Where Most Needed

Smithsonian Fundraising Now Relies on Big Money

There was an abrupt transition in the late 1990s to an emphasis on blockbuster capital campaigns, and now extremely large gifts are the single largest source of funds for the museum.  The present board structure is ill-suited both to this kind of fundraising and to the kind of media deals that the organization now must engage in.  I offer a radical solution to bring the Smithsonian into the current century. 

Chief Justice Blocks Board Reform at Smithsonian

Documents show that recommendations of the independent review committee were watered down and that the Chief Justice John Roberts does not wish to give up his role as chancellor of the institution.  Other documents show that the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist and former Republican Senator Howard Baker were directly responsible for Lawrence Small's 45% salary increase in 2001, which was not reported to the full board. 

Smithsonian Governance Report Settles for Incremental Repairs

An outdated board structure is left intact, but it will no longer rely exclusively on the general secretary for its information.  The door closes on outside board seats for Smithsonian staff, some operating and personnel policies are updated, but a lot more is left for further study and future resolution. 

Smithsonian: Butterflies are Expensive

The board of regents approves an admission fee for the new Butterfly Pavillion, with a planned opening in November. 

Compensation and Governance at the US Holocaust Museum

After the criticism of the Smithsonian for its CEO's compensation, a comparison raises doubts about the reasonableness of another institution's top salary.

Smithsonian Governance Study Excludes Input from Museums

The Smithsonian board appoints mostly its own members to its governance review committee, in sharp contrast to the approach taken by the American Red Cross. 

US Federal Executive Pay Puts Charity Salaries in Perspective

External oversight keeps executive pay reasonably proportionate to the rest of staff salaries in the US Federal government, and far less than that $400,000 salary of the President.

Power Shift in Washington May Have Driven Smithsonian Turnover

Two Congressional Democrats replaced two Republicans on the board of regents last December.  I have the details on how the board is appointed and a current organization chart for the Smithsonian Institutions.

Smithsonian Art Report Recaps the Emergence of the Charity Industry

The big funding shift from endowments and government appropriation to earned income have driven the shift of museums (and many other charities) to a more businesslike approach (not to mention the emergence of corporate-type leadership of Glenn D. Lowry and Lawrence Small). 

Senator Grassley's Pals Oversee the Smithsonian Institution

Six prominent Republican politicians (and two Democrats) bear the responsibility for monitoring the pay and performance of Smithsonian head Lawrence Small, serving as trustees on the seventeen-member board of regents.