Investing in our cultural institutions builds business

We come from the real estate world — an industry where competition is ingrained in our work. But today, we're writing as community members and business leaders with a shared belief: Our cultural institutions create stronger communities and thriving communities make strong businesses.

Whether you're in retail, technology, health care or real estate development, your long-term success doesn't just depend on your bottom line, but on the life happening in the communities around you. Thriving neighborhoods don't pop up on their own or happen through public infrastructure investment alone. They develop from the inspiration, inclusion and imagination that our cultural and civic institutions provide.

Museums. Libraries. Theaters. Community centers. These are the places where children dream big, neighbors connect and ideas come to life. And right now, these invaluable institutions face an uncertain future.

Public funding is shrinking, as costs rise while demand does too. Many are being forced to scale back. This isn't just a cultural loss. It's a tear in the social fabric that supports education, mental health and provides a sense of community, all while creating economic opportunity.

These spaces matter. They teach, inspire and bring families together. They preserve our local stories and give neighbors of all backgrounds a place to connect. They spark conversations.

Our museums invite us to reflect on the world around us, to learn from the past and serve as a launchpad for future generations of dreamers and leaders. They offer hands-on exhibits and programming that ignite curiosity and learning for children, while providing adults with opportunities to engage with art and history in ways that spark reflection, creativity and personal growth.

Visiting the Long Island Children's Museum with our families spurred both of us to provide financial support and our gift of time and expertise through board membership. The delight of observing a daughter's career ambition blossoming behind the museum's News 12 desk is a high point; a low was watching LICM reduce weekday hours and scale back its beloved Kindergarten Readiness program, even as it celebrated its 20th year. Both were deeply felt, and inspired a call to action.

The cutbacks were difficult but necessary decisions, given the loss of federal funding, and a clear reminder that the community must step up. Without stronger support, programs that shape young minds and reflect our shared values remain at risk.

Both of us have been profoundly touched by the number of lives LICM touches, and the community feeling it engenders. While LICM is widely revered on Long Island, the expectation it will be there has been taken for granted. The reality is the difficult nature of fundraising on Long Island and a resistance to making meaningful gifts, both institutional and individual. Despite its large concentration of wealth, Long Island falls behind in the culture of giving that exists in other places.

As business leaders, we have a role to play in shaping the strength of our communities. Investment in cultural institutions creates value and supports the communities where our employees, customers and clients raise their families. This is more than philanthropy; it's about building the future of our communities and children.

Whatever industry you're in, your business benefits when the community does. Together we are making a call to our peers: Don't just benefit from strong communities, please help build them.

Support can take many forms. Partner with an institution aligned with your mission. Sponsor a program or exhibit. Serve on a board. Lend your expertise. Philanthropy isn't just about writing checks, although that's critical. It’s also about showing up. In the end, that is a return on investment we all can believe in.

This guest essay reflects the views of Scott Burman, president and founder of Burman Real Estate, who chairs the board of trustees at the Long Island Children's Museum, and Steven Dubb, principal and president of The Beechwood Organization, who serves on the LICM board.