THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM - GuideStar Profile (2023)

Wildlife Exhibits

Exhibits

Mrs. Miller's Ranch

Education Programs

Programs

Daily Talks

To amaze visitors with meaningful experiences we will cultivate dialogue, expand arts engagement, implement engaging programs and exhibits, and create experiences to include diverse voices.

To inspire stewardship and a sense of place we will expand off-site field trip opportunities, increase engagement in citizen science programs, use art to inspire appreciation of the High Desert, and update our master plan.

To engage new audiences we will strengthen our access initiatives to under-served populations, develop programming for young adults, and continue collaborating with other institutions.

To ensure future financial stability we will operate on a balanced budget, maintain cash reserves, build the endowment, and continue to strengthen internal financial processes and policies.

To build leadership for the 21st century we will increase board diversity, monitor and strengthen the cultural health of the organization, provide professional development for staff and volunteers, and build awareness and advocacy for the work of museums at a state level.

The High Desert Museum's board of trustees consists of 27 members, whose expertise ranges from law, finance and nonprofit management to education, forestry and art. Board members meet quarterly, serve on one of five committees, align our mission and strategic plan with fundraising goals and contribute financially to the Museum.

A well-qualified leadership team effectively manages the Museum. Executive Director, Dana Whitelaw, provides leadership for the organization, coordinating growth in attendance, exhibits and programs, and fundraising. As previously state, she holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology and has more than 20 years of experience developing and managing educational programs and organizations. Director of Programs, Christina Cid, has a Ph.D. in Science Education and over 15 years of experience developing and implementing educational programs. Under her leadership, we established several new education initiatives, including intensive professional development workshops for area teachers. Director of Development, Heather Vihstadt, has a Masters in Nonprofit Management and she is a Certified Fund Raising Executive. She has revitalized our donor base and introduced a planned giving initiative. Director of Communications, Sandy Cummings, worked as a journalist for NBC News for 23 years and has won three Emmy Awards for her work as a producer. She has established a strong online presence for the Museum and expanded our outreach through social media. Director of Finance, Carmen Melamed, has over 10 years' experience in finance, including at the University of Oregon. Since arriving at the Museum, she has brought changes to the store and café that have contributed significant revenue growth and she has made improvements to policies and procedures.

The 40 additional full-time staff in are highly qualified to serve in their respective roles; many are experts in their fields.

In addition, the Museum has nearly 200 volunteers who generously contribute their time and talent on a regular basis.

Collectively, this team is well suited to fulfill the organizational goals.

Since launching the Museum's Changing Exhibits initiative in 2008, attendance rates have increased by 25%. And, over 95% of respondents to our exit surveys consistently rate our exhibitions as “excellent" or “good" in all categories.

However, success may be best measured through the words of those directly affected. For example, as part of our access initiatives, we distribute free passes to local social service organizations. These passes help provide moments of normalcy to children and families who are experiencing extremely difficult situations. CASA of Central Oregon recently wrote: “Children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect often miss out on normal childhood activities like spending a day at a museum. These tickets provide our volunteer advocates an opportunity to share that experience with the children they represent, or to pass them along to a foster family who can create new memories together." After participating in our Energy and the Environment class, one middle school student commented: “I learned so much about energy and solar panels. You convinced me to want to be an engineer and build new stuff." One parent in our Little Wonders program, which provides complimentary memberships to Head Start families, commented: “We're really thankful that we get to come and see everything and do it as a family. It's a really wonderful experience." Each of these transformative experiences represents the successful realization of the Museum's goals in serving our community's needs.

In terms of finance, the Museum has experienced several years of positive growth based on a diverse and healthy revenue stream. Our three primary sources of revenue are earned income (approximately 50%), individual and corporate donations (25%) and governmental and foundation grants (15%). Our total endowment is just over $3 million, and we recently launched a planned giving campaign that will provide additional growth and sustainability for the institution.

In regards to leadership, senior staff have recently taken part in numerous professional development opportunities ranging from attending the National Conference for Smithsonian Affiliates to the Annual Meeting of the Western Museums Association to the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation series. Speakers often present at Board and staff meetings and staff are encouraged to partake in workshops and online webinars. Regular trainings are provided for volunteers as well.