CODY - A decline in visitors has the Buffalo Bill Historical Center reviewing its budget for possible cuts in 2009.

"We are in the budget process right now and haven't decided where the cuts might be," executive director Bruce Eldredge said. "But I'm sure they will be in programs."

The museum at Cody saw a drop in visitation of more than 7 percent for the year.

"We were down, but I was at a conference with colleagues from other museums who were down 15-30 percent," he added. "So, while we have some obstacles to overcome, it could be much worse."

In fact, the center is trying to hire a chief development officer and a director of development and major gifts.

"The development field is a hot commodity right now," Eldredge said. "I'll meet with the search committee soon and we'll discuss what we need after this last round."

The center had landed a chief development officer earlier but he had to withdraw because of a family medical problem.

Two finalists for the director of development and major gifts position will visit the center in the next month.

"This is basically the number two job in the department," Eldredge said. "Based on the financial outlook we need to get a major gift person in here and get started."

"It makes sense to bring someone in now who can start cultivating major gifts," he said. "In this economy we can't afford to wait."

Eldredge said museums the size of the BBHC have 750-1,000 major donors, but the BBHC has only 300.

"Typically what happens is you try and move the $100 members to the $250 level, then $500 and once they reach $1,000 they are handed off to the major gifts officer," Eldredge said. "And it's about building relationships, not just a phone call for a donation but providing them with experiences other than just visiting the museum and seeing the displays."

That includes birthday greetings, anniversary notes and special visits with curators and tours.

Eldredge said eventually there could be four full-time staff members handling major donors.

"As we develop more major gifts then we'll have the resources to hire more staff," he said. "Until then we may have some part-timers and volunteers helping develop the major gifts."