The Museum would like to thank the following donors for their contribution toward our goal of increasing the net impact of the MFA’s endowment:

Gifts to Support Staff Positions

Honorary Trustee Ann Gund and her husband Graham made a gift to build upon the endowment of the Ann and Graham Gund Directorship.

The Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Horowitz Foundation for the Arts made a gift to support the position of the John Singer Sargent Catalogue Raisonné Archivist to oversee the Sargent Archive, which was established at the MFA in June 2015 with a gift of letters, photographs, and sketches given by Richard Ormond and his wife Leonée, and Overseer Jan Adelson and her husband Warren.

The Linde Family Foundation endowed the Linde Family Head of Studio and Community Arts, held by Robert Worstell, who has been instrumental in the development of the Museum’s Community Arts programming.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded the Museum a grant to partially endow the Head of Asian Conservation held by Jacki Elgar. This was matched by a gift from Trustee Pamela L. Voss and her husband Peter, for whom the position was named the Pamela and Peter Voss Head of Asian Conservation.

Trustee Amy Poorvu and her husband Jonathan substantially increased the endowment of the Lia and William Poorvu Assistant Curatorship of Prints and Drawings.

The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation made a generous gift to fund the position of Charles and Lynn Schusterman Curator of Judaica, to work alongside Marietta Cambareri, the Jetskalina H. Phillips Curator of Judaica and Curator of Decorative Arts and Sculpture, Art of Europe.

Honorary Trustee Penny Vinik and her husband Jeff made a gift to endow the Penny Vinik Curator of Fashion Arts. The position is held by Michelle Finamore, the MFA’s first fashion curator.

Gifts to Support Programs and Exhibitions

Ameriprise Financial continued to support the Museum’s Fall Open House, which was held on October 10, 2016. The event offered visitors free admission and programming including a concert by an ensemble from The Boston Pops, art-making activities, and gallery tours.

Jane Anderson increased her support of the Barbara Jane Anderson Fund dedicated to the display and exhibition of contemporary art at the Museum.

Overseer Fiona Benenson and her husband James made a gift to the Museum Council Special Exhibition Fund, which will support a wide range of exhibitions across different curatorial areas and gallery spaces at the MFA.

Collectors Scott and Isabelle Black continue to support the Robert J. Boardingham Memorial Lecture Fund, which sponsors an annual lecture at the MFA about French Impressionism and Modernism.

A. Kenneth Bonanno II made a gift to the Museum Council Special Exhibition Fund.

Honorary Overseer Jane Burke and her husband Robert substantially increased the Robert and Jane Burke Fund for Exhibitions, which supported "Shinique Smith: Bright Matter," "Permission To Be Global/Prácticas Globales," and "UH-OH: Frances Stark."

Overseer Roy Burns and his wife Emily supported the Museum Council Special Exhibition Fund.

The MFA's 2016 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Open House was funded by Citizens Bank. The day offered visitors of all ages a wide variety of programs including tours of the collection, gallery talks, and art-making activities.

Vice-Chair of the Board of Overseers Peter Creighton and his wife Catherine made a gift to support the Museum's work with the community organizations in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston.

The Estate of Bettina Dalton provided the Museum with general operating support.

Overseer Sunitha Das and her husband Das Narayandas made a generous gift to establish the Das Family Fund for the Exhibition of South and Southeast Asian Art.

Overseer Azi Djazani endowed the Azi Djazani Lecture Fund to provide support for an annual lecture or course focused on the Art of the Americas.

Trustee Susan Donahue and her husband Digger continue to support the Susan and Digger Donahue Fund for the Ambassador Program. MFA Ambassadors provide on-the-spot guidance and interpretation to visitors throughout the building. The program is open to eligible work-study students at participating universities.

The Estate of Mary C. Eliot made a gift to provide the Museum with general operating support.

Former MFA Director Jan Fontein established the Jan Fontein Japanese Garden Fund to support Tenshin-en, the contemplative Japanese viewing garden located on the Museum campus. The garden, which opened in 1988, is an important complement to the MFA’s collection of Japanese art. Nippon Television Network also established an endowment to support the care and maintenance of the Japanese Garden. More recent gifts toward the endowment of the garden came from Honorary Trustee Amos Hostetter and Overseer Barbara Hostetter; Rachel Jacoff; and Sharon and Brad Malt. The Beacon Hill Garden Club also made a gift to support the care and maintenance of Tenshin-en. The renovated and rededicated Japanese Garden was unveiled in April 2015.

Dean Gekas and Sarah Biller made a gift to the Museum Council Special Exhibition Fund.

Deborah Glasser also provided support for the Museum Council Special Exhibition Fund.

Honorary Trustee Gale Guild and her husband Harry made gifts to increase the endowment of the Gale R. and Henry R. Guild, Jr. Fund, which supports the Edward S. Morse Collection and the conservation of Egyptian artifacts and American decorative arts at the MFA.

Arthur R. Hilsinger and Barbara J. Janson made a gift to support an MFA Spotlight publication on Paul Revere's Sons of Liberty Bowl and another to fund the Art Connections Activity Cards.

James G. Hinkle and Roy Hammer made a gift providing critical operating support for the Art of the Americas Department.

The Estate of John Hitchcock provided the Museum with generous operating support.

Following their support in 2015, the MFA Associates/MFA Senior Associates continued to provide funding for the Museum’s 2016 Memorial Day Open House, which offered visitors free admission and a vibrant day featuring a musical performance, art-making, and gallery tours. In 2014, the Memorial Day Open House was partially funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, along with support from the MFA Associates/MFA Senior Associates.

The Kingsbury Road Charitable Foundation made a gift to expand the Classical Studies Fund, which supports lectures and interpretive materials related to the Museum's Classical galleries and collection with a preference for K-12 students.

Mary Levin Koch and William C. Koch established the Mary Levin and William C. Koch Endowment for Sculpture Conservation to support the conservation of sculpture under the direction of the Objects Conservation Laboratory.

Rena Koopman increased her support of The Rad Smith Program in Japanese Art, which funds an annual lecture at the MFA on Japanese art, culture, and history.

The MFA received a grant from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation to fund the Kress Interpretive Fellowship in the Education Department for 2015-2016.

The Estate of Frederick M. Lawton provided the Museum with general operating support.

Alexander M. Levine and Dr. Rosemarie D. Bria-Levine made a gift to establish the Alexander M. Levine and Dr. Rosemarie D. Bria-Levine Exhibition Fund to support exhibitions and exhibition-related priorities in modern European art.

The Linde Family Foundation made a gift to expand and permanently endow the Museum’s Community Arts Initiative, a partnership with ten community organizations—including many of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston—that introduces youth aged 6 to 12 to the MFA’s collections and the art-making process.

The John and Sonia Lingos Foundation made a gift to support the restoration of a 15th-century Byzantine altarpiece from the city of Monopoli in southern Italy.

The Lowell Institute continues to support free lifelong learning programs at the Museum.

A grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council provided the MFA with general operating support.

The Estate of Elizabeth S. Maynard supported the Gallery Instructor Program and the Prints, Drawings and Photographs Department.

MFA Associates and MFA Senior Associates provided generous operating support for community engagement and open houses at the Museum.

The Estate of Margaret M. Moody provided the Museum with general operating support.

Overseer John F. O’Leary made a gift to the Museum Council Special Exhibition Fund.

Overseer Pixie Robinson and her husband Tom Lewis supported the establishment of a new endowment fund for the MFA’s Artful Healing Program, in honor of June Robinson.

Honorary Overseer Karen Rotenberg and her husband Michael made a generous gift to establish the Karen and Michael Rotenberg Fund for the Exhibition of Modern and Contemporary Jewelry.

Thomas A. Stone and Dr. Valerie M. Warrior made a gift to support the Asian section of the Art of Asia, Oceania and Africa Department.

Support for the conservation of the Japanese artist Hanabusa Itcho’s monumental scroll, The Death of the Historical Buddha (1713), came from The Sumitomo Foundation. The conservation treatment is being conducted as part of the Museum’s Conservation in Action program in Gallery 178, which allows the public to observe the work as it progresses and interact with conservators.

Overseer Terri Spoon and her husband Alan increased their support of the Terri and Alan Spoon Fund for Prints, Drawings and Photographs, which offers crucial resources to the Prints, Drawings and Photographs Department.

The Tan Family Education Foundation made a generous gift to support Chinese art at the MFA.

The Estate of William E. Teel made a gift to fund the collection, conservation, exhibition, and publication of traditional African and Oceanic art.

Overseer Craig Tevolitz and his husband Richard Baiano made a gift to support the Museum Council Special Exhibition Fund.

Honorary Trustee Rose-Marie van Otterloo and her husband Eijk made a generous gift to establish the Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Paintings Conservation Fund.

The Museum's Teen Arts Council, a leadership development program based on a paid apprenticeship model that serves to connect the MFA with Greater Boston's teens, was supported by the Yawkey Foundation, the Estate of Robert E. Schiesske, and Honorary Overseer Tricia Claudy through the Dean Welfare Trust.

Overseer Deedee Wigmore and her husband Barrie established The Deedee and Barrie A. Wigmore Fund in honor of Malcolm Rogers to provide support to the Art of the Americas Wing.

Museum Council events in the 2015-16 season were supported by Wilmington Trust, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Chloe Wine Collection.

Overseer Emi M. Winterer and her husband William made a gift to the Museum Council Special Exhibition Fund.

An anonymous donor endowed The Dr. Terry Satsuki Milhaupt Fund for Japanese Textiles to support the care and interpretation of Japanese textiles, as well as scholarly research and exhibitions.

Trustee Patti Kraft and her husband Jonathan provided generous support for the exhibition “Della Robbia: Sculpting with Color in Renaissance Florence,” which celebrates the beauty and liveliness of sculptures produced by the della Robbia family workshop. Conservation work for this exhibition was made possible by a gift from Marchesi Antinori S.p.A and funding for the catalog came from Overseer Tamara Davis and her husband Charles.

Funding for the MFA’s first exhibition of juried artworks by teens, “HOMiE: In Our Eyes,” came from John Hancock Financial, with additional support from Honorary Overseer Pam Adams and her husband Bob and Overseer Jonathan Davis and his wife Margot. The show, on view in the Bernard and Barbara Stern Shapiro Gallery until January 22, 2017, celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Museum’s Teen Arts Council and presents artwork by Boston-area high school students.

The “William Merritt Chase” exhibition and its publication were made possible with the generous support of the Terra Foundation for American Art. Additional support was provided by The Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Horowitz Foundation for the Arts. “William Merritt Chase” is organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.; the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia; and the Terra Foundation for American Art.

A forthcoming exhibition dedicated to the Polish photojournalist Henryk Ross’ photographs of the Lodz Ghetto was supported by Chair of the Board of Trustees Lisbeth Tarlow and her husband Stephen B. Kay, Overseer Marc Plonskier and his wife Heni Koenigsberg, Trustee Roberta Weiner and her husband Stephen, and the David Berg Foundation.

Generous support for the MFA’s upcoming exhibition featuring visiting masterpieces by Sandro Botticelli, Filippo Lippi, and Filippino Lippi came from an anonymous donor and The Thompson Family Foundation.

Northern Trust Corporation made a gift to support the Museum’s forthcoming show “Make Way for Ducklings: The Art of Robert McCloskey,” which celebrates the 75th anniversary of the publication of McCloskey’s beloved book.

President of the Board of Trustees David Croll and his wife Victoria and Chair of the Board of Trustees Lisbeth Tarlow and her husband Stephen B. Kay generously supported “The Idea of North: The Paintings of Lawren Harris.” The exhibition, guest curated by collector, actor, writer, and musician Steve Martin and organized by the Hammer Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario, explored the work of Canadian painter Lawren Harris alongside related works from the MFA’s own collection.

The Nancy Foss Heath and Richard B. Heath Educational, Cultural and Environmental Foundation made a gift to support the MFA's exciting "Megacities Asia" exhibition, which was on view in the Ann and Graham Gund Gallery and other Museum spaces. This exhibition represented the largest contemporary art initiative in MFA history, presenting an array of sculptures and installations from a select group of emerging Asian "megacities"—those with populations of 10 million or more. "Megacities Asia" received funding from nine additional donors and was supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Further support came from the Korea Foundation and the Dame Jillian & Dr. Arthur M. Sackler Foundation for the Arts, Sciences & Humanities.

A generous group of donors made gifts in celebration of the Fashion Council's 10th anniversary, which supported the MFA's innovative "#techstyle" exhibition. "#techstyle" explored the synergy between fashion and technology, and was sponsored by the Fashion Council and New Balance. Additional support came from The Coby Foundation, Ltd., Neiman Marcus, and the Consulate General of Israel to New England.

The Stockman Family Foundation and an anonymous donor provided support for the conservation and reinstallation of the Museum’s wooden Guanyin sculpture from Jin-dynasty China. The newly conserved sculpture was unveiled to great acclaim in the Museum’s renovated space dedicated to the art of the Song Dynasty, housed in the Paul and Helen Bernat Gallery, in February.

The Committee of Honor, comprised of 28 individual and institutional donors and co-chaired by Honorary Trustee Rose-Marie van Otterloo and Chair of the Planned Giving Committee Susan B. Weatherbie, was formed to support and celebrate the Museum's critically acclaimed exhibition, "Class Distinctions: Dutch Painting in the Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer"." The funds contributed helped secure numerous international loans and ensured the success of the show. Additional support for "Class Distinctions" came from the Robert Lehman Foundation.

Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne made a generous gift toward the Museum’s exhibition “In the Wake: Japanese Photographers Respond to 3/11,” which explored the earthquake and tsunami disasters that struck Japan in March 2011 through contemporary photography. Further support for this exhibition came from Overseer Brian J. Knez, the Ishibashi Foundation, and the Toshiba International Foundation.

Sponsorship for "Goya: Order and Disorder," the largest Goya exhibition in North America in a quarter century, was provided by Santander US and La Fundación Banco Santander. The show received critical acclaim and was enormously popular with visitors.

Honorary Overseer JoAnn McGrath and the Highland Street Foundation made a gift in support of "Goya: Order and Disorder." The Foundation also provides continued funding for Free Fun Fridays at the MFA, a program that includes free admission and offers visitors a wide range of family activities.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts provided support for the 2014 exhibition "Magna Carta: Cornerstone of Liberty," which featured a rare copy of Magna Carta on loan to the Museum from Lincoln Cathedral in England.

Toshiba sponsored "Boston Loves Impressionism," an exhibition of the MFA’s most popular works of Impressionist painting. For the first time, the Museum invited the public to choose the objects to be featured in the exhibition, which ran from February to May 2014. Fans voted for their favorite paintings from a selection of fifty paintings in the Impressionist collection, with the top thirty picks earning a spot in the show.

Unrestricted Gifts

Major donors who made unrestricted gifts to The Future Is Now include:

Honorary Trustee George D. Behrakis and his wife Margo; Heath Drury Boote; Edward Brovarski and Del Nord; Albert and Hilary Creighton; John G. Danhakl; Honorary Overseer Lynd Dolphin; Honorary Trustee Bob Doran and his wife Happy; Trustee Ronald M. Druker and his wife Julie; Elfers Family and Foundation; Carole and Chris Ely; Anne and Neil Harper in support of the Anne Yost Harper Fund; The Nancy Foss Heath and Richard B. Heath Educational, Cultural and Environmental Foundation; Bill and Cile Hicks; Anne and Blake Ireland; Nancy R. Karp; Honorary Overseer Judy Keyes and her husband Jonathan; Mary S. Kingsbery; the late Jane N. and John M. Kirkpatrick, MD; Heather W. G. Knapp and Brent M. Knapp; Trustee P. Andrews McLane and his wife Linda Harper McLane; Honorary Overseer Alyce Morrissey and her husband Robert; Honorary Overseer Joan O'Neil and her husband Gerald; Overseer Erica Gervais and her husband Ted Pappendick; Veronica and Robert Petersen; George W. and Joanne Phillips; Trustee Timothy Phillips; Trustee Samuel Plimpton and his wife Wendy Shattuck; Honorary Trustee William Pounds and his wife Helen; J. Parker Prindle; Nancy S. Raphael; John S. Reidy; the Estate of Dale A. Roberts; Overseer Christine Root and her husband David; Overseer Meryl Rose and her husband Andrew; The Susan M. Salt Trust in memory of Walter M. and Winifred C. Miller; the Estate of William E. Teel; Honorary Trustee Rose-Marie van Otterloo and her husband Eijk; Honorary Trustee Ernst von Metzsch and his wife Gail; Honorary Overseer Hansjörg Wyss; and two anonymous donors.

Gifts to Strengthen the Museum’s Balance Sheet

The Future Is Now has also generated important gifts aimed to strengthen the Museum’s balance sheet. Major donors in this category include:

Honorary Trustee and Campaign Co-Chair Barbara Alfond and her husband Ted; Barbara Jane Anderson; Trustee Edward Baker-Greene and his wife Rosalyn; Honorary Trustee George D. Behrakis and his wife Margo; Overseer Kjestine Bijur and her husband Peter; Trustee Deborah H. Bornheimer; Trustee Kevin Callaghan and his wife Julie; Honorary Trustee John F. Cogan, Jr. and his wife Mary L. Cornille; Honorary Trustee Mrs. I. W. Colburn; Trustee Howard Cox; President of the Board of Trustees David Croll and his wife Victoria; Trustee Susan Donahue and her husband Digger; Trustee Ronald M. Druker and his wife Julie; Sandra Edgerley and her husband Paul; Elfers Family and Foundation; Honorary Overseer Ellen Fallon and her husband Peter; Honorary Trustee Grace Fey and her husband Ted; Honorary Trustee Stephen Fine and his wife Ellen; Overseer David Firestone and his wife Karen; Trustee Nicholas Greville and his wife Marjorie; Honorary Trustee Martin Hale and his wife Deborah; Honorary Overseer Eloise W. Hodges and her husband Arthur; Honorary Trustee Woody Ives and his wife Elizabeth; Honorary Trustee Katherine Kirk and her husband Malcolm Gefter; Honorary Trustee Lawrence Lasser and his wife Michelle; Honorary Overseer Patricia Lawrence and her husband Robert; Trustee and Campaign Co-Chair Richard Lubin and his wife Nancy; Trustee Carl J. Martignetti; Overseer Jane Mayer and her husband Robert; Trustee P. Andrews McLane and his wife Linda Harper McLane; Honorary Trustee Sandra Moose and her husband Eric Birch; Trustee Carol Noble and her husband Davis; Trustee Timothy Phillips; Trustee Samuel Plimpton and his wife Wendy Shattuck; Cynthia and John S. Reed; Overseer Kennedy P. Richardson and his wife Susan; Honorary Overseer Rosalie Schorr and her husband Marvin; Honorary Trustee Roger Servison and his wife Kristin; Chair of the Board of Trustees Lisbeth Tarlow and her husband Stephen B. Kay; Honorary Trustee Rose-Marie van Otterloo and her husband Eijk; Honorary Overseer Anne Vernon and Jack Vernon; Honorary Trustee Penny Vinik and her husband Jeff; Trustee Pamela L. Voss and her husband Peter; the Vance Wall Foundation; Honorary Trustee Matthew A. Weatherbie and his wife Susan; Honorary Overseer Stephen G. Woodsum and his wife Anne R. Lovett; and six anonymous donors.

 

Back to final campaign update