February 3, 2009 Council of American Jewish Museums Annual Conference Mira Goldfarb, Senior Consultant Synagogue-Museum: Mission Compatible? A Strategic Planning Session

Agenda 1.Why do Strategic Planning? 2.Mission Alignment 3.Your Experiences

WHY do Strategic Planning? Some reasons: Improve performance Qualify for private or public funding Achieve accreditation Lay the groundwork for a new initiative Motivate staff and Board Replace or update previous plan Address change - both internal and external Mission Alignment*

What is Strategic Planning?

What is Strategic Planning - How is it done?

Mutual Appreciation Process Communication & Collaboration are Essential! Strategic Planning for Museums within Larger Organizations: Mission Alignment Synagogue : What is the Museum? What can the Museum Offer? What does the Museum Require? Museum: What are the Synagogue’s Goals? Who does the Synagogue Serve? What are the Synagogue’s Needs?

Strategic Planning for Museums within Larger Organizations: Mission Alignment Governance Relationship to the Board: Advisory Committee Management Committee Relationship to the Clergy & Staff: Line Department Program Division The Strategic Plan must have the endorsement and engagement of Synagogue Leadership at every stage of the Planning process and throughout the life of the Plan. 1. Environmental Scan 4. Critical Issues 6. Strategic Directions 7. Goals 8. Objectives 9. Implementation Plan 10. Evaluation Cycle & Communication Cycle 3. Internal Assessment 2. External Assessment Start-up Key Informant Interviews 5. Comparison & Benchmarking Mission Visions

Strategic Planning for Museums within Larger Organizations: Mission Alignment Audience Membership Community General Public Tourists How can the museum support the synagogue’s inreach goals and the synagogue support the museum’s outreach goals?

Opportunities & Challenges – Your Views 1. Why is it important for a synagogue to have a museum? 2. How can the museum and the synagogue enhance one another? 3. What are the challenges in achieving professional excellence as a synagogue museum?

Opportunities & Challenges Opportunities Enhance educational, lifecycle and social programming Public Face: Outside In / Inside Out Object Based Learning Built in operational infrastructure, governance system and fundraising machine Challenges Location Resource Allocation Parochial Nature of Institution Control over the collection Intellectual Independence