Philanthropic Councils

Members of SAIC’s philanthropic councils are like-minded individuals with a shared interest in a particular department, community, or way to support the School. Together, the councils provide vital support for our students, faculty, and departments.

Fashion Council

Established in 2007, the Fashion Council is composed of professionals in the fashion industry, artists, philanthropists, civic leaders, and fashion enthusiasts who support SAIC’s award-winning Department of Fashion Design and its students. The Fashion Council’s philanthropy supports three crucial areas of departmental operations: scholarship support for students studying fashion design, recruitment of visiting designers, and the department’s distinguished Fashion Resource Center

For more information or to inquire about joining the Fashion Council, please email SAICFashionCouncil@artic.edu

Fiber Council

The Fiber Council was formed in 2011 to support the work of SAIC’s Department of Fiber and Material Studies and its students. Shortly thereafter, the council established the Wilson Livingstone Graduate Merit Fellowship to provide merit-based financial assistance to graduate students pursuing an MFA in Fiber and Material Studies. The fellowship was named for Anne Wilson and Joan Livingstone, two renowned fiber artists and faculty emeriti members who have played instrumental roles in elevating SAIC’s Department of Fiber and Material Studies to its esteemed ranking among the top art schools in the US. 

For more information or to inquire about joining the Fiber Council, please email SAICFiberCouncil@artic.edu

Parent and Family Council

The Parent and Family Council is a group of SAIC leaders who play a valuable role in the life and success of the School through their support as investors and ambassadors. Members demonstrate their support with a minimum annual gift of $2,500 to the Parent and Family Internship Fund, which provides SAIC students with stipends to pursue valuable summer internships that are unpaid, underpaid, or in high-cost areas. 

Joining the council provides members a unique opportunity to hear directly from senior administrators, connect with fellow parents, and advance important initiatives that benefit students. If you want to learn more about the Parent and Family Council, please contact Lauren Suitors, associate director, parent and family philanthropy, at lsuitors@saic.edu or 312.499.4193.

1866 Founder’s Circle

The 1866 Founder’s Circle honors friends and alums who have generously included SAIC in their estate plans, helping to secure the School’s future. Estate gifts have been integral to the advancement of SAIC for more than 100 years, providing support for student scholarships, faculty, facilities, technology, campus programming, and other initiatives. 

For information on including SAIC in your estate plans and joining the 1886 Founder’s Circle, please contact givetosaic@saic.edu.