Ways to Give

We believe that economic inequality and systemic racism should not prevent students from applying to SAIC, nor should it impact their ability to thrive once they arrive. When you give to SAIC, you lower the barriers to a world-class art and design education and ensure that students have the wellness resources, academic support, and internship opportunities they need to thrive.

Join our dynamic community of supporters today and invest in the next generation of artists, designers, and scholars.

Give Online

Make an online gift, tribute, or memorial gift using a credit card on our secure page. 

Give By Phone

Call the Office of Advancement at 312.499.4190 to make your gift over the phone.

Give By Mail

Please make your check payable to "School of the Art Institute of Chicago," and indicate the designation of your gift in the memo line.

Please mail your check to:
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Office of Advancement
116 S. Michigan Ave., 5th floor
Chicago, IL 60603

Give Through SAIC Payroll Deduction

If you are a current member of SAIC’s faculty or staff interested in giving through payroll deductions, please contact givetosaic@saic.edu for further information.

Wire, ACH, and Stock Transfers

Wire your gift or make an automated clearing house (ACH) payment to SAIC from anywhere in the world and in any currency, subject to limits imposed by US laws and regulations. Transferring stocks is another way to make a philanthropic gift.

To donate via wire transfer, ACH, or stock transfer, please consult these instructions

Donor-Advised Funds 

Recommending a gift to SAIC through your donor-advised fund is another way to give back and diversify your philanthropy. If you are interested in discussing a gift through a donor-advised fund, please contact givetosaic@saic.edu.

Matching Gifts

Many employers match the donations made by their current and retired employees, which increases the impact of your gift to SAIC. For questions regarding matching gifts, please contact Nicki Gunderson at 312.443.8640 or museumDR@artic.edu.

Planned Giving

Planned gifts, regardless of size, play a vital role in enabling SAIC to deliver a world-class art education. Your planned gift helps provide our students with the resources, security, and freedom necessary to create, experiment, and push boundaries for generations to come. You can make a philanthropic gift to SAIC with a bequest in your will or trust, or through other planned gifts such as retirement accounts and life insurance policy beneficiary designations. To learn more about planned giving, please consult these instructions or contact givetosaic@saic.edu

Please inform the Office of Advancement if you have included SAIC in your estate plans so that we can ensure that your gift is properly designated to carry out your intentions.

Gifts In Kind

SAIC appreciates gifts in kind, such as industry equipment, library archive collections, and other materials the School would otherwise need to purchase. SAIC’s Fashion Resource Center accepts a number of publications and print materials as well as garments and accessories as gifts in kind. Please contact FRC@saic.edu to discuss potential in-kind gifts.

The Flaxman Library also accepts a very limited number of publications as gifts in kind. These typically include works by or about the School, our faculty, or alums; gifts from our teaching faculty that support the curriculum; or highly unusual materials relevant to the School's history or curriculum. Please contact flaxman@saic.edu to discuss potential gift-in-kind donations in these categories.

Questions? Contact us.

Office of Advancement
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
116 S. Michigan Ave., 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603

Email: givetosaic@saic.edu
Phone: 312.499.4190

Artwork by Joanne Lee BFA (2023)