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Giving Societies

At Illinois Tech, our giving societies serve as a way for us to recognize the philanthropy of the most engaged members of our community. Your gifts have a direct impact on our ability to provide the highest quality education and experience for our students.

Sawyier Society

The Sawyier Society recognizes the generosity of faculty and staff donors who have given $25,000 or more to Illinois Institute of Technology. Fay Sawyier, for whom the society is named, was a longtime faculty member and dedicated friend of Illinois Tech who contributed her knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for more than 20 years. She was the first faculty member to give more than $2 million to the university.

Illinois Tech Visionaries

Visionaries is a select group of generous alumni, parents, and friends who understand and value the university’s essential mission: to provide distinctive and relevant education in an environment of scientific, technological, and professional knowledge creation and innovation. Members of the Illinois Tech Visionaries promote this mission through personal, annual gifts of $1,000 or more each year. Members of the graduating classes in the last ten years qualify for recognition with a gift of $500 or more each year.

Who are Visionaries?

Visionaries transform lives through their generosity. Illinois Tech was founded in 1890 to lift up people of all backgrounds with an education that would meet the technological needs of the age.

Your Impact

Visionaries change the direction of someone's life.

Thirty-eight percent of Illinois Tech students are Pell grant-eligible, which means they demonstrate serious financial need. More than $30 million in scholarships are awarded each year to make an Illinois Tech education accessible to the best and brightest students regardless of their ability to pay.

This “need-blind†approach to admission has been Illinois Tech’s core mission since 1890, ensuring students from all economic backgrounds have access to a great education.

Without the support of Visionaries, many students would not be able to come to Illinois Tech. The fact is, these students will likely be the top earners and leaders in their respective fields, which means the impact of your gifts, your investment, multiplies exponentially.

How do I join Visionaries?

You can join Visionaries by making gifts totaling $1,000 or more to Illinois Tech each fiscal year (June 1 through May 31). There are many ways to give, and one of the easiest ways to join Visionaries is through a recurring monthly gift. Monthly giving allows you to spread your giving throughout the year, and with a recurring gift of only $84 per month, you will become a member of Visionaries. 

Senior Partner Council

The Senior Partner Council (SPC) at IIT Â鶹APP-Kent College of Law was created to honor and recognize the law school's most generous and committed donors. Each year, more than 200 SPC members contribute more than $1 million to the law school, allowing us to continue our legacy of distinctive legal education and innovation. Your gifts allow us to enhance the curriculum, expand practical learning opportunities, recruit and retain top-notch faculty, and improve the overall student experience. When you invest in Â鶹APP-Kent by joining the SPC, you equip the law school with the tools necessary to be student-centered and future-focused, preparing our students to succeed in a rapidly changing legal environment.

Recognition

Donors who contribute a total of at least $1,000 during a single fiscal year (June 1 to May 31) are recognized with membership in the SPC.

Graduates of the last 10 years are invited to join with a gift of $500 or more. All philanthropic contributions to the law school, including employer matching gifts, count toward membership in the SPC.

  • Senior Partner Council ($1,000-$2,499)
  • Amicus Circle ($2,500-$4,999)
  • Leadership Circle ($5,000-$9,999)
  • Dean's Circle ($10,000 or more)

Benefits

SPC members enjoy special recognition and benefits, including:

  • Annual reception with Dean Anita K. Krug and students
  • Annual SPC Insider Report
  • Listing as a member of the SPC in Â鶹APP-Kent's annual honor roll

Loyal Hawks

Loyal Hawks empower Illinois Tech to do the critically important work it does so well. Loyal Hawks are Illinois Tech alumni who change lives every month. They choose to give as recurring monthly donors because it's convenient and affordable, and their impact continually grows. 

What is a recurring gift?

A recurring gift is a donation of a set amount charged monthly to a credit or debit card. It's an effortless way to give what you can afford that fits your budget and schedule. Recurring gifts are dependable and ensure resources are there when Illinois Tech students, faculty, and programs need them most. Monthly giving is as easy as it is impactful.

Why should I give monthly?

A little goes a long way at Illinois Tech. When you give smaller amounts more frequently, you'll see how quickly your donations add up. And because these gifts are available immediately, they help Illinois Tech students right away.

Monthly giving also makes it possible to increase your giving to Illinois Tech in an affordable way. You can become a member of Visionaries, our leadership giving society that recognizes donors who give $1,000 or more annually, by setting up a recurring gift of only $84 per month. 

How do I sign up?

Choose the amount of your gift and direct it to the area most important to you. Your credit or debit card will be charged on either the 1st or 15th of the month—you choose. At the end of each year, we'll send you a receipt summarizing your gifts.

Your monthly donation will continue with no need to renew on your part. And, as long as your recurring gift is active, you will receive less requests for donations throughout the year.

Give a little or give a lot—you can make a big difference!

For more information about Illinois Tech Giving Societies, please contact us at annualgiving@iit.edu or 312.567.5000.