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
Pallas Textiles competition provides real-world experience
First-place winner Sophia Simonson ’28 created Refractions as part of her MIAD studies in Interior Architecture and Design. She is one of 20 students studying at MIAD through a cross-registration program with Concordia University. MIAD students Kaitlyn Powers ’26 (Illustration) and Natalie Spetell ’27 (Product Design), both of whom have minors in Communication Design, received Honorable Mentions.
2026 First-Year Exhibition showcases professional growth
An annual tradition at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design from late March through September, the juried First-Year Experience Exhibition celebrates students’ yearlong personal and professional growth.
Meet Carmen Briones and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Echo
Carmen Briones ‘26 (Product Design) is a President’s (Honor) List student from Cambria, Wis., president of the MIAD IDSA student chapter and an intern at SI Jacobson Manufacturing. Briones designed a device called “Echo” that removes ovarian cysts without surgery.
Meet Eeshaan Dutt and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Indra Supreme
Eeshan Dutt ‘26 (Illustration) is a President’s (Honor) List student from India and a recipient of a 2026 Alumni Thesis Award. Dutt’s work centers on visual storytelling through sequential art, where he explores how narratives can engage and connect with audiences.
Poster designs boost professional skillsets, children’s nonprofit
Continuing an annual tradition begun in 2010 at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), Illustration juniors worked with Cramer-Krasselt and Penfield Children’s Center to design posters for the center’s Annual Croquet Ball fundraiser.