The School is part of the well-funded, distinguished Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and closely affiliated with the well-funded, distinguished Tufts University. Why do you ask for gifts at all?
The SMFA functions as an independent college, floating on its own financial bottom. The School receives no funding from either the MFA or Tufts. Such independence is invaluable, but friends of the School who value such independence must work to support it. The School relies on gifts, fundraising, events and income from a modest endowment for about 15 percent of its budget, about $3,000,000 annually. Without this 15 percent, the experience of students and faculty would be profoundly diminished. With more than 15 percent, there would be more financial aid, stronger faculty support, deeper exhibitions programming and more rapid deployment of information technology, not to mention other things such as greater reserves for facilities enhancement and special one-time projects.

Can my gift really make a difference?
Every gift buys something important, whether it is a scholarship, an easel, ink for a press or a few minutes of an advisor's time. The more people who support the School regularly, the more successfully we can ask others for support. The more money the School has, the better it gets. At the SMFA, every penny of every dollar goes to work on something that matters. Your money does not support elaborate overhead, or a large staff (this staff is one of the smallest in relation to the size of faculty and student body of any art college). It does not support one underused square foot of space. It does not even support a president's house or vehicle. It goes to work for teaching and artmaking.

How can I make a gift to the School?
Giving is easy, whether online via our secure form or by e-mailing development@smfa.edu.