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
Keith Negley: Award-winning illustrator and writer
When award-winning illustrator and author Keith Negley ’00 isn’t completing projects like his most recent book of “forgotten trailblazers,” he’s creating portraits of celebrities like Taylor Swift, Emma Stone and Chelsea Clinton, and doing editorial illustrations on topics like neurodivergence, organ transplants and the opioid crisis.
Two MIAD alumni named Mary L. Nohl Fellows for 2025
Two alumni from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) have received Emerging Artist fellowships from the 2025 Mary L. Nohl Fund for its 2025 cycle: Margaret Griffin ’23 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice) and Open Kitchen, co-founded by Rudy Medina ’12 (Integrated Studio Arts).
FYE Juried Media Arts Festival 2024 celebrates first-year student works
Seven students received awards at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design’s juried FYE Media Arts Festival – an in-house screening and celebration of video, animation and sound design works by current and former First-Year Experience (FYE) students held on November 26. The 56 entries were judged by multimedia and filmmaking professionals Emma B. Barany, Gabe Leistekow and Sara Sowell.
MIAD professor brings love of branding to projects and students
Brian Bowles ’01, professor of Communication Design at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), finds freelance projects “deeply fulfilling” and beneficial to himself and to his students.
Independence First and MIAD students produce adaptive clothing
Students in a junior-level Fashion and Apparel Design class at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) collaborated with Independence First to design adaptive clothing. Two Independence First employees worked closely with MIAD students on customized outfits specific to their needs and preferences.