1

Annual Performance Report

Fiscal Year 2023

ATTACHMENT B
2

Smithsonian 2027: Our Shared Future

Our Purpose

The increase and diffusion of knowledge

Our Mission

• The Smithsonian creates knowledge through high-impact research in science, art, history, and culture.

• It preserves our national and natural heritage, as well as aspects of other cultures, through art and its curation, by maintaining 

important historical artifacts, and by caring for and expanding the National Collection.

• It shares knowledge with the public through compelling exhibitions, education programs, and media products, by telling the 

American story, and by showcasing American artistic, intellectual, and technological leadership.

Our Vision

Through our unparalleled collections and research capabilities, and the insight and creativity we foster through art, history, and 

culture, the Smithsonian strives to provide Americans and the world with the tools and information they need to forge Our Shared 

Future.

Introduction

Our latest strategic plan, "Smithsonian 2027: Our Shared Future," was unveiled in November of last year after almost three years of 

dedicated efforts. To reflect the recent release of the strategic plan, this year's report will utilize a hybrid approach to present our 

performance results. It will incorporate the performance metrics of our previous strategic plan while we work to develop performance 

metrics that best align with our new strategic. The upcoming FY 2024 report will be the first to fully integrate the performance metrics of 

the new strategic plan. 

The Smithsonian’s Mission Goals

The Institution’s Strategic Plan for 2023-2027 describes five broad focus areas where the Smithsonian will target our efforts to build a 

shared future among ourselves and the world around us over the next five years:
3

• Ensure every home and classroom can access the Smithsonian’s digital content.

• Work together to build a nimble and effective Smithsonian so we can better achieve our mission.

• Be a trusted source that explores and grapples with what it means to be American.

• Harness Smithsonian expertise to elevate science in the global discourse.

• Build and enrich a national culture of learning by engaging with educational systems nationwide.

Annual Performance Plan for Fiscal Year 2023

To ensure that our ambitious goals will be successfully implemented over the next five years, a dedicated Strategic Plan 

Implementation team is working to develop key performance indicators that align with the five focus areas of our new strategic plan. 

This year, our annual report will take a hybrid approach, highlighting last year’s performance areas as well as acknowledging the 

latest goals and metrics. As part of this effort, we will continue to track core metrics of performance results and organizational 

accountability across the major programs and functions of the Institution as mandated by the Government Performance and Results 

Act (GPRA), GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, and related Office of Management and Budget (OMB) performance standards. Our 

Annual Performance Plan and Report align with the program structure used in the Smithsonian’s Federal budget documents and 

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) financial accounting system, enabling us to relate dollars budgeted and results achieved. The 

Smithsonian has made great progress in integrating performance indicators throughout the Institution to track program results and 

incorporating linked performance metrics in individual performance plans. The Smithsonian Dashboard shares metrics related to its 

core activities and performance with the public at http://dashboard.si.edu/.
4

Index to Strategic Goals by Programmatic and Functional Performance areas

PERFORMANCE AREAS

Research and Scholarship: We will create knowledge through high-impact research in science, art, history, and culture.

Public Engagement: We will share knowledge with the public on-site, online, and across the nation and world through compelling 

exhibitions, educational programs, and media products.

National Collections: We will preserve our national and natural heritage, as well as aspects of other cultures, by caring for and 

expanding the National Collections.

Smithsonian Facilities: We will maintain our historic and diverse infrastructure that is essential to the care of fragile collections, 

support for critical scientific research, and hosting millions of visitors.

People and Operations

• Operational Efficiency and Effectiveness: We will institute nimble and cost-effective pan-Institutional administrative processes.

• Diversity and Inclusion: We will ensure that diversity, inclusion, cultural awareness, and sensitivity are hallmarks of the

Institution.

• Financial Strength
5

Research and Scholarship

We create knowledge, and share it with professional communities, through high-impact research in science, art, history, and culture.

➢ Ties to Program Category in ERP:

• RESEARCH (Program Code 4XXX)

Key Performance Indicators – Research and Scholarship

Key Performance Indicators Type Prior-year data FY 2023 target FY 2023 actual

Number of Book, Book Chapter, and 

Journal Publications*

Output FY 2020: 2,560

FY 2021: 2,734

FY 2022: 2,730

2,600 2,242

Number of Fellows in residence Output FY 2020: 772

FY 2021: 778

FY 2022: 857

775 851

Number of Grant and Contract proposals 

submitted

Output FY 2020: 608

FY 2021: 559

FY 2022: 481

550 555

*Note: Metric for quality/high impact Smithsonian publications formerly reported as “peer-reviewed” publications

Public Engagement

We share knowledge with the public on-site, online, and across the nation and world through compelling exhibitions, educational 

programs, and media products.

➢ Ties to Program Categories in ERP:

• PUBLIC PROGRAMS (Program Code 1XXX)

o WEB DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS

o IT ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS

• EXHIBITIONS (Program Code 2XXX)

• EDUCATION (Program Code 11XX)
6

Key Performance Indicators – Public Engagement

Key Performance Indicators Type Prior- year data FY 2023 target FY 2023 actual

Participations in Smithsonian education 

programs

Output. Indicator

of level of public 

use/quality of SI 

education programs

FY 2020: 9.3 million**

FY 2021: 5.9 million**

FY 2022: 4.3 million**

4.5 million 7.6 million

Number of visitors to SI websites Output. Indicator 

of level of public 

use of SI resources 

via Web

FY 2020: 178 million

FY 2021: 205.6 million

FY 2022: 168.1 million

173 million 169 million

Number of Social media followers:

• Facebook

• X (Formerly known as Twitter)

Output. Indicator 

of level of public

use of SI resources

FY 2020: Facebook 7.2 million; Twitter 6.1 million

FY 2021: Facebook 7.5 million; Twitter 6.3 million

FY 2022: Facebook 7.7 million; Twitter: 6.6 million

Data 

unavailable***

Facebook: 7.9 

million***

X: 6.5 million***

*Note: Museums not fully opened during the FY due to COVID-19 

** Figures for past fiscal years revised since previous Performance Report to correct for an earlier program misclassification; Figures revised to correct for a 

program misclassification; FY2022 target was based on non-revised figures

*** Figures for social media metrics are pulled from January 2023 to September 2023. Incomplete dataset is due to a change in social media management

platform
7

Key Performance Indicators Type Prior-year data FY 2023 target FY 2023 actual

Number of states and territories with 

Smithsonian Traveling Exhibitions and 

poster exhibits

Output. Indicator

of outreach success

and national access

to SI resources

FY 2020: SITES exhibitions in 128 venues + poster 

exhibits in 20,657 locations reaching 50 states, DC,

Puerto Rico, and worldwide*

FY 2021: SITES exhibitions in 151 venues + poster 

exhibits in 6,911 locations reaching 50 states, DC,

Puerto Rico, and worldwide

FY 2022: SITES exhibitions in 156 venues + poster 

exhibits in 4,136 locations reaching 50 States, DC, 

Puerto Rico, and worldwide

SITES exhibitions 

in 120 venues + 

poster exhibits in 

4,400 locations 

reaching 50 

States, DC, Puerto 

Rico, and 

worldwide

SITES exhibitions 

in 146 venues + 

poster exhibits 

in 5,614 

locations 

reaching 50 

States, DC, 

Puerto Rico, and 

worldwide

Number of Smithsonian Affiliates Output. Indicator

of extent/success

of outreach and

national access to

SI collections

FY 2020: 210 Affiliates in 46 states, Panama, and 

Puerto Rico

FY 2021: 213 Affiliates in 46 states, Panama, and 

Puerto Rico

FY 2022: 210 Affiliates in 48 states, Panama, and 

Puerto Rico

210 Affiliates 209 Affiliates in 

48 states, 

Panama, and 

Puerto Rico

*Note: Metric changed to combine locations of traveling exhibitions and smaller poster exhibits 

National Collections

We preserve our national and natural heritage, as well as aspects of other cultures, by caring for and expanding the National

Collections.

➢ Ties to Program Categories in ERP:

• COLLECTIONS (Program Code 3XXX)
8

Key Performance Indicators – Preserve Our Natural and Cultural Heritage Collections

Key Performance Indicators Type Prior-year data FY 2023 target FY 2023 actual

Percentage of museum collections (objects and specimens) 

that meet/exceed unit standards for:

• Physical Condition: Measures the need forintervention 

to prevent further or future deterioration of the 

collections.

• Housing Materials: Measures the appropriateness and 

stability of the materials used to house or contain 

collections.

• Storage Equipment: Measures the appropriateness of 

equipment intended to provide long-term protection 

of the collection.

• Physical Accessibility: Measures the extent to which 

the collection is organized, arranged, located, and 

retrieved for intended use.

Collections Totals:

FY 2020: 155.5 million objects/ specimens

FY 2021: 157.1 million objects/ specimens

FY 2022: 157.2 million objects/ specimens

Outcome. Indicator of 

established standards 

and sound 

management practices 

for collections

 FY 2020: 

• Physical Condition: 75% 

• Housing Materials: 69% 

• Storage Equipment: 71% 

• Physical Accessibility: 87%

 FY 2021: 

• Physical Condition: 75% 

• Housing Materials: 69% 

• Storage Equipment: 71% 

• Physical Accessibility: 87%

FY 2022:

• Physical Condition: 75%

• Housing Materials: 69%

• Storage Equipment: 71%

• Physical Accessibility: 87%

Increase over 

prior year

Data currently 

not available

Percentage of museum collections (objects and specimens)

that are digitized:

• Digital Records: Measures percentage of Collections 

Totals with digital records that meetor exceed unit

standards

Collection Totals:

FY 2020: 155.5 million objects/ specimens

FY 2021: 157.1 million objects/ specimens

FY 2022: 157.2 million objects/ specimens

• Digital Images: Measures percentage ofCollections 

Prioritized for Digitization with digital images that meet 

or exceed unit standards

Collections Prioritized for Digitization:

FY 2020: # of prioritized objects: 18.7 million

FY 2021: # of prioritized objects: 23.2 million

FY 2022: # of prioritized objects: 23.3 

million

Outcome. Indicator of 

public access to SI 

collections

 FY 2020: 

• Digital Records:

# completed: 34.2 M (22%) 

• Digital Images:

# completed: 6.5 M (35%)

 FY 2021:

• Digital Records:

# completed: 35 M (22%)

• Digital Images:

# completed: 7 M (30%)

FY 2022:

• Digital Records:

• # completed: 37.1 M 

(21%)

• Digital Images:

• # completed: 7.6 M 

(30%)

Increase over 

prior year

Data currently 

not available
9

Smithsonian Facilities

➢ Ties to Program Categories in ERP:

• FACILITIES (Program Code 5XXX)

• SECURITY & SAFETY (Program Code 6XXX)

Key Performance Indicators – Smithsonian Facilities Capital/Maintenance and Safety/Security

Key Performance Indicators Type Prior-year data FY 2023 target FY 2023 actual

Percent of available capital funds 

obligated compared to funds 

available

Efficiency 

(obligation rate is 

indicator in 

initiating capital 

work in a timely 

manner)

FY 2020: 94%

FY 2021: 91%

FY 2022: 82%

 

 85% 63%

Number of major capital projects meeting 

milestones (see below):

Output FY 2020: Met milestones on 5 of 7 projects

FY 2021: Met milestones on all 6 major projects 

FY 2022: Met Milestones on 3 of 6 major projects

Meet milestones 

on all 6 major 

projects

Met Milestones 

on 5 of 6 major 

projects

Revitalize Historic Core (SIB) Output FY 2020: Design awarded

FY 2021: Design 5% complete

FY 2022: Design 35% complete

Design 65% 

complete

Design 65% 

complete

Renew Bird House and Great Flight 

Aviary - National Zoological Park

Output FY 2020: Renovation is 73% complete

FY 2021: Renovation 89% complete

FY 2022: Renovation 96% complete

Renovation 100% 

complete

Renovation 99% 

complete 

(holding contract 

open)

Repair Building Envelope, Roof, 

and Exterior Panels - Hirshhorn 

Museum Building 

Output FY 2021: Renovation 27% complete

FY 2022: Renovation 655 complete

Renovation 90% 

complete

Renovation 97% 

complete

Revitalize Building Envelope and 

Infrastructure - National Air and Space 

Museum – National Mall Building

Output FY 2020: Renovation is 40% complete

FY 2021: Renovation 55% complete

FY 2022: Renovation 68% complete

Renovation 75% 

complete

Renovation 85% 

complete
10

Key Performance Indicators Type Prior-year data FY 2023 target FY 2023 actual

Restore Exterior Envelope and Replace 

Roof - National Air and Space Museum 

- Udvar Hazy Center

Output FY 2020: Renovation is 24% complete (on 

completion schedule)

FY 2021: Renovation 77% complete

FY 2022: Renovation 87% complete

Renovation 95% 

complete

Renovation 99% 

complete 

Construct Pod 6 - Museum Support 

Center

Output FY 2020: 35% design has been submitted 

FY 2021: Design 75% complete

FY 2022: Construction awarded

Construction 

15% complete

Construction 19% 

complete

Percent of revitalization projects designed 

to 35% prior to request for construction 

funding

Efficiency (35% 

design prior to 

funding improves 

cost estimates; early 

award avoids cost 

escalation and 

project delays)

FY 2020: Target not met due to lack of planning 

funds 

FY 2021: Target not met due to lack of 

planning funds

FY 2022: Target not met due to lack of 

planning funds

Complete 35% 

design prior to 

Cong. budget 

submission for 80% 

of major projects in 

the FY 2023 capital 

program

Target not met 

due to lack of 

planning funding

Percentage of buildings with Facilities 

Condition Index (FCI) above 70%

Output. Higher % 

shows improvement 

of buildings 

condition

FY 2020: 61%

FY 2021: 61%

FY 2022: 57.5%

85%: Switching to 81%

Federal Real 

Property Profile 

(FRPP) scoring

Planned maintenance cost as percent of 

total annual maintenance costs

Efficiency — a 

higher proportion 

planned vs. 

unplanned is 

indicator of 

more

efficient use

FY 2020: 57% (impacted by COVID19: minimum 

staffing, buildings closed)

FY 2021: 49% (impacted by COVID19: minimum 

staffing, buildings closed)

FY 2022: 54.5%

62% 58%

100% of facilities at level 3 “managed 

1” for cleanliness on the APPA scale

Output. Shows 

improvement in 

buildings 

cleanliness

FY 2020: 33% @ Level 3 (impacted by COVID 19: 

minimum staffing, buildings closed, less cleaning)

FY 2021: 33% @ Level 3 (Impacted by COVID 19; 

minimum staffing, buildings closed)

FY 2022: Achieved 85% APPA Level 3

85% APPA Level 3 Achieved 85% 

APPA Level 3
11

Safety: total recordable case rate (injuries 

per 100 employees)

Output (annual 

basis)

 FY 2020: 1.44

FY 2021: 1.16

FY 2022: 3.35 (increase due to return to 

work/COVID cases)

<3.35 2.70 
12

Operational Effectiveness

We will institute nimble and cost-effective pan-Institutional administrative processes.

Key Performance Indicators – Organizational Efficiency and Effectiveness

Key Performance Indicators Type Prior-year data FY 2023 target FY 2023 actual

Workdays to complete recruitment action 

against OPM End-to-End Hiring Model of 

80 days

Efficiency FY 2020: 132 average days

FY 2021: 132 average days

FY 2022: 174 average days

5% reduction in 

the overall 

average.

98 days

Percent of SI contract actions completed 

within Federal Standard Time Frames

Efficiency FY 2020: 93.4%

FY 2021: 87%

FY 2022: 92%

92% 91.6%

Customer satisfaction with quality and 

timeliness of IT services

Outcome FY 2020: Quality 97.76%; Timeliness 96.97%

FY 2021: Quality 97.73%; Timeliness 97.30%

FY 2022: Quality 97%; Timeliness 95%

Quality: 95%; 

Timeliness: 95%

Quality: 97.12%; 

Timeliness: 

96.74%

Percent of employees who are satisfied 

with working at the Smithsonian on annual 

employee survey

Outcome. Employee 

satisfaction is a 

standard indicator 

of a healthy

organization

FY 2020: 85%

FY 2021: 82%

FY 2022: 78%

80% 79%
13

Diversity and Inclusion

We will ensure that diversity, inclusion, cultural awareness, and sensitivity are hallmarks of the Smithsonian Institution.

Key Performance Indicators – Diversity and Inclusion

Key Performance Indicators Type Prior-year data (%) FY 2023 target FY 2023 actual

Percent of workforce diversity by Output FY 2020 2021 2022 Meet or exceed

Nat Am 1.4

Asian 6.3

NHPI 0.1

Black 29.7

Hispanic 10.9

race/ethnicity Nat Am 1.4 1.3 1.4 DC Metro CLF

Asian 6.1 5.9 6.3 standard

NHPI 0.1 0.2 0.1 Nat Am 0.4

Black 29.1 28.9 29.7 Asian 9.6

Hispanic 10.7 10.6 10.9 NHPI 0.1

Black 25.4

Hispanic 13.2

Financial Strength

Key Performance Indicators – Financial Strength

Key Performance Indicators Type Prior-year data FY 2023 target FY 2023 actual

Dollar amount of Private Sources: Gifts Input FY 2020: $248 million

FY 2021: $480 million

FY 2022: $320 million

$265 million $361.9 million

Dollar amount of Sponsored Projects 

Revenue

Input FY 2020: $135.7 million

FY 2021: $146 million

FY 2022: $162 million

$148 million $185 million

Dollar amount of Private Sources: 

Business Revenue

Input FY 2020: $109 million

FY 2021: $89 million

FY 2022: $134

$162.7 million $169.7 million