Join the Burke Museum Association

Photo: Rachel Ormiston/Burke Museum
Photo: Rachel Ormiston/Burke Museum

Get Involved

The Burke Museum Association is actively recruiting board members to support the Burke’s mission to care for and share natural history and cultural collections with all. The BMA is a fundraising board that supports the museum by raising funds for programming and growth, strengthening ties with our diverse communities, and fostering recognition of the Burke as an industry leader. 

​​Why join the Burke Museum Association?​​​ 

As the official Washington state museum, the Burke is an essential public resource that aims to serve communities near and far. The BMA’s support extends the museum’s reach by 20% each year. Your leadership on the BMA contributes directly to the Burke being accessible for generations to come. 

​​​​​The Burke Museum is an active research museum with more than 18 million scientific specimens and arts and cultures items. The collections help sustain cultural traditions, advance scientific knowledge, and educate the next generation​s​ of scientists. Students, researchers, community members, and tribal partners all draw upon the collections for their work. School districts across the state bring the wonder of natural history and culture to their students through field trips and the Burke’s many traveling educational Burke Box kits.  

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Board member responsibilities 

    – Support the Burke in partnership with fundraising efforts led by Burke Development ​     ​ 

    – Activate your personal networks to generate interest in and increase general awareness of the museum 

    – Engage community by participating in and promoting museum programming 

    – Personally contribute a meaningful donation​ of combined time, talent and/or treasure​ to the museum annually
       (average board member giving ranges from $1,000 – $125,000) 

    – Define and support the mission and vision of the board 

    – Steward public trust in the BMA through fulfillment of legal, financial, and ethical responsibilities 

    – Attend monthly board and committee meetings 

 

Board member benefits 

    – Museum membership 

    – 10% discount in the Burke Store and Off the Rez Café 

    – Sneak-peak events for new exhibitions 

    – Special programming and education opportunities 

    – Community building opportunities with curators, researchers, museum professionals, and other passionate volunteers 

    – Up-close and behind-the-scenes connections with Burke collections and research 

Learn more

Board member nominations will occur between November 2024 and March 2026.

If you are interested in learning more, we encourage you to reach out to Director of Development Michelle Banks,  banksm2@uw.edu.

We hope to hear from you!