1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

Funding for museums is crucial to preserving our cultural heritage and enhancing educational opportunities. The 2024 Annual National Snapshot of United States Museums report underscores the need for continued financial support for this vital sector. While attendance and employment trends are improving, the long-term impacts of the pandemic persist with uneven financial recovery and sustainability challenges. Nearly one in five museums experienced a decline in net operating performance compared to pre-pandemic levels, and almost half anticipate disruptions from shifts in philanthropy and market instability this year. Furthermore, over 60% of museums report stagnant or decreasing numbers of individual donors, highlighting the importance of promoting charitable giving incentives like the universal charitable deduction. Robust funding enables museums to fulfill their missions of collecting, preserving, and interpreting our shared history and culture. It allows for educational programming, exhibitions, research, and community engagement initiatives that enrich society. Securing adequate financial resources is paramount to ensuring the museum field's full recovery and continued excellence in serving the public good. Sustained investment in this sector pays dividends through job creation, economic impact, and fostering greater understanding across diverse communities. I urge you to champion policies and funding streams that will strengthen the financial stability of museums nationwide.