2022-23 SAIC Philanthropic Impact Report

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

I am thrilled to share with you the 2022–23 Philanthropic Impact Report, summarizing the many ways donors made a difference in the education of School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) students during the penultimate year of the SAIC fundraising initiative Make Way: A Roadmap to Student Access, Equity, and Affordability. Donors gave more than $9.3 million to help the School remove barriers keeping students from fulfilling their academic goals. But the real impact made on students’ lives cannot be fully expressed in dollars.

Thanks to the generosity of alums, friends, and parents of SAIC, students were able to find belonging, maintain their mental health, define their professional ambitions, and benefit from the world-class art and design education for which the School has been known for over a century and a half. During the 2022–23 academic year, 38 incoming students whose parents do not have a college degree found fellowship through the First-Generation Fellows program; 61 students were able to accept hands-on, career-building opportunities thanks to internship stipends; and more than 3,000 students received vital scholarship funds, reducing the cost of an art and design education.

These examples are just some of the ways donors’ giving has benefitted the priorities of Make Way: scholarships, wellness, and career preparedness. Even more are detailed in this Impact Report. I hope its contents remind you how meaningful a gift to the School can be. An SAIC education empowers emerging artists, designers, and scholars to acquire the skills they need to make our shared society more beautiful, reflective, and humane. I am so grateful to our donors for believing in them.

Sincerely,

Elissa Tenny President

CULTIVATING THE SAIC COMMUNITY

The 2022–23 academic year was another exciting time for SAIC. Studios were full of new and experimental work, classrooms and student gathering spaces were abuzz with collaboration, and the energy and excitement from faculty, staff, and students made campus feel renewed. SAIC’s secondever art auction and first Happening Auction Party, featuring artworks by alums and faculty, celebrated our community and showcased the School as one of the world’s leading art and design institutions. And with the support of donors in fiscal year 2023, an SAIC education was made more accessible through decreasing the financial burden of pursuing a degree and providing holistic support for students.

Together, the SAIC community of alums, parents, and friends contributed a total of $9,372,030 in philanthropic gifts between July 1, 2022 and June 20, 2023. These funds directly supported scholarships, wellness, career preparedness, and institutional programs aligned with President Tenny’s multi-year $25 million fundraising initiative Make Way: A Roadmap to Student Access, Equity, and Affordability.

We are thankful for all that your generosity made possible for SAIC students.

$9,372,030

291 total raised new donors

IMPACT SPOTLIGHT

First-Generation Fellows Program Enters Its Fourth Year

The growing population of firstgeneration college students— students whose parents do not have a college degree—is vital for fostering a vibrant and diverse educational ecosystem at SAIC. With more than 20 percent of SAIC students identifying as firstgeneration, President Tenny, herself a first-generation college graduate, has expanded support through the First-Generation Fellows program as part of Make Way.

Even before they arrive on campus, first-generation college students are at a significant disadvantage compared with their peers.

First-generation students report struggling to feel like they are part of campus life, are eight times more likely than their peers to leave college without a degree, and have financial concerns. Through guaranteed on-campus employment, workshops, and mentoring, first-generation fellows are given the resources they need to navigate and excel at SAIC. During the 2022–23 academic year, SAIC’s First-Generation Fellows program supported 38 first-year, low-income students. Fellows participated in six educational workshops, 30 peer-led programs, and two oncampus exhibition opportunities.

A First-Generation Fellow leads donors on a tour of the First-Generation Fellows section of ArtBash

MAKING WAY FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

A key theme of President Tenny’s legacy is her dedication to supporting and providing resources for SAIC students. Through Make Way, the School will raise $25 million to address the roadblocks many students face in fulfilling their creative potential. This initiative seeks to strengthen three essential elements of support for art and design students—scholarships, wellness, and career preparedness— while also generating philanthropic support for other institutional needs.

In partnership with generous donors like you, the School has made important progress toward fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community for all students. Through support for scholarships, SAIC has been able to decrease financial barriers to an art and design education. Funding for wellness initiatives ensures all students who seek wellness resources have access to the many facets of care they need to thrive. And through career preparedness, SAIC is helping students to develop the necessary skills for a successful professional trajectory in the arts.

“The School admitted women and people of color from the day their doors opened. But to have a school where everyone feels comfortable and feels that they’re not just being given permission to attend the School—but that they’re valued and they’re wanted here—that would really be an incredible legacy.”

DENISE GARDNER, CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

$20.8M raised for make way

1,618 donors to make way

83% of goal

INCREASING THE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY OF AN ART AND DESIGN EDUCATION

Thanks to the 363 donors like you who supported scholarships last year, President Tenny’s transformative vision of making an SAIC education within reach for more artists and designers is being realized. 86 percent of degree-seeking students received some form of institutional aid or scholarship support during this period. Through philanthropy, the School will be able to increase the financial support offered to students with the greatest economic need, bringing SAIC closer to the levels of aid offered by peer institutions. This additional support is critical to ensuring SAIC continues to be accessible for prospective students, including the 30 percent of students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, while also providing necessary resources each semester to increase student persistence and retention.

Furthermore, since the start of Make Way in 2020, the number of new donors to scholarships has doubled. This increased funding will allow the School to continue fostering a diverse learning community, potentially transforming the arts ecosystem of tomorrow into one that is more inclusive, welcoming of diverse perspectives, and is more socially just.

“I am sending you a wholehearted thank you for your financial support. Your involvement has enhanced how I see the world, shown me how to marry art and journalism in my work, and gifted me opportunities to learn from the many diverse artists in my program.”

ANDREA BRUCE (MFA 2024), 2022–23 SAIC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

$3,787,562

3,089 raised for s CH olars H i P s students re C eived some form of aid

IMPACT SPOTLIGHT SAIC Art Auction Raises Thousands for

Scholarships

In November 2022, the second-ever SAIC Art Auction, featuring the work of more than 80 artists, and its signature soirée, A Happening Auction Party, celebrated the impact SAIC artists, designers, and scholars make on the contemporary art world. Between November 1 and 14 the SAIC community, including donors and art collectors from Chicago and beyond, raised $641,000 for student scholarships.

Among those supporters were donors and Chicago cultural leaders Greg Cameron and Greg Thompson, who purchased a piece by Dan Gunn (MFA 2007). They were both thrilled with the opportunity to fund scholarships.

“We believe in the power of education and the importance of access to an education,” Cameron shared. “SAIC is a really exciting part of what an international city like Chicago needs. We need a great school to provide space for asking the questions that maybe don’t get asked in museums or galleries or collectors’ homes.”

Greg Cameron (left) and Greg Thompson (right)

SUPPORTING THE WELLNESS OF THE WHOLE STUDENT

Students’ requests for mental health support have been on the rise for over a decade at colleges nationwide, and rates of need are among the highest at art and design schools, including SAIC. Two-thirds of the student body use the comprehensive health, counseling, and disability services offered at the Wellness Center. This holistic attention to student wellness empowers students to connect with the resources they need to meet their upmost potential. It also makes SAIC a leader among its peers.

The Wellness Center’s nationally recognized student wellness program was supported by more than $341,000 in fiscal year 2023, allowing SAIC to maintain and expand existing services and programming. Well over 100 members of the faculty and staff are better prepared to identify and address students’ needs thanks to mental health first aid training funded by a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Meanwhile, philanthropy from individual donors has enabled programming to advance the awareness of disability arts and culture across campus. Thanks to loyal supporters like you, SAIC is reaching its goals of increasing capacity for integrative, holistic care to best meet student needs.

“I deeply appreciate SAIC's support for disability arts and culture. It has been pivotal in my journey as an artist, especially with my focus on the disabled community, driven by my personal connection to the cause through my sister's experience with cerebral palsy. This support not only strengthens my belief in my work but also amplifies the voices and experiences of the disabled community, which is central to my artistic exploration.”

YIMEI ZHOU (MFA 2023)

$341,802

4 raised for wellness

C areer P rograms featuring disability arts and C ulture advo C ates

The

Wellness

Center Is A Key Campus Resource for Students

SAIC’s interdisciplinary curriculum gives students the freedom to take risks and experiment. But for many first-year students, it can also be overwhelming. Sonja Mott (BFA 2025), who identifies as neurodivergent and struggled when they first landed at the School, said, “I needed support, but I didn’t know I could ask for accommodations. I didn’t know which resources were available.”

Like many SAIC students, Mott found their way to the Disability and Learning Resource Center (DLRC) located within the School’s Wellness Center. The DLRC

advocates for accommodations— from notetaking support in the classroom, to live captioning at events—to ensure that every student has equal access to all programs, activities, and services at the School. Through significant support from individuals, the DLRC has been able to greatly expand disability awareness through School-wide innovative programming, like visiting artist residencies and student exhibitions, which provide a platform for expression, destigmatization, and learning.

The lobby of SAIC's Wellness Center

PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH TOOLS TO PURSUE SUSTAINABLE

CREATIVE

LIVES

Philanthropic investment in career preparedness at SAIC helps students graduate ready to launch sustainable careers after graduation. Artists, designers, and scholars need more than a rigorous curriculum to become cultural leaders. They also need the opportunity to practice skills learned in the classroom through hands-on experience, but taking an internship poses challenges for some students, particularly when a preferred experience is unpaid.

Arts and other nonprofit organizations often offer future graduates the best preparation for art and design employment post graduation, but may lack the resources to pay interns. When deciding whether they can accept an internship opportunity, students often cite concerns such as cost of living and balancing additional jobs on top of coursework as key considerations.

Thanks to the $254,094 given to support career preparedness and internship stipends in 2022–23, 61 students were able to say yes to internship experiences across four countries. Through these experiences, students reported that they were able to gain valuable communication skills, explore different career paths, and develop professional connections.

“Receiving the stipend allowed me to focus on my internship without having to seek out other forms of financial support. This internship has helped me gain a better understanding of how organizations operate for and within the community to offer support and services. I’ve gained valuable experience forming relationships with a range of different people.”

NATAN VALES (BFA 2024), 2022–23 INTERNSHIP STIPEND RECIPIENT, INTERN AT ARTS OF LIFE IN CHICAGO

61

55 students su PP orted

interns H i P lo C ations

IMPACT SPOTLIGHT

Newly Created Internship for Graduate Students Opens Doors

The Mencoff Family Internship in Historic and Cultural Preservation is a new opportunity providing graduate students with funding to explore potential career paths and research opportunities. Inaugural recipient Alexandra Kader Herrera (MA 2024), a dual-degree graduate student in the Arts Administration and Art History program, served as a fellow for the Smithsonian National Museum for the American Latino. Through cohort-wide sessions, Kader Herrera and other fellows learned about the museum administration within the Smithsonian. She completed an individual research project and presented her research at the end of the fellowship. The experience was life-changing. Kader Herrera shared, “This experience made me realize how interested I am in the art library world and how it can be a great space for my professional development as an art historian.”

Inagural Mencoff Family Intern Alexandra Kader Herrera (MA 2024)

COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTERS

Dedicated alums, parents, faculty, staff, and friends are who enable SAIC to offer students scholarships, internship stipends, comprehensive wellness resources, and so much more. Through giving, donors ensure the School will continue to deliver an excellent education and provide holistic support to students in world-class facilities for the current and next generation.

Gifts made to the endowment will generate annual income in perpetuity, providing funding for priorities such as scholarships, faculty positions, and facilities for decades to come. Restricted gifts are donordirected and can support nationally recognized academic programming such as the School’s College Arts Access Program, Career and Professional Experience program, or Disability and Learning Resource Center. Donors who supported the Fund for SAIC and made other non-restricted gifts last year helped the School meet emerging student needs such as funding to buy supplies or travel for a professional opportunity.

Your generosity last year was essential to helping the School achieve the goals of Make Way and deliver on its mission of expanding affordability of an art and design education for all aspiring artists and designers, regardless of their financial ability. We are grateful each and every day for the passion you show for our students and School.

“The Make Way initiative stands at the forefront of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's mission to shape the future of the arts landscape. By supporting this initiative, our donors are not just contributing; they are investing in the equity and accessibility of a world-class art and design education. Their generosity ensures that the brightest aspiring artists and designers, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to thrive and innovate for decades to come.”

COURTNEY ROWE, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT

$9,372,030 TOTAL FUNDS RAISED BETWEEN JULY 1, 2022 AND JUNE 30, 2023

*all categories include pledges and outright gifts

$5.81M 77 ENDOWMENT DONORS

$810,000 556 FUND FOR SAIC & OTHER NON-RESTRICTED GIFTS DONORS

$2.71M 243 RESTRICTED DONORS

$342M SAIC ENDOWMENT VALUE AS OF JUNE 30, 2023

ALUMS INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF ART

AND DESIGN LEADERS

With more than 30,000 alums around the world, SAIC’s network is a global one, touching all aspects of art and its many spheres of influence. SAIC alums make beloved art objects, design the built environment, and expand society’s ways of being; they exhibit, present, interpret, collect, and preserve cultural touchstones. Similar to their career paths postgraduation, alums give back to the School in many different ways.

In 2022–23, a number of alums served as panelists for Career and Professional Experience programs and 25 served as regional alum leaders, strengthening alum communities in New York, Miami, Chicago, and beyond. Sixty-five alums including Sanford Biggers (BFA 1999), the late Richard Hunt (BAE 1957, HON 1979), and Rebecca Morris (MFA 1994) donated work to the SAIC Art Auction. And many more alums made financial contributions to the School. During fiscal year 2023, 245 alums gave directly to Make Way’s priorities or the Annual Fund. We are grateful for the many ways our alums choose to remain connected and engaged with the SAIC community.

32%

10 in C rease in giving

regional events

Stephanie and Bill Sick Professor of Fashion, Body and Garment Nick Cave leads alums on a tour of Each One, Every One, Equal All at the Times Square 42 St. MTA station

WHY I GIVE Tony Lewis (MFA 2012)

During Tony Lewis’s (MFA 2012) time studying at SAIC, he was frequently inspired by his classmates who were running their own neighborhood artist spaces. So when he graduated, he joined an artist-run collective and always made time to speak with SAIC students who visited. For Lewis, community is key, and his intentionality about remaining connected to SAIC is just one aspect of his artistic practice. “For me, it’s not just the making of the object, it’s everything that goes into it: how much time am I dedicating to create opportunities for others, how often am I doing studio visits, and how am I creating space for the students who will be in this space in the future.” When the opportunity to gift a piece to the 2022 SAIC Art Auction arose, Lewis was excited to be able to raise funds for current and future SAIC students. He shared: “I benefited personally from some form of scholarships during my studies. Scholarships make life a little easier for students, it helps support them when they need a bit of a break.”

SAIC Alum Tony Lewis (MFA 2012)

PARENTS AND FAMILIES SUPPORT STUDENT CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Parents and families are an important source of support and encouragement for SAIC students, from the time they apply for admission through graduation and beyond. When parents and families choose to engage in philanthropy, they make an even greater impact on the School community. Their gifts to scholarships, wellness, and paid internships help advance the goals of Make Way by expanding access to a highquality art and design education.

The Parent & Family Council (PFC) is a group of volunteer ambassadors who support the advancement of SAIC’s mission through philanthropic giving, leadership, and engagement with the SAIC community. Each year, Council members’ gifts fund summer internships that might otherwise be unpaid. Students who have received a PFC-supported internship share that this funding helps them explore different career paths and foster professional connections. Last year the PFC raised funds to sponsor 20 $2,500 internship stipends, which allowed students who may otherwise not have been able to accept an internship participate in this important career experience.

134

Parents w H o gave raised

$245,138

Parents of SAIC students touring the Art Institute of Chicago during Parent and Family Weekend

WHY I GIVE

Elise Thomas, Parent & Family Council member

Elise Thomas and her husband, Gregg, are parents of a current third-year student. They first became interested in supporting the School after meeting some of their child’s friends and learning more about their challenges. Elise loves talking to students. She is inspired by the work they are creating, their artistic potential and career explorations, and the breadth of their studies. She and Gregg want their giving to help other aspiring artists realize their goals. Since joining, and now leading the Parent & Family Council, they’ve felt most inspired to support paid internships and funding for everyday expenses that students encounter like purchasing supplies. “The students at SAIC are very special. They deserve to be here, and for those who want to stay, we want them to be able to stay at the School and keep creating,” Elise shared. “Really listening to them and hearing what their concerns are has directed our giving, showing how much we appreciate and value and support their dreams.”

SAIC Parent & Family Council Co-Chairs Elise and Gregg Thomas

FACULTY,

STAFF, AND

FRIENDS BELIEVE IN ART AND DESIGN EDUCATION

Attending SAIC is a significant commitment for even the most promising artists, designers, and scholars, which is why we are grateful so many of SAIC’s supporters are committed to expanding access to an art and design education. Friends of the School who are passionate about the mission, civic leaders and foundations who believe in the power of an arts education, and members of the campus community all impact students’ educational journeys.

Endowed scholarships, like the Justyna Palka Memorial Scholarship Fund, are one way the School is able to make an art and design education more accessible. When a donor chooses to direct their giving to an endowed scholarship, the gift grows with time and allows for a greater percentage of students to receive philanthropic aid each year.

74

$5.079M donors to endowed s CH olars H i P s in s CH olars H i P s were distributed from endowed funds

Attendees at A Happening Auction Party participate in a Happening

WHY I GIVE

Malgorzata Palka, friend of the School

Malgorzata Palka’s daughter, Justyna Palka (BFA 2009), was a graduate of SAIC who began her career at advertising, marketing, and public relations firm Ogilvy before unexpectedly passing away. When the family was considering how to memorialize Justyna’s remarkable life, an endowed scholarship for students with a passion for design felt right. Between her third and fourth year at SAIC, Justyna had participated in an internship at Ogilvy which served as a catalyst for her career as an art director at the firm. Ogilvy established the Justyna Palka Memorial Scholarship Fund to help exceptionally talented students begin their careers as designers. Today, the family continues the vision of Ogilvy, seeking to raise money to support students. The endowed scholarship is very unique. It not only covers a portion of tuition for the student recipient during their fourth year, it also facilitates a paid summer internship at Ogilvy between their third and fourth year of study. This important financial support helps students fund their education, jumpstart their careers, and gain valuable connections and experience in

the design world in perpetuity. “Everyone should have their chance in life.” Malgorzata shared. “Often, talented students who are looking for their own path do not have family support. This scholarship enables them to start a fascinating career.”

Friend of the School Malgorzata Palka

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

As I reflect upon the achievements of the past fiscal year, I am filled with a sense of pride and gratitude to belong to the SAIC community. I am inspired by the enthusiasm generated through the Make Way initiative and by the generous donors who are helping us create a more accessible, equitable, and affordable educational experience for students. With additional funding for scholarships, wellness, and career preparedness, SAIC will continue being a leader in the delivery of an art and design education as well as wraparound support services for decades to come.

Assuming the chairship of SAIC's Board of Governors allows me the continued honor of championing the arts and educational excellence within our vibrant Chicago community. I extend my deepest appreciation to Anita K. Sinha for her exemplary tenure as immediate past chair. Her strategic insight was pivotal in fortifying the School's economic foundations and expanding access through scholarships. Likewise, I am indebted to President Tenny for her 14 years of service, eight as our President during which she fervently expanded support for our students, enriching their educational journey and wellbeing.

As a benefactor of SAIC, your engagement is integral to the fabric of our students’ success. Through your continued partnership, we commit to upholding President Tenny's remarkable legacy, ensuring that SAIC remains at the forefront of educational innovation and artistic expression.

Sincerely,

David J. Vitale Chair, SAIC Board of Governors