Who Pays for Museum Director’s Car?
As a professional fund-raiser for the last 10 years, I read with concern the quoted comments of Director Craig Black of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History regarding the purchase of his $49,000 automobile with foundation money (“A Lexus for Museum Director, Despite Layoffs,” June 7).
A private foundation to support a public institution is not unusual. However, to say “perception” comes into play when cultivating donors implies that the museum cannot stand on its own merit and must rely on Black or his car to get philanthropists to contribute.
Los Angeles is much more sophisticated than Black may think. Donors support our not-for-profit institutions because of the quality of service and the urgently needed programs they provide, not because of the car the director drives.
KRAIG M. BUTRUM
Director of Development
American Lung Assn. of
Los Angeles County
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