Governance Assessment helps a museum's governing authority examine its structure, roles, and responsibilities.  The assessment enhances the ability of the governing authority to advance the museum's mission and engage in effective planning.

Governance Assessment results in:

• Clearer understanding of the responsibilities of the governing authority
• Improvements in board recruitment, retention, and engagement
• Increased ability to obtain and manage resources
• Clarity regarding the roles of auxiliary groups
• Better communications among members of the governing authority, staff, and auxiliary groups

Activities in the Governance Assessment focus on:

• Mission
• Delegation of authority
• Governance summit
• Running better meetings
• Measuring performance of the organization
• Maintaining strategic focus
• Recruitment and orientation
• Collections responsibility

Because Governance Assessment requires a significant time commitment on the part of members of the museum's governing authority, the governing authority is required to pass a resolution in support of the museum's application. This resolution should indicate that the members of the governing authority support the goals of the assessment and will devote the time needed to complete the program. (A model resolution is included in the MAP application.)

We recommend that the museum's governing authority begin discussing participation in GMAP, and the museum's goals for the assessment, several months prior to the application deadline. Use the following material to inform the members of the governing authority about GMAP. This can help frame the discussion regarding whether to participate in Governance Assessment, and help identify appropriate goals for the assessment.

For further information, see:

Comments from Prior GMAP Participants