Pittsburgh skyline with a view of Point State Park and the city’s famous incline.

Photo: iStock Photography

Sustainability: Strategic Plan, 2018–2020

Increase CMOA’s economic impact on Pittsburgh by 30% using the Americans for the Arts economic impact calculator to measure total museum expenditures, jobs, household income and local revenue generated by CMOA to quantify its contribution to the local economy. CMOA must sustainably grow in order to be a viable community asset, be artistically vibrant and culturally rich, and support Pittsburgh’s unique identity. Our success is dependent upon having the human resources and financial capacity to do our work well. We will be purposeful and strategic about what we do and what we designate as our top priorities. All of this will ensure CMOA generates sustainable cultural and economic benefits to the community.

Key Strategies

  1. Financial sustainability. We are committed to ensuring that the rate of revenue growth outpaces expenses in order to build our annual surplus and direct it toward strategic priorities. CMOA will strategically monitor the allocation of resources, emphasizing organizational efficiency and economies of scale across CMP. We will find new areas of earned revenue, as well as identify existing areas of earned revenue poised for growth (i.e., increasing revenue per visitor), diversify our funding composition, and incorporate operational endowment and financial sustainability goals into the CMP capital campaign. We will identify events, recognition benefits, and other exclusive opportunities to move donors through increasing levels of individual giving and to deepen engagement and support for CMOA.
  2. Resource Development. Attract and retain top level talented staff and a strong board, reflecting diversity, engagement, commitment, leadership, expertise, and experience. Support professional development, arts management and leadership training opportunities for staff and board, and urge more open communication between the two. Encourage staff to present at national conferences to share the museum’s work with colleagues in the field, and actively contribute to the cultural vibrancy of Pittsburgh’s local arts community.
  3. Evaluation and Sustainable Programming. Identify evaluation needs and resources (human, financial) and build a comprehensive evaluation plan that will allow us to determine whether our goals are being reached. Research and adopt a project management system museum-wide to enhance efficiency and ensure staff can collaborate effectively. Institute a museum-wide process for vetting projects (exhibitions, programs, initiatives) to ensure a healthy balance between capacity and work demand, acknowledging that the museum is a codependent system.