Human rights museum expands fundraising board

The fundraising arm of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) is shifting its focus in an effort to reach out to national donors and raise its profile outside Manitoba.

CMHR chief executiveStuart Murray said Tuesday that the group known as the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is hunting forits own,national CEO and will expand its board of directors from 12 seats to 24.

Gail Asper currently heads up the group, and will now turn her attention away from fundraising to focus on something else, Murray said.

"I'm sure she would probably laugh and say, 'it's about time,'" Murray said. "This is probably more a change in allowing her to do things she wants to do with the Asper Foundation."

She will remain on the board, Murray said.

The $310-million CMHR is scheduled to open in 2012 at Winnipeg's historic Forks Market area.

The federal government has committed $21.7 million annually for its operating costs, on top of $100 million previously announced as a capital investment.

The Manitoba government has put $40 million toward the project, and the City of Winnipeg has approved a $20-million contribution in cash plus land, infrastructure and forgiveness of property taxes.

Asper said Tuesday that building an executive board of directors that includes national voices was always part of the museum'sfundraising plan.

Twelve of the 24 board positions will be allocated to people in areas outside Manitoba, she said.

"There's a lot of debate about the size of [fundraising] boards . I think more is better, because each person donates, each person has their own circle of contacts," she said.

"This is no time for tiny small boards you want to have a very inclusive board from coast to coast to coast."