Wisconsin Right Now

Ellen Censky, the CEO of the Milwaukee Public Museum, told a County Board committee this week that the museum has raised $80 million in private donations - leaving it $75 million short of its goal, just two months before the museum plans to break ground anyway. However, it turns out the number is even worse. That's because we asked a key follow-up question. How much of the $80 million raised is for the endowment and not available for construction? The museum would not provide a firm number. However, using an estimate provided by Rebecca Ehlers, vice president of marketing, the museum has actually raised only about $66 million in private donations that can be used toward construction. Ehlers refused to explain what the museum will do if private fundraising continues to lag but the new facility is only partially completed. The new museum has faced petition drives and community concern over the planned destruction of historic murals and beloved exhibits like the current Street

The Milwaukee Public Museum is $92 million short of its $240 million funding goal for a new museum, even after receiving a large donation that they announced today. The construction of the museum is scheduled to begin in December, according to their website. In a press release on Sept. 27, MPM announced that The Kellogg Family Foundation has provided a $10 million gift, bringing the total project funding to $148 million; however, that is $92 million short of the project funding goal of $240 million. That means the museum has raised only $63 million in private donations, compared to $85 million from government/taxpayers. They were trying to get $5 from the federal government, but their website does not reflect receiving it. In a county committee meeting where they made their case for public funding, museum officials were asked what they planned to do if they fell short in private donations. Their solution? Borrowing. Yet we are told it's a lot tougher to raise private don