While the Iowa State University budget supports the University Museums' administrative expenses, private dollars and government grants fund the museums' education programs, exhibitions, conservation, scholarship, student internships, publications, and special projects. University Museums' success depends on the generosity of our many devoted donors.

All donors to University Museums are considered members for the fiscal year in which their gift was made. Cumulative giving, bequests, and other deferred gifts qualify for potential inclusion in University Museums recognition societies, detailed below.

Give to the Fund for Excellence

The University Museums Fund for Excellence accepts contributions of any amount for operating support to maintain the current activities of the museums, including exhibitions, educational programs, conservation, collection management, and special events.

Levels of Giving

Our museum’s donor giving levels offer meaningful ways to support exhibitions, collections, and student engagement while providing recognition and benefits aligned with your level of contribution.

Annual giving of $50 to $14,999

Annual members play a critical role in sustaining the ongoing success of University Museums. Your continued support helps fund exhibitions, preserve collections, and expand educational programming that benefits the entire community.

Membership Benefits:

  • Exclusive invitations to museum receptions and exhibition openings
  • Access to special events, artist talks, and educational lectures
  • Weekly email updates featuring exhibitions, collections highlights, and upcoming programs
  • A 10% discount on University Museums publications and select materials

Become an annual member and enjoy insider access, while supporting the arts, culture, and learning all year long.

Gifting of $15,000 to $34,999 over three years

Established in 1988, the Curators Associates play a transformative role in the growth and preservation of its collections and programs. Through their support, members have helped shape the Museums' legacy, expanding access to art, safeguarding cultural assets, and enriching educational opportunities for future generations.

Their impact includes adding more than 600 works to the permanent collection, conserving the historic Farm House Museum, preserving the sculptures of Christian Petersen, developing a campus sculpture garden, and funding exhibitions, internships, and educational initiatives.

Additional Benefits (including all previous membership levels):

  • Opportunities to participate in the University Museums Advancement Council
  • Exclusive art-focused travel experiences and behind-the-scenes cultural access

Join the Curators Associates and become part of a community dedicated to advancing art, education, and cultural preservation.

Cumulative giving of $35,000 to $99,999

Christian Petersen sculpted and taught at Iowa State University from 1934 through 1955 and is considered the founder of the Art on Campus Collection.

Today, University Museums continues to preserve and celebrate Petersen's legacy through exhibitions, conservation efforts, and educational programs that bring art into the heart of the Iowa State University experience.

Additional Benefits (including all previous membership levels):

  • Exclusive invitations to meet artists and attend special events

Join the Christian Petersen Society and help sustain a lasting tradition of public art, education, and cultural enrichment.

Cumulative giving of $100,000 to $499,999

Iowa State University is home to one of the largest campus public art programs in the United States. Over 2,500 public works of art make up the Art on Campus Collection, located across campus, in buildings, courtyards, open spaces, and classrooms. The Art on Campus Collection and Program, formalized in 1980, includes acquisition, care and maintenance, scholarship, and educational programming.

Additional Benefits (including all previous membership levels):

  • Opportunities to participate in Collection Advocates Committee
  • Invitations to previews, dedications, and behind-the-scenes tours of the Art on Campus Collection
  • Invitations to meet conservators who care for the collection, curators, and campus public art committees who commission the Art on Campus Collection
  • Art travel opportunities to tour cultural destinations including art galleries, museums, historic landmarks, and homes of major art collectors

Cumulative giving of $500,000 to $999,999

The Radical Imagination society supports visionary thinkers and trailblazing individuals. The ones that see opportunity amidst obstacles, and possibility in spite of complex challenges. Members are part of a dynamic community that values creativity and bold ideas. Rooted in Iowa State's land-grant mission, this community values collaboration and real-world impact.

Through curated experiences, members engage directly with artists, collectors, and university leaders in environments designed to spark creativity, dialogue, and innovation.

Additional Benefits (including all previous membership levels):

  • Attend select events and engage with Iowa State University leaders, artists, and ISU students in meaningful settings
  • Opportunities to share your perspective by reviewing potential art acquisitions for inclusion in the ISU Art on Campus program
  • Connect and network with collectors, donors, artists, historians, and museum professionals
  • Enjoy preferred access when reserving museum spaces for private or professional events.

Cumulative giving of $1 million+

University Museums began with a single gift. Ann Brunnier's 1961 gift of art was one of the largest to Iowa State University and was the catalyst for who we are today. Worth over $50 million at the time, Ann was inspired by then ISU President James J. Hilton's vision to learn, celebrate, and commemorate through cultural arts. Her legacy of collaboration and innovation lives on today through the Ann & Henry Brunnier Society.

Members of the Ann and Henry Brunnier Society represent the highest level of philanthropic leadership within University Museums. Their cumulative gifts and pledges of $1 million or more reflect a deep commitment to advancing the arts at Iowa State University, providing long-term access to cultural resources for future generation. Their lasting investment to creativity, education, and cultural leadership at ISU ensures the arts remain an inspiring force.

Priority Areas and Funds

Want to support something specific or learn our greatest needs? Our designated funds and case statements outline priorities across acquisitions, student internships, collections care and storage, exhibitions, educational programs and capital projects such as the Anderson Sculpture Garden expansion. Many include specific dollar-amount needs. Gifts can also support emerging priorities when directed to the Fund for Excellence.

Giving Priorities and Funds

Corporate Support and Sponsorship

Sponsorship connects your organization to Iowa State's cultural life and to the 35,000+ students, faculty and staff. We connect support to the right opportunity: exhibitions, educational programs and special events such as receptions and lectures. Recognition scales with level of support, and sponsors can arrange private tours or facility rentals for employee or client engagement. Contact us to brainstorm.

Questions?

Contact the Iowa State University Foundation or the University Museums staff.

Make a difference.

Additional Ways to Give

  • 30,000

    art and cultural objects have been added to the permanent collection from generous donors

Supporting University Museums isn't limited to a financial gift. Many of our donors contribute in ways that feel right for them, through planned giving, in-kind donations of goods or services, or by donating artwork and cultural objects. Every form of support helps advance our mission to preserve, share, and teach through the arts. Your contribution, in any form, is valued and appreciated.

Planned Giving

Including University Museums in your estate plans creates a lasting legacy and helps preserve our collections for future audiences. You can name University Museums as a beneficiary through a will or living trust, charitable gift annuity, pooled income fund or charitable remainder trust. The Iowa State University Foundation can work with you and your financial advisors to tailor a gift that fits your goals, including arrangements that provide income to you or your beneficiaries and may offer tax advantages. Contact the Foundation or your financial or legal advisor to begin.

Donate Art and Cultural Objects

Gifts of art and cultural objects grow the permanent collection and broaden public access for teaching, research and exhibitions. We accept paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, decorative arts, glass, ceramics, mixed media and historical objects. All proposed gifts are reviewed against our mission, collecting priorities and stewardship standards, and may offer tax benefits (consult your financial advisor). Contact University Museums to discuss your gift and current collecting priorities.

In-Kind Donations

In-kind gifts of goods and services support exhibitions, education and public access across all five University Museums entities. Common contributions include event refreshments (restrictions apply), technology and supplies. Each proposed gift is reviewed to ensure it meets operational and mission-based priorities, and donors receive recognition for their contribution. Contact University Museums staff to discuss current programming needs.

Make your gift today.

Your donation directly supports art, learning, and collaboration.

Gifts to University Museums are securely made through the ISU Foundation. Your donation will be processed by the ISU Foundation and sent directly to the area you designate. A one-time administrative fee of 5% is applied to contributions to help cover the cost of fundraising and stewardship for Iowa State University.