The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), a global leader in art and design education, is closing in on a $50 million goal in its first-ever major public fundraising campaign, and has received a gift that will enable the school to launch a matching incentive that will help put it over the finish line for Beautiful/Work: The Campaign for SAIC.
The campaign was launched publicly by SAIC President Elissa Tenny and Chancellor Walter Massey one year ago, and the effort has now raised $48.2 million. Funds raised for the campaign will provide increased scholarship opportunities, faculty support and programming.
Now in the final year of the campaign, supporters have the opportunity to join the effort and make twice the difference with their donation. The Chair of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Board of Trustees, Robert Levy, and his wife Diane v.S. Levy have made a generous gift to SAIC to help match any new contributions made to support student scholarships, fellowships or the Annual Fund. From now until funds are reached, any gift received for these purposes will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000. Eligible pledge gifts may be paid over a period up to five years.
“For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago has provided a world-class art and design education, and we are so proud of the work of SAIC’s students and faculty,” said Robert Levy, chair of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Board of Trustees. “Diane and I are thrilled to contribute in this final stretch of the campaign, not only to help mark the final year, but to inspire others to give to SAIC.”
About Beautiful/Work: The Campaign for SAIC
The funds raised as part of Beautiful/Work: The Campaign for SAIC have contributed to an increase in scholarships. Since the start of the public phase of the campaign, more than 75 percent of current and incoming students have received scholarship support, and for the fiscal year 2015–16, the school awarded a record number of scholarships totaling approximately $40 million. More than 1,700 individual donors have made contributions, and alumni have donated a record $10.5 million, a significant increase in alumni giving prior to the campaign.
SAIC has 1,325 faculty and staff and more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Alumni have artwork in museum collections throughout the world; work in communities as organizers and advocates; have designed remarkable objects, images and systems; and are scientists, scholars, mentors and cultural workers.
“As an alum of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I know first-hand how life-changing an education from our school can be, and achieving our fundraising goal will make an incredible impact on the next generation of artists, designers and scholars,” said Cheryl Jessogne, Vice President, SAIC’s Office of Institutional Advancement.
For the latest news on the campaign or to support Beautiful/Work: The Campaign for SAIC, visit campaign.saic.edu. Watch this video to learn more about the impact of giving.