We are in the home stretch of our historic Connection Campaign to transform the Portland Art Museum, having raised over $137 million for our campus transformation and endowment. With just seven months until our grand opening on November 20, we’re closer than ever to realizing this vision—but there’s still more to do.
The good news? We’re more than 90% of the way there, with strong momentum carrying us forward. Under the leadership of Director Brian Ferriso and Building Committee Chair Amjad Bangash, every dollar is making an impact as they oversee this complex construction project—connecting two historic buildings across four floors and adding 100,000 square feet of new and renovated gallery space.
And thanks to the dedication of our Campaign Cabinet and the generosity of Barbara Silver’s community match, we’re inviting more people into this effort, ensuring that the entire community feels a part of this once-in-a-generation moment. Already, more than 700 donors—including you—have stepped up to make this vision a reality. Your generosity has brought us to this incredible milestone, and we couldn’t be more grateful. This final stretch takes all of us.
As we approach our November grand opening, we are committed not only to completing this project but also to securing the Museum’s long-term sustainability—ensuring that this vital civic, educational, and cultural resource thrives for generations to come. Our goal is to welcome 500,000 visitors in the first year, reinforcing PAM’s role as a catalyst in the revitalization of downtown Portland and a symbol of our city’s resilience and creativity.
Portland is facing challenges, and we don’t shy away from them. Instead, we believe in shaping what comes next. The Museum embodies the best of Portland—its artistic spirit, determination, and power to inspire.
What we’re building here matters. And we couldn’t do it without you. Thanks to your support, we are creating something extraordinary for Portland. Soon, the entire community will experience what we’ve built—because of you.
Let’s finish strong. Let’s use our creativity to power us through the finish line!
With gratitude,
Alix Meier Goodman and Angela Snow Connection Campaign Co-Chairs
EVOLVING CAMPUS, EVOLVING PROGRAMS
The Museum’s transformed campus will feature a dedicated space for youth and community engagement. Located on the lower level, this vibrant new area will host interactive programming year-round, providing meaningful opportunities for students and visitors to create, learn, and connect.
Over 60,000 children visit the Museum annually for free, discovering a vital local resource of national stature—one that reveals the beauty and complexities of the world.
Youth & Community Gallery
The Youth & Community Gallery is a dedicated exhibition space for showcasing artwork created by students and community members, offering young artists a platform to express their creativity and share their perspectives. By amplifying the voices of the next generation, the gallery will celebrate artistic growth and inspire deeper connections between youth and the broader community.
MATCH MET!
Thanks to the generosity of arts champion Barbara Silver—who shares our belief that art should be accessible to all—and the incredible response from our community, we’re thrilled to share that the $250,000 Barbara Silver Match was met in just 8 weeks. Thanks to gifts of all sizes during this phase, we’re doing more than expanding our physical space—we’re opening up new possibilities for art, learning, and community connection.
“Art connects us, inspires us, and brings our community together. The Portland Art Museum is more than a museum; it’s a place where we all belong.”
—Barbara Silver
Learning Studio
The Learning Studio is dynamic, hands-on educational space designed for elementary, middle, and high school students visiting on school tours. It will foster creative exploration through interactive lessons and activities, complementing the Museum experience with immersive, hands-on learning. This transformative space will serve as a vital resource for students and teachers, nurturing curiosity, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for the arts.
These spaces will strengthen the Museum’s commitment to learning, accessibility, and creative exploration—ensuring that every visitor, regardless of age, has the opportunity to engage with art in meaningful ways.
FRONT: The Silver Family Youth and Community Gallery; BACK: Lana and Chris Finley Learning Studio.
(ART) WORK IN PROGRESS: Construction Update
The Museum’s once-in-a-generation expansion and renovation is transforming our campus, adding nearly 100,000 square feet of new and reimagined space. At the heart of this project is the Mark Rothko Pavilion, a 24,000-square-foot architectural centerpiece that will unify the Museum’s buildings, create seamless circulation across all four gallery floors, and provide a welcoming new entrance.
With each milestone, the vision becomes reality. Recent progress includes:
Major Construction Achievements
Rothko Pavilion Structural Framing & Flooring—The pavilion’s core structure is in place.
Glass Installation—174 bird-safe panels now enclose the pavilion, including monumental west-facing panels— each 28 feet long, 1.5 inches thick, and weighing over a ton—suspended over the West Plaza on a cantilevered structure.
New Architectural Connections—The staircase linking the Rothko Pavilion to the Mark Building is now complete.
Center for New Art—This new 2,700 sq ft space for contemporary art, housed in the former library, is now substantially complete.
Seismic Safety—A 9-inch seismic joint now links the Rothko Pavilion, Main Building, and Mark Building, allowing each structure to move independently in an earthquake while maintaining overall integrity.
What’s Happening Now & Coming Soon
Tower crane removal—A key step in transitioning to final phases.
New elevators—Three new elevators will enhance access.
Interior finishes begin—Walls, flooring, and key design elements take shape.
Peak workforce on-site—173 contractors working daily to bring the project to completion.
Select collection galleries reopen in the Main Building, featuring fresh perspectives on our American, European, and Japanese art collections.
New Cafe & Shop—Expected to open in early fall, offering a refreshed dining and retail experience.
The Final Stretch: Preparing for the Grand Opening
With major structural work complete, the focus now shifts to interior spaces, plazas, and landscaping. Key next steps include:
Installation of signature granite flooring throughout the pavilion.
Renovation of the Whitsell Auditorium
Final art and exhibition installations—in the Rothko Pavilion and the Jubitz Center for Modern and Contemporary Art—as curators and collection staff prepare for the November 20 grand opening.
Installation of the flooring in the Whitsell Family Grand Gallery.
BUILDING A LEGACY The Power of Endowment
Another lasting impact of the Connection Campaign isn’t something you can see—but it will always be felt: the growth of our endowment. This is what fuels the Museum’s future, ensuring that access, exhibitions, and programming continue to inspire for generations to come.
Did you know?
While the Portland Art Museum ranks among the top in ticketed admissions, exhibition space, and collection size, our endowment lags behind peer institutions. With government arts funding becoming increasingly uncertain, strengthening our endowment has never been more critical.
A strong endowment is like an anchor in shifting tides— allowing us to weather change, embrace bold new ideas, and remain a place of creativity, learning, and connection for another 132 years—and beyond
Milestone Moment: A First for Native American Art at PAM
Before this campaign, our Native American Art program had no endowed funds. Today, thanks to the generosity of many, $1.25 million has been raised to support acquisitions and curatorial work. To fully endow the Curator of Native American Art, we still need to raise $2 million—but this is real, meaningful progress that will shape the Museum’s future.
Endowment Funds at Work
Each year, endowment funds at PAM provide critical support for free and reduced access programs, community initiatives, curatorial leadership, and more. Through this campaign, we aim to endow key priorities, ensuring lasting impact:
General Operations
Curator of Native American Art
Curator of Prints & Drawings
Curator of Black Art and Experiences
Educators Endowment & Free Teacher Access
Director of PAM CUT/Curator of Film and New Media
Without a strong endowment, even slight shifts in admissions, foundation support, or government funding could put our programming and accessibility at risk. But together, we’re not just ensuring the Museum’s survival—we’re securing its future.
Consider making a lasting impact by including a gift to the endowment in your estate plans. Gifts of any size help strengthen the museum’s future. For those interested in creating a named endowment, opportunities begin at $250,000—providing a meaningful way to leave a legacy that will support PAM for generations to come.
Portland
Mary Weaver Chapin, Ph.D., Curator of Prints and Drawings at the 2025 Fine Print Fair.
Kathleen Ash-Milby, Curator of Native American Art speaking at the Venice Biennale.
BUSINESS CHAMPIONS CIRCLE
Strengthening Our City Through the Arts
Arts and culture bring people together, foster dialogue, and drive economic vitality. They make cities more vibrant, attracting visitors, businesses, and residents alike. The Portland Art Museum’s campus transformation is a catalyst for Portland’s renewal— deepening its commitment to downtown and strengthening the city’s appeal as a place to live, work, and visit.
Members of the Business Champions Circle support the Connection Campaign because they recognize the essential role of the arts in shaping a thriving city. Their investment fuels cultural and economic momentum, demonstrating the power of businesses and the arts working together.
While our campus transformation reflects a direct and immediate investment in our region’s economy, its effects will last decades. Thank you to our lead Business Champions: Bank of America, The Standard, and Wieden+Kennedy.
“We’ve long supported the Museum because we understand the impact of the arts in driving economic development. That’s even more critical now as Portland moves forward.”
— Roger Hinshaw, Bank of America (Portland Business Journal)
Business Champions receive exclusive benefits, including brand visibility, strategic marketing opportunities, access to invitationonly events, and meaningful client and employee engagement. This fall, the Museum will publicly recognize all $25k+ Business Champions with a full-page ad in a special publication celebrating their commitment to the arts and Portland’s future. To learn more, contact Rachel Record at rachel.record@pam.org or 503-276-4254.
EXCITING EVENTS AHEAD
Celebrating Our Community of Supporters
Mark your calendars for unforgettable celebrations as we honor the generosity shaping our future!
SAVE THE DATE!
PARTY IN THE PAVILION
All Donor Open House
NOVEMBER 18 | 3 – 6 PM
A special gathering for all donors who have helped bring this vision to life! This event will offer an exclusive opportunity to explore the transformed Museum before the public opening, as a heartfelt thank-you for your generosity.
More to come—get ready to celebrate!
Community Celebration
BEGINNING NOVEMBER 20, 2025
Leadership Donor Celebration— Party in the Pavilion
AUGUST 27 | 6 PM
Rothko Pavilion
An exclusive evening celebrating our $100K+ leadership donors to the Connection Campaign! Be among the first to step inside the Rothko Pavilion before the art is installed. This vibrant cocktail party will feature:
Artists, live music, and performances
Curated moments of inspiration throughout the pavilion
A toast to the generosity transforming the Museum
Join us as we raise a glass to the visionary supporters who are making this new chapter possible!
OPEN
TO ALL!
Join us for the Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting of the Portland Art Museum’s exciting new chapter—an unforgettable ceremony with our own special twist.
Then, enjoy four full days of free admission and a celebration open to all!
NOVEMBER 20 – 23
Explore the Museum’s stunning reinstalled galleries, hands-on art-making activities, and pop-up performances happening throughout each day.
FRIDAY EVENING & ALL DAY SATURDAY ONLY:
Step outside for a festive autumn street fair featuring live music, local food vendors, and the vibrant spirit of the Pacific Northwest.
Mark your calendar for this extraordinary weekend of art, community, and celebration!
More details coming soon.
Architectural rendering of the Whitsell Family Grand Gallery.
CORNERSTONE GIFTS
$13.5 MILLION
Arlene Schnitzer*
$8 MILLION
Anonymous
$5 MILLION
Mary and Tim Boyle
Ryan and Mary Finley
Trudy and Pat Ritz
$3 MILLION +
The Andrews Family
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick D. Jubitz / The Frederick D. and Gail Y. Jubitz Foundation
$2 MILLION + 1803 Fund
Missy and Peter Bechen
Dan Bergsvik and Don Hastler
Travers Hill Polak and Vasek Polak
Lematta Foundation †
M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust
$1 MILLION +
Blair Family Foundation
Rick Caskey in honor of Sue Horn-Caskey
Maribeth W. Collins*
Jim, Anne and Jimmy Crumpacker and Catherine Crumpacker Stafford †
The Mildred E. and Harvey S. Mudd Foundation / Kirk and Elizabeth Day
The Oregon Jewish Community Foundation on behalf of Doug, Greg, and Mark Goodman
Cyndy and Edward Maletis
Nancie S. McGraw*
Jin and Julieann Park
Nani S. Warren* / The Swigert Warren Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. William A. Whitsell
Joanne Lilley*
Laura S. Meier, Alix and Tom Goodman, and Jill and Tony Garvey
Eugene and Bonnie Skourtes
The Smidt Foundation
State of Oregon
The Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation
Robert Trotman and William Hetzelson*
Patricia Reser and William Westphal
Grace Rose Serbu
Barbara and Phil Silver
Angela and Rex Snow
Andrée H. Stevens*
The Healy Foundation
Greg and Cathy Tibbles
Nani S. Warren’s 5 Children
Judith Wyss
Anonymous (2)
LEADERSHIP GIFTS
$500,000 +
Bank of America
Mrs. Mary Lee Boklund / The William G. Gilmore Foundation
Lucy M. Buchanan
Mary Chomenko Hinckley and Gregory K. Hinckley
Lana and Christian Finley
Ann Flowerree / Flowerree Foundation
Janet H. Geary
Wendy Kahle and Stanley Boles
Heather Killough
Marcia H. Randall Foundation
National Endowment for the Humanities
Marilyn Rudin, M.D., and Richard Testut, Jr.
The Leonard and Lois Schnitzer Family
The Standard
The Jim and Susan Winkler Family
Anonymous (2)
$250,000 +
Judith Anderson
Amjad and Helen Bangash
Sharon and Keith Barnes
Barbara Bours Brady
Jean McGuire Coleman
Truman Collins and Nancy Ives
Cheney and Mary Cowles
Stephanie Fowler and Irving Levin / The Renaissance Foundation
Hampton Family Foundation †
Henry Lea Hillman, Jr. Foundation
Ronna Hoffman
Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund
Steven McGeady and the McGeady Family Foundation
Chris* and Tom Neilsen †
Ed Cauduro Fund †
Prosper Portland
The Rothko Family
Dori Schnitzer and Mark Brown
Peter and Julie Stott / Market Express
Victor, Korina, and Jaclyn Winkler
Zidell Family Foundation
$100,000 +
Carmelo Anthony / National Basketball Association
Joan Lamb Baldwin
Judy Bradley and David Mitchell
Roger* and Mary Beth Burpee
Bryce Butler
City of Portland
Bryan W. Deaner
Christelle and Jon deAsis
Mary and Spencer Dick Family
Cooper Dubois and Sanda Stein
Ken and Ann Edwards / Starseed Foundation
Katherine and Mark Frandsen
Sally C. Gibson
Harold M. Goldstein and Carol A. Streeter
Pat and Leona Green
Jerry G. Jones*
Willie Kemp
KHR McNeely Family Foundation
Edwards Lienhart Family Foundation
Kevin Love
Linda and Ken Mantel
Ryna and Ken Mehr
Spencer D. Noecker
Eldon W. Ostrem*
Bettsy and Wallace Preble
Linda Rae Hickey
Mary Sayler
Susan Schnitzer and Greg Goodman
Marcy Schwartz
Bonnie Serkin and Will Emery
Richard S. Testut, Jr.
The Keller Foundation in Memory of Ruth and Dick Keller
Rena Tonkin* and Cheryl Tonkin in Memory of Marvin R. Tonkin
Janet Macomber Williamson
Jonathan and Pearl Yu
CONNECTOR GIFTS
$50,000 +
William Lee Ashworth*
Rich and Rachel Baek
Julie Beeler & Brad Johnson
Anthony and Martha Belluschi
Karen and Harry* Groth
Jeff and Sandy Grubb
Lakecia Gunter
Hennebery Eddy Architects, Inc.
Warren and Valerie Hill
Donald J. Jenkins*
Nick and Patty Knapp
April Knapp
Ronni Lacroute
Helena B. Lankton
Jay and Tonia Mason
Diane Forsgren McCall
Architectural rendering of The Eugene and Bonnie Skourtes Gallery.
S.I. Jaggar Blount Fund †
Edie and Mark Millar
Mia Hervin Moore and Jonathan Moore
Dorothy Piacentini
Lakshmi Raman Portland Art Museum Endowment
Robert Lehman Foundation
Megan and Thomas Shipley
Westover Charitable Fund
Bob and Cate Sweeney
The Honorable and Mrs. Charles J. Swindells in honor of Fred and Gail Jubitz
Kim Cassel Tardie
The PGE Foundation
Vinci | Hamp Architects, Inc.
Robert and Liz Warren
Bill and Karin Wright Family
Anonymous (2)
$25,000 +
AAA Oregon
Michael and Jamie Anderson
Anne Becker Miller
Nancy and Andy Bryant
Purposeful Ventures Fund
Ms. Ashley Campion and Mr. Matthew Semler
Jon V. Jaqua and Kimberly B. Cooper Fund †
The de Weese Family
Theo and Nancy Downes-Le Guin
Stephen and Nancy Dudley
Barbara Giesy
William Gilliland
$10,000 +
Luisa Adrianzen Guyer and Leigh Guyer
Debbie and Mark Charitable Fund
Guy* and Nora Barron
PDX Contemporary Art / Jane and Spencer Beebe
Martha Bergman
J & S Bishop Fund †
Kay and Marty Brantley
Richard Louis Brown and Thomas Mark
Janelle Bynum
Kathy Calcagno
Emma Colson and Family
Anonymous
Laura Dubois
Nancy Duhnkrack
Jill and Richard Edelson
Barry A. Edwards
Penny Emerson
European and American Art Council of the Portland Art Museum
Google, Inc.
Richard and Sandra Helmick
Josh and Kerri Hoffman
City Ranch Fund
Terri Hopkins
Judy* and Hank Hummelt
Salena Johnson
Barbara Kommer and Kurt Koenig
Ms. Carol Schnitzer Lewis
Kathleen Lewis
Judy W. Lyons
Shawn and Lisa Mangum
Stephanie Feeney and Donald Mickey
Mia Hall Miller and Matthew Miller
Bruce and Jeanette Morrison
Mark New
Katherine Pease and John Saurenman
Dina Schnitzer
Peter Shinbach
Lindsay and Corinne Stewart
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Tennant
Rev. Richard B. Thompson
Travel Portland
Isaac Ziegler Charitable Trust
Anonymous (3)
Ellen Fader Charitable Fund
William Sterling Findlay and Susan Halton Fund †
Lina and Stephen Seabold
Suzanne Geary
Elinor Gollay
Jim and Lee Gray
Peter and Diana Hall
Thomas S. Hicks
Anonymous
Kasey & Steve Holwerda
Patricia Horan
Judy Carlson Kelley
Deneen and Raymond King
Anonymous †
Louis and Virginia Clemente Foundation
David and Dolorosa Margulis
Shawn Menashe
Nancy and Dick Mitchell
Karel Lee Moersfelder
Murakami Family Fund
Native American Art Council of the Portland Art Museum
The Overhage Family Fund
Dr. Adlai Pappy
Dr. Yale Popowich
Dee Poth
Rolando and Megan Pozos
Janice E. Quivey
David & Madie Richenstein
Family Foundation †
Jean and Stephen Roth
Loren J. Schlachet
Wayne D. Schweinfest
Bill Swindells and Heather Casto
The Jackson Foundation
Walter E. Weyler
Anonymous (3)
CONNECTOR GIFTS continued
$5,000 +
Maddie & Peter Andrews in honor of Mary & Pete Mark
Meg & Scott Becker
Mark Becker
Drs. John Benson and Virginia Tilden in honor of Greg and Cathy Tibbles
Catherine Blanksby
Lynn Bliss
Kandis Brewer Nunn and Robert Nunn
Lori Brocker and David Knapp
Katherine and Vincent Cahill
Robert G. and Dorothy N. (Sue) Cameron
Family Fund †
Ann C. Carter and Thomas P. Palmer
Casia Chappell
Collins Benevolent Fund
David Counter
The Greg Kubicek and Elizabeth Cramer Fund
Eloise Damrosch
Declusin Family Fund
Kirk Dobbins and Herbert Kitchen
Martha W. Dougherty
Sheila Finch-Tepper
Pat Fleck
Zachary Franks
Gallatin Public Affairs
Gilleland Family Gift Fund
Katherine L. Gross
David Holt
Ajitahrydaya Gift Fund
Dr. Roy D. Johnson
Johnston Family Trust
Sanjiv and Cindy Kaul
Julie Kern Smith and Arvie Smith
Tracy and Christopher Keys
Dan and Paula Kinney
Jody Klevit*
MJ Steen
Anonymous, In Memory of Francis J. Newton, Rachael Smith Griffin, and Hans von Schmidt
Anjanette and Brue McHayle
Jeffrey Morgan
Michael D. Mulholland
Acorn Fund †
The Nickerson Family
Perkins & Co.
Wendy and Richard Rahm Fund †
Janet Anderson & Michelle Ritter
Roberts Projects
David Roche
Laura Ross-Paul and Alex Paul
Richard and Deanne Rubinstein
Mary and Craig Ruble, in honor of Alix Goodman
Meredith Savery
Paul Schulz and Megan Everts
Carol and Tom Shults
Jonathan Singer
Carie Strahorn
Anne Swindells
Nora Terwilliger
Jon and Linda Twichell
The Velma Fund
Alice and Wim Wiewel
Anonymous (2)
* Deceased † Fund of the Oregon Community
Updated 04/15/25
Southwest view of the Museum’s campus transformation at dusk from Southwest Madison across the Park blocks.
EVERY GIFT MAKES A BIG IMPACT
Receive a beautifully framed commemorative print of Mark Rothko’s iconic 1951 painting, No. 16 [?] (Green, White, Yellow on Yellow), featured in a special exhibition for the November 20th opening celebration.
This exclusive opportunity is available for a limited time to donors making new gifts of $5,000 or more to the Connection Campaign after October 16, 2024. Quantities are limited, and custom framing options are available to enhance your artwork.
A heartfelt thank-you—plus a special gift just for you
As a generous supporter of the Connection Campaign, you’re already helping to shape a more connected, accessible, and creative future for the Portland Art Museum. To show our appreciation, we’re offering an exclusive Everybody is an Art Person tote to all donors of $100 or more during our community phase—that means you! Designed in collaboration with our talented friends at Wieden+Kennedy, this tote is our way of saying thank you for being a part of this journey.
WAYS TO SUPPORT
Tell your friends!
Inviting friends to learn about the project is one of the most powerful ways to build support. We’re happy to share the vision through in-person tours or brief virtual conversations.
Consider an Additional Gift
As we near the finish line of our historic campaign, additional support—through a new 5-year pledge or a planned gift—can make a lasting difference.
Planned gifts are a powerful way to contribute more significantly than you may have thought possible. They can also support the Museum’s endowment, providing long-term stability for future generations. Including the Museum in your will, trust, retirement plan, or another tax-advantaged vehicle ensures your values continue to shape the future of arts and culture in Portland.
Gifts to the endowment through your estate plans are especially meaningful. Named endowments begin at $250,000 and offer a lasting legacy by supporting the Museum’s mission in perpetuity.
Another impactful way to give is by making a new or additional 5-year pledge. This kind of sustained commitment strengthens the Museum’s momentum today and builds capacity for the future.
Whether through a legacy gift or renewed pledge, your support helps ensure that the Portland Art Museum continues to thrive for generations to come.
Architectural rendering of the The James H. Winkler Entrance.
