Your gift to the Friends of the Mead ensures the success of our educational goals as well as the programs that serve college students and the broader public.

Donate now to become a Friend of the Mead

Why become a Friend of the Mead?

Each year, donations from Mead supporters comprise a significant portion of the museum’s budget, and directly enable some of our most vital work. It reminds us why we work so hard to create exciting, multifaceted, accessible programming for all ages, not only meeting the College’s educational mission but providing innumerable opportunities for our larger community to connect with art. Like everyone, we have to lean on our Friends from time to time; we’re so grateful for your support, which creates so many possibilities at the Mead.

How do I become a Friend?

To join our Friends of the Mead circle, you can:

  • Donate online via the College’s secure webpage
  • Donate by phone by calling 1-866-542-GIFT (4438)
  • Donate by mail by writing a check (payable to “Trustees of Amherst College”) and sending it to:

Friends of the Mead Art Museum, AC 2228
Amherst College, P.O. Box 5000
Amherst, MA 01002-5000

Is there a minimum amount I need to donate to become a Friend?

No! We deeply appreciate each and every contribution, and any amount helps.

In the past, donors have shared what they can along the following tiers, inspired by the Mead’s 1949 founding:

1949 Society

$19.49

Rotherwas Society

$194.90

Director’s Circle

$1,949

21st Century Mead

$5,0000

What does my donation support?

Your gift to the Friends of the Mead ensures the success of our educational goals as well as the programs that serve college students and the broader public. The Friends support:

  • Our Student Museum Educator (SME) program that offers Amherst College students paid, hands-on experience and training in museum education through collaboration with local K-12 schools
  • Student-centered initiatives like the Black Art Matters Festival and dedicated courses which celebrate the growing diversity of Amherst College
  • Enhanced accessibility measures and staff training to ensure the Mead is a space where everyone can engage with the arts
  • Acquisitions of stellar artworks by artists from around the globe that help our collection better reflect our student and local populations
  • Compelling exhibitions of national and international acclaim
  • Partnerships with guest curators who expand the scope of our programs and exhibitions, such as Hilton Als’ God Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin and our work with Dr. Heid E. Erdrich on Boundless (opening Fall 2023)

This is just the tip of the iceberg, and you can discover more about what goes on at the Mead by browsing our Annual Reports. We hope you will be inspired to join the Friends of the Mead, renew your membership, or increase your impact.

Thank you for all your generosity and for all of your friendship.

The Mead Art Museum is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Donate now to become a Friend of the Mead