Want to convert more museum visitors into supporters, but stuck on where to start? I’ll explain how to create a visitor experience that resonates and effortlessly incorporates giving from start to finish.
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Your museum has a unique opportunity to inspire visitors to form a personal connection through compelling experiences. Yet, that connection often ends when they leave. That’s a missed opportunity, especially when considering that charitable giving accounts for approximately 30% of a museum’s income.
If you want to transform more visitors into long-term supporters, I’m here to help.
Below, I’ll explain how to create an impactful end-to-end visitor experience that strengthens supporter relationships and naturally blends giving into meaningful touchpoints. I’ll also share which museum fundraising tools to use to make giving fast and frictionless for visitors.
It’s been six years since the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet, the American Alliance of Museums’ (AAM) 2025 annual survey shows that 55% of U.S. museums have not returned to pre-pandemic attendance.
The image below illustrates the drop in attendance among survey participants visiting their preferred museum from 2020 to 2025:
Source: AAM’s 2025 Annual Survey
Their findings also indicate that repeat visitation isn’t back where it was six years ago, further underscoring that most museums are still recovering.
With attendance and repeat visits still below pre-pandemic levels, museums need to make the most of every visitor who does walk through the door.
Visitors come to your museum for a unique experience, looking to feel inspired by a powerful story or exhibit. When they feel connected to your mission, they’ll be more likely to take that next step, whether that means a donation or a repeat visit.
Their willingness to support you is shaped by how their experience at your institution has made them feel.
Instead of simply asking for donations, create a journey that connects visitors to your mission throughout their time with you – and make it easy for them to give when they feel most inclined.
Creating an engaging experience that connects people to your cause and makes giving feel seamless in the moment is crucial for successful museum fundraising.
When someone visits your museum, they move through a series of touchpoints that shape how they feel and determine whether they’d be open to further engagement.
Before deciding where to add donation prompts, put yourself in their shoes and ask:
Ensure your mission is clearly visible throughout, so people understand the importance of your work and feel more connected to your cause as they navigate the experience.
A nurturing visitor journey makes giving feel like a continuation, rather than an interruption. Include asks and engage visitors when it matters most.
A frictionless giving experience is just as important as a meaningful visitor experience. When the donation experience is quick and convenient, people are more likely to give and give again.
Let’s look at some tools that simplify giving in the moment.
63% of donors prefer to give digitally. And since most people don’t carry cash, it’s important to provide visitors with easy and efficient ways to support your museum.
Donation kiosks are an excellent way to capture cashless in-person gifts in a matter of seconds. They enable visitors to give quickly using cards and digital wallets, without interrupting their experience or requiring a hard ask.
Add your logo and brand colors to increase trust, include various donation intervals and a custom amount option, and offer recurring giving options to secure ongoing support.
Position kiosks in high-traffic areas like entry and exit points, as well as where people are most likely to pause and reflect during the visitor experience.
For example, see how how The Walter’s Art Museum in Baltimore places their Donorbox Live™ Kiosk at their entry point:
Pro tip: Make it easy for visitors to subscribe to your mailing list when completing their gift using donation kiosk software like Donorbox Live™. This enables you to engage them long after they leave by sharing impact stories, information about upcoming events and exhibits, and beyond.
QR codes are another fantastic way to collect donations by redirecting visitors to your donation page when they feel moved to give. A visitor simply scans the code using their smartphone to access your donation page.
Use QR codes to direct visitors to your website to learn more about your mission and impact. Place them alongside exhibit stories and conservation displays, on cafe tables, and on exit signage.
Fundraising platforms like Donorbox provide you with an automatically generated, free QR code for every fundraising campaign you create. It also provides QR codes for events, so visitors can easily purchase tickets and access additional information.
Pro tip: If you’re using a donation kiosk, add QR codes alongside it so visitors can learn more about your campaign, mission, and impact.
When someone attends a workshop, talk, or special event, they’ve made an active decision to spend more time with your museum.
These unique experiences are an invaluable opportunity to further engage your attendees and inspire support. Beyond focusing on delivering a great experience, make sure to connect that experience to giving that resonates and feels timely.
One way of doing that is to link your event content to specific needs. For example, a workshop or performance can highlight the resources needed to bring that programming to life. When attendees understand why what they’re supporting matters, they’re far more likely to engage.
Again, the key is to make giving feel fluid instead of an interruption during the visitor’s end-to-end experience.
For example, if you’re using an online event ticketing tool like Donorbox Events to sell tickets, ask for an additional donation during checkout to capture that support.
Organizations using Donorbox Events have already sold more than 733,000 tickets and raised over $47 million.
During your event, make it easy for attendees to give when they feel moved. Incorporate donation kiosks to make giving quick and convenient, increasing your fundraising potential.
Plus, offer a text giving option, such as Donorbox Text-to-Give, for supporters who want to donate via their smartphones.
When done thoughtfully, events not only help you attract new visitors but also help you connect with and transform them into active supporters of your mission.
By now, you’d probably agree that a visitor’s journey doesn’t end once they leave your museum.
In fact, offering a meaningful experience paired with strategic, personalized outreach can keep them coming back for more – and turn a one-time attendee into a returning visitor.
48% of donors say they prefer to receive updates and appeals from an organization via email.
However you choose to connect, remember that post-visit outreach is not just about asking for donations.
Make sure visitors feel valued by sharing authentic content and exclusive engagement opportunities. Bring them closer to your cause by communicating the impact of their support. That’s how you gain their trust.
Beyond requests for donations, examples of content you might consider sharing include:
Effectively managing event-related information is equally as important as what you share with your visitors. If you use tools like Blackbaud Altru to manage ticket sales and event attendance, integrate it with your fundraising platform to save time and reduce manual errors.
For example, Donorbox’s Blackbaud Altru integration automatically syncs donations, ticket sales, and supporter data collected through its platform, ensuring accurate records and a streamlined workflow.
That means more time to focus on creating meaningful outreach that strengthens your relationships with visitors and moves them enough to keep showing up.
Designing a memorable end-to-end experience is the foundation for transforming more visitors into long-term supporters of your museum. When giving is convenient and feels like a natural continuation of the experience, people will feel more connected and inspired to take the next step.
From donation kiosks to event ticketing, Donorbox provides helpful fundraising features and donor management tools that empower your museum fundraising efforts.
For more fundraising tips and ideas, visit the Nonprofit Blog. Subscribe to the monthly newsletter for a curated selection of resources sent to your inbox.
Jamy-Lee has over 7 years of experience in copywriting and content marketing. With a background in volunteering, she now uses her passion for writing to help accelerate the all-important missions of nonprofits worldwide.
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