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
Meet Carmen Briones and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Echo
Carmen Briones ‘26 (Product Design) is a President’s (Honor) List student from Cambria, Wis., president of the MIAD IDSA student chapter and an intern at SI Jacobson Manufacturing. Briones designed a device called “Echo” that removes ovarian cysts without surgery.
Meet Eeshaan Dutt and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Indra Supreme
Eeshan Dutt ‘26 (Illustration) is a President’s (Honor) List student from India and a recipient of a 2026 Alumni Thesis Award. Dutt’s work centers on visual storytelling through sequential art, where he explores how narratives can engage and connect with audiences.
Poster designs boost professional skillsets, children’s nonprofit
Continuing an annual tradition begun in 2010 at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), Illustration juniors worked with Cramer-Krasselt and Penfield Children’s Center to design posters for the center’s Annual Croquet Ball fundraiser.
MIAD Task Award: Alum pays it forward with generous mentoring
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alum Amy Cannestra ’06 (Communication Design) believes in giving back, in mentoring and in the supportive nature of the Milwaukee art and design community. By founding Task Creative and the MIAD Task Graduate Award, the incredibly busy creative exemplifies all three beliefs. The Task awardee, Ashley Osorio ’26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), will receive five consecutive days to use the Task Creative space for a project of their choosing this summer.
Meet Michaela Prischman and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Cloth
Michaela Prischman ’26 (Communication Design) is a President’s (Honor) List student from Tinley Park, Ill. She created “Cloth,” a tool to help guide young professional women to find and organize alternative work attire through a personalized style subscription box.