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Why Give
Why Give
Gifts from alums, parents, faculty, staff, and friends play an essential role in our ability to foster an environment where students can develop versatile, human-centered skills in creative work and critical thinking. Scholarships, internships, pre-college programming, and post-graduation support all fuel our students as they synthesize the range of skills and knowledge they acquire here into their own unique creative and professional practice – and your philanthropy makes all of that possible.
When you give to scholarships and invest in students’ future outcomes at SAIC, you join us in removing barriers to access, meet students’ needs, and limit the burden of debt for our graduates.
In 2025-26, we:
- Distributed $6.49 million in scholarships
- Received gifts from 1,694 generous donors
- Raised a total of $8.6 million to support our work and our students
Your Impact
Celebrating First-Generation Students
“The most supportive aspect of my experience at SAIC has been the First-Generation Fellows program. When I applied to SAIC I was 28 years old, and by the time I started classes I was just shy of turning 30. I was anxious about what it would mean to be committing to school at this age. The First-Gen program connected me to peers that were also returning to school after decades, as well as an amazing pair of mentors.” —Natalia Yarbrough (BFA 2026)
Opening Doors through Scholarships
"The scholarship introduced me to a whole new career path. SAIC doesn't want you to just check all the boxes—they push you to think bigger. It was so encouraging to design with freedom, to create something that wasn't just functional but truly meaningful." —Scholarship Recipient Cassandra Supak
Contributing to Culture
“An arts community makes for a more thriving metropolis. Period. It contributes to the economy. It contributes to the community’s mental health. It contributes to the culture’s vitality. We want [to do] anything and everything we can to support that community.” —Denise Gardner, Member of the Board of Trustees
Supporting Student Success
“Internships provide practical experience and first-hand insight, which can be difficult to get in classroom environments where the subject matter can be more theoretical. It can also be a great way to get your foot in the door. I wouldn't have been able to accept the internship [at Kavi Gupta Gallery] without the stipend SAIC provided.” —Riley Gunderson (BFA)
“SAIC students are exceptional. For all the teaching I do, I feel like I learn just as much from our students.”
– Associate Professor Oli Watt supports scholarships
“SAIC has gone above and beyond to help my daughter graduate. I appreciate all the support she received.”
– Lisa Foy, parent of 2022 graduate, supports the Fund for SAIC
“SAIC, more than any other school I’ve had experience with, understands and respects mental and emotional wellness. I’m donating to support student wellness.”
– Francesca Gagliano (MFA 2011) supports the Wellness Fund
“We believe that the arts are able to make this world a more human place and can be the catalyst for needed changes. We want to help, through scholarships to make art education for everyone who wants to pursue it—not just for those with means to do so!”
– Jeanne and Robert Petrick, friends of SAIC, support scholarships
Your support gives students access to the resources they need to grow as artists, designers, and scholars. Learn more about ways to give.
Questions? Contact SAIC’s Office of Advancement at givetosaic@saic.edu or 312.499.4190.