Help Educate and Align the Asian Art Museum Board around Best Practices for Nonprofit Boards 

The Asian Art Museum–Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture is a public institution whose mission is to lead a diverse global audience in discovering the unique material, aesthetic, and intellectual achievements of Asian art and culture. 

Opened in 1966 as a result of a gift to the City of San Francisco by industrialist Avery Brundage, the Asian Art Museum is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted to Asian art. Its holdings include over 18,000 objects spanning 6,000 years of history and representing the countries and cultures throughout Asia. The collections serve as the basis for exhibition, research, education, and loan activities. To fulfill its mission, the museum strives to increase the breadth of its collections, enhance relationships with local constituencies and Pacific Rim cultures, and expand exhibitions and program-related activities. The museum uses its resources to make Asia accessible to a diverse and rapidly expanding Asian-descendant populace searching for a meaningful and comprehensible connection to its cultural heritage, and to a non-Asian populace wishing to be introduced to traditions and cultures that play an increasingly prominent role in international affairs.  After residing in Golden Gate Park for 35 years, the museum reopened at its new expanded facility at San Francisco’s Civic Center on March 20, 2003.

The Asian Art Museum is a unique public / private partnership governed by dual boards—the Asian Art Commission (public department of the City and County of San Francisco) and the Asian Art Museum Foundation (private fundraising arm). Together, the boards are responsible for the administration of the museum, and its collection of more than 18,000 Asian artworks officially owned by the City and County of San Francisco. 

The Asian Art Commission is responsible for the determination of policy for and the administration of the museum. The Commission consists of 27 members, nominated by the Commission subject to the Mayor’s approval.

The Asian Art Museum Foundation was established as the private fundraising arm of the Museum. The primary responsibilities of the Foundation trustees are: (i) to ensure the success of the Asian Art Museum; (ii) to maintain and enhance the collections, exhibitions, and programs of the Asian Art Museum by securing necessary operating funds and increasing endowment funds; (iii) as fiduciaries, to be responsible for the investment of all funds, particularly preservation and growth of endowment funds; (iv) to further the mission of the Asian Art Museum by advocating for increased public funding.

In March 2012, the museum began work to develop a strategic business plan and capital strategy.  The business plan should be completed by the end of 2012 and the combined boards will work to implement the plan in early 2013.   

The Asian Art Museum is interested in engaging a Community Partners team to help present some best practices on nonprofit boards to help educate and align the boards to achieve its long-term strategic objectives.  Looking for volunteers with experience on nonprofit boards.