program.

 

An even greater opportunity for benchmarking occurs when ten or more institutions that share a common link take part in Performance Management as a group. Examples might include museums located within one state or region, corporate museums, Civil War-related sites, or urban historic houses. For groups that share a common link, Performance Management helps them compare visitor data, identify and discuss common strengths and opportunities for improvement, and possibly work together on marketing, fund raising, or other efforts. 

 

The cost to take part in Performance Management is $4,200 ($3,500 for AASLH institutional members). AASLH’s payment plan allows many museums to pay the fee over the course of two fiscal years.    

 

To sign up for the Performance Management group that begins June 1 or to request additional information, contact Cherie Cook at [log in to unmask] or at 573.893.5164. Check out which museums are using Performance Management by going to www.aaslh.org/perfmanagement.htm.

 

Cherie Cook, Project Director
American Association for State and Local History