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MUSEUM COMPUTER NETWORK
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 237360764 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · mcn.edu
revenue
$217K
expenses
$177K
net assets
$211K
employees
0
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

TO GROW THE DIGITAL CAPACITY OF MUSEUM PROFESSIONAL BY CONNECTING THEM TO IDEAS, INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES, PROVEN PRACTICES, AND EACH OTHER.

profile · synthesized from sources

Museum Computer Network (MCN) is a professional association supporting museum professionals in building digital capacity. It connects members through knowledge sharing, professional development, and community engagement to advance digital innovation across museums. Founded in 1967 and based in New York, MCN serves a global network of individuals and institutions working in the museum technology field.

named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Mentorship Program
Year-round professional development initiative pairing experienced and emerging professionals in museum technology
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Member-led groups focused on specific areas of digital practice within museums, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 3 activities
    • Facilitate online professional community and resource sharing
      Operates the MCN Forum and maintains a YouTube channel and online repository with hundreds of recorded conference sessions, webinars, and resources to support ongoing peer-to-peer learning, discussion, and access to best practices in museum digital work.
    • Host annual conference for museum professionals
      Organizes an annual conference that brings together over 600 cultural heritage professionals from North America and beyond to share knowledge, present innovations, and engage in professional development through workshops, panel discussions, and lightning talks on digital technologies in museums.
    • Operate Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for peer collaboration
      Runs volunteer-led Special Interest Groups that enable museum professionals to connect, collaborate, and share resources year-round around specific digital practice areas, with member access to message boards, resources, and networking opportunities.
  • Organizational DEI Capacity Building 1 activity
    • Advance DEAI practices within the organization and field
      Supports diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion through a dedicated DEAI Working Group established in 2017, which integrates these principles into organizational policies, activities, and strategic planning.
  • Organization Website and Online Platform Management 1 activity
    • Develop and maintain digital infrastructure for member engagement
      Operates a member portal and online systems for membership management, SIG participation, networking, and sharing of best practices, including custom-developed registration software and open-source web publishing platforms.
  • Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
    • Provide free membership to expand access and inclusivity
      Offers a no-cost membership model that provides access to professional networks, resources, and leadership opportunities to increase inclusivity and accessibility for museum and cultural heritage technologists.
  • Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
    • Support professional development through mentorship and leadership opportunities
      Runs an annual mentorship program that pairs museum professionals for career development and offers pathways for leadership through Special Interest Groups, committees, and board service, with targeted support for individuals from underrepresented groups.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Conduct research on emerging technologies in cultural heritage
      Develops prototypes and research initiatives, including a two-sided Extended Reality (XR) Cultural Heritage platform through the Museums in the Metaverse (MiM) project and previously a mainframe network prototype shared by member museums from 1968 to 1971.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$217K
Contributions & grants$48K22%
Program service revenue$168K77%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue$1
expenses
Total expenses$177K
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$251K
Cash$230K
Investments$0
Liabilities$39K
Net assets$211K
Liquid reserves15.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -26.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 15
  • ALICE WALKER — DIRECTOR
  • ANDY CUMMINS — PRESIDENT
  • BETH FISCHER — DIRECTOR
  • CASPAR LAM — DIRECTOR
  • CLAIRE BLECHMAN — TREASURER
  • DAVID NEWBURY — DIRECTOR
  • JEN HOLMES — DIRECTOR
  • JONATHAN MUNAR — DIRECTOR
  • JOSH SCHNAPF — VICE PRESIDE
  • KATIE REILLY — SECRETARY
  • MARTIN FRANZINI — DIRECTOR
  • MAX EVJEN — DIRECTOR
  • RYAN WAGGONER — DIRECTOR
  • SARA SNYDER — DIRECTOR
  • SCOTT GILLAM — DIRECTOR
relationships · 27

Who they work with

  • AREA 17 Partner — Community partner that supports transformative outcomes for influential organizations in alignment with MCN's mission.
  • Bloomberg Connects Partner — Partner providing a free mobile app with interactive guides to cultural spaces worldwide.
  • Board of Directors Network — Volunteer board providing governance and leadership for MCN.
  • C&G Partners Partner — Creative studio partner dedicated to design for culture.
  • Capption Partner — Technology partner providing accessibility solutions for museum exhibits.
  • Cogapp Partner — Digital agency partner working with leading cultural institutions on digital projects.
  • Community Partners Partner — Receives support from Community Partners to sustain operations.
  • DEAI Advisory Committee Partner — Committee of MCN members appointed to provide feedback on DEAI initiatives and support inclusive decision-making across the organization.
  • Design for Context, LLC Partner — Consulting partner specializing in usability and user experience design for cultural organizations.
  • Forum One Partner — Digital solutions partner that amplifies the impact of mission-driven organizations.
  • Gallery Systems Partner — Provider of museum software solutions, including collections management systems.
  • Hammer Museum Partner — Employer of Susan Edwards, who co-chaired the MCN50 committee and has been presenting at MCN conferences since 2006.
  • Muse Partner — Operations management platform partner for museums and nonprofit attractions.
  • Museum Computer Network Inc. Government — Nonprofit corporation incorporated in the State of New York
  • New York Council on the Arts Funder — Provided funding for the development of a prototype mainframe network in the late 1960s.
  • Omeka Partner — Open-source platform partner for publishing digital collections and online exhibits.
  • Orange Logic Partner — Digital asset management platform partner for cultural organizations.
  • Pladia Partner — Platform partner for building and managing visitor experiences.
  • Pratt Institute Partner — Educational partner offering a museum studies program aligned with 21st-century museum practice.
  • SFMOMA Partner — Employer of Marla Misunas, who served as co-chair of the MCN50 committee and president of MCN from 2005–2007.
  • SIGs Network — Special Interest Groups involved in year-round professional development and conference planning.
  • Tessitura Partner — Technology partner powering arts and cultural organizations globally.
  • The Museums in the Metaverse (MiM) Partner — Project partner developing an Extended Reality (XR) Cultural Heritage platform.
  • Urban Insight Partner — Partner that designs and builds websites for mission-focused organizations.
  • YouTube Partner — Hosts recorded conference presentations and webinars on the MCN YouTube channel as a community resource.
  • blooloop Partner — Media partner serving the museums and science centre industry, reaching directors and professionals globally.
  • zetcom Partner — Software solutions partner for museums, collections, and corporate archives.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Driven Capacity Building
    methodology: community_driven_capacity_building
    By connecting museum professionals to each other, ideas, proven practices, and leadership opportunities through member-driven structures and volunteer-led communities of practice, the organization grows digital capacity within the museum field because peer collaboration and shared ownership foster innovation, professional growth, and sustainable knowledge transfer.
  • Inclusive Community as a Catalyst for Technological Equity
    methodology: institutionalized_DEAI_integration
    By intentionally fostering a diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive culture—through safe spaces, institutionalized DEAI practices, and removing financial barriers—the organization strengthens the museum technology community and expands access to technology, because inclusive participation enables broader, more representative innovation and critical reflection on technology’s role in serving diverse audiences.
  • Leadership Development Through Community Engagement
    methodology: leadership_development_through_community_engagement
    By creating structured pathways for members to lead and advance professionally within the organization, the organization strengthens community engagement and field-wide capacity because member-driven leadership fosters ownership, continuity, and career-long investment in the museum technology ecosystem.
  • Strategic Partnerships and Revenue Diversification for Organizational Sustainability
    methodology: revenue_diversification_for_sustainability
    By forming mutually beneficial partnerships with vendors and other communities and diversifying revenue beyond membership and conferences, the organization ensures long-term sustainability because blended funding models and alliances increase resilience and expand reach without compromising mission integrity.