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Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design Inc

EIN 39-1201561 · Milwaukee, WI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MILWAUKEE INSTITUTE OF ART AND DESIGN'S MISSION IS TO IGNITE CURIOUS MINDS THROUGH ART, DESIGN AND SERVICE. WE VALUE COURAGE TO SEEK OUR OWN PATH, INTEGRITY TO PURSUE OUR LIVES AND WORK WITH MEANING, KINDNESS TO THOUGHTFULLY ENGAGE WITH OTHERS, COMMUNITY TO POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORLD AROUND US, INNOVATION TO MEET UNIVERSAL CHALLENGES IN NEW WAYS, AND INCLUSION TO FIND STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY. OUR VISION IS TO BE A GALVANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND CREATIVE COMMUNITY, ADDRESSING UNIVERSAL NEEDS THROUGH OUR THOUGHT, DESIGN AND EXPRESSION.

Income
$40.2 million
Spending
$39.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
570
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$320,552, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 57 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $33.8 million spent. AS WISCONSIN'S ONLY FOUR-YEAR, NONPROFIT COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN, THE MILWAUKEE INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGN (MIAD) WAS FOUNDED IN 1974 AND OFFERS A BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS DEGREE ACCREDITED BY THE HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF ART AND DESIGN. THE COLLEGE ENROLLS APPROXIMATELY 850 STUDENTS IN SEVEN MAJORS: COMMUNICATION DESIGN, FASHION AND APPAREL DESIGN, FINE ART + NEW STUDIO PRACTICE, ILLUSTRATION (GENERAL AND ANIMATION TRACK), INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN AND PRODUCT DESIGN. MIAD ENGAGES ALL STUDENTS IN A SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM WITH 200+ NONPROFIT PARTNERS AND THE COLLEGE CONNECTS STUDENTS TO INDUSTRY LEADERS AND HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR FIELD THROUGH THE MIAD LUBAR INNOVATION CENTER AND SPONSORED CURRICULUM PROJECTS. MIAD'S LIVING ROOM, COMMUNITY CLOSET AND PEOPLE'S PANTRY SUPPORT OUR STUDENT BODY WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO THRIVE. SEVERAL OF MIAD'S DESIGN AND SCREEN-BASED MAJORS RANK AMONG THE TOP PROGRAMS NATIONALLY AND REGIONALLY. GRAPHIC DESIGN USA NAMED MIAD A TOP DESIGN SCHOOL IN 2024, AND ANIMATION CAREER REVIEW RANKED MIAD'S COMMUNICATION DESIGN MAJOR THE TOP PROGRAM IN WISCONSIN IN 2024. IT RANKS AMONG THE TOP 15 IN THE MIDWEST, AND THE TOP 25 PRIVATE COLLEGES OFFERING THE BFA IN GRAPHIC DESIGN NATIONALLY. SIMILARLY, MIAD'S ILLUSTRATION MAJOR WAS NAMED BY ANIMATION CAREER REVIEW IN THE TOP 5 IN THE MIDWEST IN 2025. MIAD'S ANIMATION TRACK, A SIBLING PROGRAM TO ILLUSTRATION, WAS NAMED THE TOP PROGRAM IN WISCONSIN BY ANIMATION CAREER REVIEW IN 2025. ANIMATION TRACK IN ILLUSTRATION FURTHERS THE REACH OF GRADUATES IN THE INDUSTRY.IN ADDITION TO BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAMS, MIAD BRINGS ROBUST CAREER PATHWAYS AND COLLEGE-READINESS EXPERIENCES AND INTERNSHIPS TO HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH, AND OFFERS CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND PROGRAMMING TO THE GREATER MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1974.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.