Strategic Plan
In 2024, the Ellwood House Association launched a strategic planning process to guide the museum’s work through 2030. Our Strategic Plan was developed to guide the museum’s future and strengthen its role as a historic and cultural resource in DeKalb, Illinois. This plan was shaped by input from staff, board members, and the local community through a public survey. Through the feedback and meetings we identified priorities and goals that reflect what people value about the museum, and where we see opportunities for growth.
The 2025–2030 Strategic Plan outlines three major goals:
Strengthening long-term sustainability for the museum and its operations
Preserving, interpreting, and sharing the museum’s historic collection
Expanding access and improving the visitor experience across the museum campus
These goals are supported by actionable steps that reflect four focus areas: history, community, landscape, and access. Together, they offer a practical and flexible roadmap for continuing to serve our visitors, care for the site, and remain connected to the community.
We’re grateful to everyone who contributed ideas and insights during the planning process. Your input made this plan stronger and more grounded in what matters most to the people we serve, and it helps to keep local history alive and accessible.
To ensure the Ellwood House Museum Strategic Plan is accessible to all members of our community, we’ve created a screen reader–friendly version of the document. This accessible format reflects our commitment to inclusion and allows more people to engage with the museum’s goals, priorities, and vision for 2025–2030. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to explore how the Ellwood House Museum is planning for the future, and how we’re working to remain a welcoming, responsive, and relevant cultural resource. To access the read-only version click on the button below.
In the spirit of transparency and community engagement, the Ellwood House Museum is committed to sharing not only the outcomes of our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, but also the process behind it. We are happy to make the full list of survey questions available to the public, or museums undergoing the process themselves. These questions were shared with community members, stakeholders, and visitors during the planning process to gather input on the museum’s future direction, priorities, and opportunities for growth. By sharing this information, we aim to foster trust, encourage continued dialogue, and highlight the collaborative nature of our planning efforts. Please email director@ellwoodhouse.org for the list of questions.
