Regarding the definition of self-supporting:
If the museum's position is viewed in a vacuum, then earned  income (plus
possibily that of investment income) would be the only real measure of
"self-support."  Since no organization exists without some degree of outside
support, be it non-profit status that awards tax breaks, donated time,
services or money, or grants, or other items listed under the "support"
category in the operating budget, what are you trying to measure? the degree
of support, the "corporate culture" of self-support?  All of these could lead
to very interesting discussions.
 
 For example, if an institution perceives itself as
independently supported, i.e., not beholding to any authority except to the
ambiguous interests of the public trust and to the IRS, does that influence
the nature of board or staff decisions?
 
Roxana Adams