Legacy Giving

A planned gift – from a will, trust, life insurance or other means – offers a flexible and often tax beneficial way to impact our future creative leaders.
How to plan your gift
Bequests
With a simple bequest, you can make a significant gift to benefit MIAD students today and in the future. A bequest is a gift made through your will or trust. It is one of the most flexible ways that you can support MIAD, and may lessen the burden of taxes on your family.
See our Guide to Making a Bequest for more details on types of bequests, how to make a bequest and more. To make a bequest, we encourage you to speak with your attorney and/or financial advisor.
Beneficiary designations
Not everyone wants to commit to making a gift in their will or estate. Some prefer the increased flexibility that a beneficiary designation provides by using:
- IRAs and retirement plans
- Life insurance policies
- Commercial annuities
To name MIAD as a beneficiary, follow these three simple steps:
- Contact your plan/policy administrator or financial institution for a change-of-beneficiary form.
- Decide what percentage (1 to 100) you would like MIAD to receive and name us, along with the percentage you chose, on the beneficiary form.
- Return the completed form to your plan administrator, insurance company, bank or financial institution and return a copy to MIAD’s Advancement Office.
Memorials and tribute gifts
Establishing a memorial or tribute gift is a meaningful way to honor your loved one or to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary while supporting excellence in art and design education and making a difference in the lives of our students.
To make a memorial or tribute gift, fill out our online form (select Memorial/Tribute Gift), or contact us for more details.
More information
For assistance with making a planned gift, contact the MIAD Institutional Advancement Office. Additionally, if you have already included MIAD in your estate plan, please notify the MIAD Institutional Advancement Office. While this notification is not obligatory, it can help us to understand your wishes so we can use your gift as intended, as well as help MIAD plan for the future.
The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes include federal taxes only. State income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.
MIAD is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Gifts may be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. If you have any questions about contributing to MIAD, please contact us.
News
MIAD students receive 2023 Graphic Design Awards from GDUSA
Three MIAD Communication Design students received 60th anniversary American Graphic Design Awards from Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) magazine. The students were selected from over 8,000 entries, and judged alongside professional design work. Fewer than 10% of entrants received an award.
IAD seniors tour construction site of The Couture
Interior Architecture and Design (IAD) seniors from MIAD were taken to new heights on November 13 when they toured the construction site of The Couture, a 44-story skyscraper under construction that will be Milwaukee’s tallest residential and mixed-use building. The tour was part of a series of tours their senior thesis “Building Systems” class is taking with instructor Dan Kalkman, AIA.
MIAD alum Sajnani selected as MAM 2023 annual ornament designer
The Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) selected the design of MIAD alum Debbie Sajnani ’16 (Communication Design) for its 2023 annual ornament. The ornaments are recreated each year by artisans using a reserve painting technique, according to MAM.
Ornament Trail features MIAD alumni, faculty, students
For decades, Milwaukee has hosted an annual Holiday Lights Festival. To commemorate the festival’s 25th anniversary, Milwaukee Downtown will also host the new Ornament Trail this year. Five Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alumni and one instructor, who teamed up with both students and alumni, produced giant ornaments for the event.
MIAD Values Recognition Award: Sarah Eichhorn
Sarah Eichhorn, Visiting Instructor of Fashion and Apparel Design, received the October 2023 MIAD Values Recognition Award at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). Eichhorn’s nominations speak to her Kindness, Inclusiveness, Innovation and support of MIAD’s Community.