Budgets can generate lively discussions, advance institutional priorities, and create a roadmap for the future. If you find this hard to believe, then this book is for you. All museum professionals can benefit from a greater understanding of budgets and financial management. Beyond the Numbers helps to make budgeting more approachable and is designed for individuals without a background in financial management. While the book is about budgeting, it contains very few spreadsheets or dry templates. Instead, it focuses on larger issues such as your relationship to money, the dynamic ways budgets can serve museums, and how budgeting connects (and often doesn't connect) to strategic planning. The writing style is easy and accessible, with a little humor along the way. The book will help you discover the connection between the museum work you love and the budget process that powers your institution's priorities. Many of the most critical issues we face in the museum field, such as pay inequity, public accessibility, and a lack of funding, are related to budget management. By taking more responsibility and a greater interest in resource management, we all can play a larger role in the direction of our institutions and communities. If you've ever felt like you were on the outside looking in because you couldn't follow a budget discussion or didn't know how financial decisions were made, this book will give you the tools to begin to claim your seat at the table. It will provide concrete steps to increase your financial literacy and confidence with budget management.
Kristine Zickuhr is the director of administration at the Chazen Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has been in the museum field since 1998, and in a leadership position since 2011. She has an MA in Art History and is currently an Executive MBA candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During her career, Kristine has managed multi-million-dollar budgets, collaborated on a business plan for a new history center, and prepared numerous capital and biennial budget requests. She strives to make budgeting more accessible and relevant, by welcoming all staff members into financial discussions and supporting leadership decisions with solid financial information.
Beyond the Numbers offers a detailed and practical guide to the serious business of operational budgeting for museums with thoughtfulness and humor.--Ted Silberberg, Senior Principal, Market and Financial Planning, Lord Cultural Resources Kristine Zickuhr's book is a thorough and engaging introduction to museum budgets. With practical advice and a focus on core budget elements, Zickuhr offers a resource that helps every museum professional gain confidence in their ability to create budgets to benefit the current needs and future sustainability of any museum.--Rebekah Beaulieu, director, Florence Griswold Museum
