School of the Art Institute of Chicago Receives $5 Million Gift to Support Undergraduate Students

Tying for the largest gift ever made to the art and design college, the gift establishes the Karen Frank Merit Scholars Program

CHICAGO—The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), a global leader in art and design education, has received a gift of $5 million from Karen and Jim Frank for undergraduate merit scholarships. This transformational investment from the Frank Family Foundation will ensure that SAIC continues to attract the country’s most talented art and design students, and its impact will be felt for generations.

This gift, which establishes the Karen Frank Merit Scholars Program Endowed Fund, builds upon Karen and Jim Franks’ impressive legacy of support at SAIC. This includes their funding of the Karen and Jim Frank Excellence in Teaching Award for part-time faculty and the establishment of the Karen and Jim Frank Photography Studios in the School’s 280 Building at 280 South Columbus Drive. This new merit based gift will help emerging artists make SAIC their creative home, providing promising students the opportunity to realize their full potential. It is tied for the largest gift in the School’s history.

“We are deeply grateful to the Frank family for investing in our students’ talent, vision, and potential,” said SAIC President Jiseon Lee Isbara. “Their generosity opens new pathways for artists and designers to pursue their education at SAIC and shape our world.”

Karen studied at SAIC through the School’s Adult Continuing Education program and has served on SAIC’s Board of Governors since 2003. She is also an Emeritus member of the Board of Trustees of the Art Institute of Chicago, overseeing both the School and Museum. Jim and Karen both serve on boards at the University of Chicago, and Jim serves on various other boards, including the Chicago Public Education Fund and Dartmouth College. The Frank Family Foundation has also generously given to the Art Institute of Chicago for curatorial endowment support to the Department of Photography and Media, recognized as the Karen Frank Assistant Curator in Photography and Media.

“When you support an SAIC student, you’re not just funding an education—you’re fueling the cultural life of our city and beyond,” shared Karen and Jim. “We’re thrilled to make this investment in the future of art and design.”

This generous gift reinforces SAIC’s position as one of the nation’s leading colleges of art and design. With the support of visionary donors like Karen and Jim Frank, the School will continue to empower artists and designers to push boundaries and transform our world.