Society Level Giving

Curators Associates

Established in 1988, Curators Associates are a lifetime recognition group comprised of individuals who have given generously of their time, talents and resources.  The group assists the University Museums in its educational and cultural mission and has advanced many museum accomplishments, including building the permanent collection by adding over 600 works of art; conserving the Farm House Museum and Christian Petersen sculptures; establishing a sculpture garden; funding exhibitions and educational programs; and providing museum internships for ISU students. 

Curators Associates is a lifetime membership and may include couples and partners. Twice a year the Curators Associates meet to explore the permanent and loaned collections, tour art on campus installations, and have unique access to visiting artists and other special events.

Christian Petersen Society

Bequests and other deferred gifts qualify for membership in The Order of the Knoll's President's Circle as well.

As a member of the Christian Petersen Society, you will receive invitations to select events and art travel opportunities, and meet University Museums’ staff and guest artists.  In addition, you will receive up-to-the-minute information about University Museums, its people, and its programs.

Ann and Henry Brunnier Society

Ann Brunnier’s promised gift of art in 1961 was one of the largest gifts in Iowa State's history, with an estimated value at the time of over $50 million.  Ann Brunnier was inspired by Dr. James Hilton’s dream of the Iowa State Center as a place to learn, celebrate and commemorate through the cultural arts while transforming Iowa State to a comprehensive university. Along with Ann’s gift, Henry Brunnier gifted a major stock portfolio to build the Brunnier Art Museum in Scheman Building. Together Ann and Henry established the first campus art museum at Iowa State with a permanent collection of over 10,000 objects. 

Members of the Ann and Henry Brunnier Society demonstrate a deep commitment to University Museums through their transformational gifts. Members of the museums’ highest level of recognition have provided cumulative gifts and pledges of $1 million or more to University Museums.  Bequests and other deferred gifts, depending on the level of giving, qualify for the Order of the Knoll's Society of the True and Valiant or W.M. Beardshear Society membership as well.  As a member of this prestigious society, you will receive additional benefits offered only to donors at this level, such as invitations to select events and opportunities to interact with the University’s top officers, artists and students.

University Museums Advancement Council

The University Museums Advancement Council was established in 2014 with a mission to assist the University Museums Director and Chief Curator to:

• Raise awareness about University Museums and expand the number of Curators Associates

• Increase financial support by raising money for University Museums

• Increase the number of objects in the collection

• Assist in providing care and conservation of the collection

• Assist in providing scholarship opportunity for the intellectual expansion of the collection

• Enrich the educational opportunities and experiences for the members of the Curators Associates 

If you would like to learn more about these opportunities, please contact Sue Olson.