Giving Circles
The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design offers three giving circles to provide special recognition to you – our generous donors.
“I would like to say thank you for investing in my education and my future as a creative. I would love to give back to the community and use my skills and passions to make the world a better place.”
Kelsey Robinson ’21 (Illustration)
Multimedia artist, Emmy-award-winning Cynosure Creative Agency
Sustainers Circle (Recurring automatic giving)
MIAD’s Sustainers Circle acknowledges the generosity of donors who automatically support the college on a continuous basis. By establishing a recurring monthly gift, your donation has a great impact on MIAD. Recurring gifts can be counted on for long-term planning. Plus, it’s one less thing you have to remember each year and you can select the terms of your gift!
Sustainers Circle contribution: Recurring automatic monthly gift of any amount
Sustainers Circle benefits:
- Make a big impact with small gifts over time to maximize your support for MIAD
- Easy and flexible option for you to support MIAD, which allows you to budget and schedule preferences. You can change your gift at any time by contacting MIAD’s Institutional Advancement office.
- It’s convenient and sustainable, plus once you sign up for a recurring gift you will not receive another Annual Fund solicitation. A summary of your tax-deductible gifts will be mailed to you each January for the previous year.
- Special recognition in MIAD’s annual report.
Join the Sustainers Circle gift today with a recurring gift.
President’s Circle ($1,000+)
MIAD’s President’s Circle was founded to support the college’s scholarship and special programs while providing members with unique opportunities to engage with the MIAD community and fellow believers in MIAD’s mission to ignite curious minds through art, design and service.
President’s Circle contribution: $1,000
President’s Circle benefits:
- Admission for four to the Preview Night’s VIP Reception of the annual MIAD Holiday Sale.
- Special Recognition at the annual Scholarship Luncheon, where you may meet the students supported by your generosity.
- A private tour of the Senior Exhibition (or other gallery exhibition) with President Jeff Morin. Contact Institutional Advancement to schedule.
- An invitation to the annual President’s Circle Reception.
- Inclusion in special communications from the President.
- 20% discount on Continuing Education classes.
Innovation Circle ($10,000+)
Innovation Circle members help our college President capture special opportunities to further our vision to be a galvanized educational and creative community, addressing universal needs through our thought, design and expression.
Innovation Circle contribution: $10,000
Innovation Circle benefits include all of the above plus:
- A MIAD Scholarship(s) in the name of your choosing.
- Admission for six to the Preview Night’s VIP Reception of the annual MIAD Holiday Sale.
- An invitation to attend the annual President’s Circle breakfast.
- Opportunities to visit the studios or businesses of well-known local artists and designers who are MIAD alumni or faculty.
Become an Innovation Circle member today!
Contact Tracy Milkowski, Vice President of Development and Communications, at 414‑847‑3239 or tracymilkowski@miad.edu for more information.
MIAD is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Gifts may be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. If you have any questions about contributing to MIAD, please contact Anne Kirschmann at 414‑847‑3238, or annekirschmann@miad.edu.
News
MIAD Values Recognition Award: Leslie Fedorchuk
Leslie Fedorchuk, Professor of Writing & Humanities and Director of Service Learning, received the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) MIAD Values Recognition Award for February 2026. Leslie received nominations that highlighted her embodiment of MIAD’s Core Values, especially Integrity, Kindness and Community.
MIAD Innovation Center and MAM provide career experience
Through a partnership with the MIAD Lubar Innovation Center, stunning campaign artwork by a student at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) once again is helping to launch Art in Bloom – the Milwaukee Art Museum’s annual celebration of art and spring. Illustrations by senior Emily Porven ’26 are both vibrant and subtle, colorful and evocative, capturing the essence of the event.
Nohl Alumni Award propels lasting impact for MIAD professor
Receiving a Ruth Arts Mary L. Nohl Alumni Award has both immediate and longer-term impacts for Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Professor Jon Horvath; for himself as an artist, for the arts community and for MIAD students. Horvath, who teaches in MIAD’s Fine Art + New Studio Practice major, was one of three artists and one collective recently given the award, which provides $25,000 in unrestricted funds to each.
Arts education lays groundwork for MIAD alum curatorial role
Nikki Ranney ’22 (Illustration), the new curator of the Cedarburg Art Museum, says she “is so grateful that I went through my Bachelor of Fine Arts and got to experience a traditional art education at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design because it laid the groundwork for the more academic side of the curatorial field.”
Museum Studies class: Hands-on exhibition and career experience
Last fall’s Museum Studies class at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) has solidified a career choice for at least one of the 16 students who took it. The class was on the go all semester, visiting museums throughout Milwaukee, meeting with professionals and thinking critically about the role of museums in our society.