Museum visits up, but less funding means staff cuts

I just read Matthew Little's Third Sector piece here, and although it's troubling I can't say that I'm surprised.

It seems that museums consistently struggle to exploit increases in visitors, especially in terms of fundraising and audience/visitor development.

What is the cause of this reluctance (or inability) to convert these increases in footfall into tangible support?

Of course, the economic climate has had an effect and government funding is squeezed more than ever, but the people walking throught those museum and gallery doors (and the connections they bring) are a resource that's continually underutilized.