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What are the requirements to be a board member for the MET museum, the MET opera, the Alvin Ailey Dancers, and the Museum of Natural History?
Hi! Thank you for your question about the requirements to be a board member for the MET museum, the MET opera, the Alvin Ailey Dancers, and the Museum of Natural History.
In short, MET Museum requires a donation of at least $10 million, MET Opera requires $250,000, Alvin Ailey Dancers require at least $10,000 and Museum of Natural History requires $75,000. However, there are more requirements in addition to donation and benefits associated with the association which I have discussed. I have provided a deep dive of my findings below.
MET MUSEUM AND MET OPERA
Analyzing the three elected trustees, it becomes evident that a large degree of public recognition is required for the role. The elected persons have track records as a “curator, collector, and patron” and as holders of a number of “philanthropic and civic positions”. Chairman of the Museum’s board stated that the reason for appointment of these person for the role was “to recognize their dedication to art, education, and to fostering community engagement with art and culture.”
To be considered as a member of the MET Museum’s board, a minimum donation of $10 million is expected. For the MET Opera, it is $250,000. Further, trustees who get on boards cannot stop donations. They are expected to continue contributing typically in the range of $5,000 to $25,000. The benefits of becoming a trustee span from social status and influence to opportunities to socialize with the wealthy and famous. However, besides the honor which the appointment to the board of trustee brings, it also brings obligations such as approving its programs and budgets, investing its endowments and managing its physical plant.
Lastly, the annual report of MET states that it appointed three new board members in 2016 while the other five were re-elected and re-assigned among existing members. This points to a highly selective process which is open to new members from the outside in a very limited way. Further, the report stipulates that the board of trustees grows marginally each year due to a very tough vetting process.
ALVIN AILEY DANCERS
The Alvin Ailey Dancers offer memberships as “Artistic Director” at a yearly contribution of $10,000 and more. Three variants for $10,000, $15,000 and $25,000 is provided on the link with the benefits. These benefits include special recognition in performance programs, invitation to join exclusive trips, personalized backstage tour of New York City Center, access to house seats and season passes to VIP Lounge, invitation to season preview of new works at the Studio, invitation to special performance at the Center followed by post-performance dinner with Robert Battle and special guests, exclusive membership in Robert Battle’s Salon, invitation to join a private working rehearsal, access to a Master class, invitation to a private showing of the Lab. The higher variants include VIP seats at North American Tour performance, invitation to Playbill premiere and private invitation to join the dancer on-stage during intermission at a select performance.
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
The museum offers membership in the Chairman’s Circle through an annual membership of $75,000. However, it also has other cheaper memberships which do not offer the same benefits but can be availed according to affordability. It also offers lifetime-based donation schemes like Bequests (pledging inheritance to the Museum after death), annuities (after a certain sum has been donated, the museum returns tax-free annual payouts at 5-8% of the sum depending the donor’s age), and charitable remainder trusts (donors transfer their assets to a trust which after a certain time give the remainder to the Museum). Further, comparing the list of board of trustees with the list of grants and gifts, it becomes evident that a large number of trustees are also donors donating between $50,000 and $100,000 on an annual basis. Lastly, list of benefits is not published online limiting the analysis of the benefits offered through these memberships.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, MET Museum requires a donation of at least $10 million, MET Opera requires $250,000, Alvin Ailey Dancers require at least $10,000 and Museum of Natural History requires $75,000. The benefits as well as requirements are varied as discussed above.
I hope the research is useful. Thank you for using Wonder!