Museums

Where Wonder Meets Strategy.

Support for Museums That Inspire.

Museums are more than repositories of objects—they’re launchpads for imagination, inquiry, and lifelong learning. Whether you're a children's museum, natural history institution, science center, or cultural heritage site, we help you design experiences that captivate and connect.

At K. M. Ford Strategies, we specialize in helping museums expand their educational impact, deepen community engagement, and align programming with both mission and metrics. From STEAM exhibit development to grant strategy, our goal is simple: to support institutions that bring wonder to life.

Organizational Strategy & Capacity Support

Grant Strategy & Education Narrative Development
Align your educational mission with funder priorities and develop compelling proposals.
Internal Systems Mapping
Streamline communication, staffing, and workflows for educational and outreach programming.
Staff Development & Onboarding Tools
Strengthen your education team’s capacity through repeatable training frameworks and documentation.
Strategic Planning for Learning & Engagement
Define educational goals, priorities, and benchmarks that align with your museum’s mission and audiences.

Program Strategy & Curriculum Development

Educational Display Development
Build interactive, accessible displays that support hands-on learning and exploration.
STEAM Program & Content Design
Develop science, literacy, and creative enrichment programs tailored for museum audiences.
Learning Materials & Activity Guides
Support families, schools, and informal learners with take-home tools and in-gallery resources.
Narrative & Interpretive Layering
Craft signage, storytelling, and visual cues that deepen visitor engagement across age groups.

Community Engagement & Partnership Strategy

Community Needs Assessments & Public Input
Gather actionable feedback from visitors, staff, and stakeholders to guide programming decisions.
School & District Partnerships
Build sustainable relationships with educators to support field trips, curriculum links, and co-developed initiatives.
Demographic & Service Area Analysis
Use local data to align exhibits and programs with audience needs and community context.
Cross-Sector & Institutional Partnership Creation
Design collaborative programs with libraries, cultural institutions, nonprofits, and local agencies.
Community Analysis & GIS Mapping Make data-informed decisions using local demographics, service gaps, and spatial analysis.
Needs Assessments & Listening Sessions
Understand the current and emerging needs of your patrons, partners, and staff.
Stakeholder Engagement & Survey Design
Facilitate meaningful input from your community, staff, and leadership to drive inclusive decision-making.

Who We Work With

Children’s museums and discovery centers
Science centers and natural history museums
Art museums with youth and education initiatives
Cultural heritage and history institutions
Aquarium and zoo education departments
Traveling exhibits and mobile museum programs
Informal learning and public engagement teams
Museum-based afterschool or summer programs
Grant-funded museum outreach and pilot projects
Museums serving underrepresented or rural communities

The Result?

Exhibits and programs that inspire curiosity, support learning, and reflect your mission—backed by systems that scale with you, not against you.

You don’t have to do it alone. Let’s co-create what’s next for your museum.

📬 connect@katrinaford.com | 📞 803-221-8242