The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art will get a financial a boost for generations to come, thanks to a $2 million gift from an anonymous donor — a contribution that moves the museum closer to its $12 million endowment goal.

“Words cannot express how grateful we are,” said Jill Hartz, the museum’s executive director. “A gift of this magnitude is so inspiring. And it’s special for two reasons. First, as an endowed gift, it will continue to have a positive impact every year, in perpetuity.”

The museum’s top fundraising priority (part of the universitywide $2 billion campaign) is to create a $12 million endowment. This financial foundation will provide stability during economic downturns, enable long-term planning and make it easier to write successful grants, Hartz said.

The second reason the gift is so special? The museum director decides how and when to spend the money.

“This is a rare and wonderful philanthropic purpose,” Hartz said. “I think every dean and director appreciates the flexibility of discretionary funds and the vote of confidence they represent.”

This new resource could be used for many different purposes, Hartz said. For example, the fund could purchase new art works that unexpectedly come on the market. Or it could be used to conserve works from the museum’s vast collections, making it possible to showcase pieces that require some work before they can be displayed. Other possibilities include funding national publicity for major exhibitions or bringing guest curators to campus.

“We’ll be able to do great things that we couldn’t otherwise do. We can allocate the funding where it is most useful. This crucial resource will enable me to apply dollars where there is the greatest need, the timeliest opportunity, and the greatest potential for leverage,” Hartz said.

“In very tangible ways, this will help us advance the university’s academic mission and promote the appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts, for the university as well as Oregon communities.”

One of six Oregon museums accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is a premier Pacific Northwest visual arts center, featuring engaging exhibitions, significant collections of historic and contemporary art and exciting educational programs that support the university’s academic mission and the diverse interests of its off-campus communities.

The museum’s collections galleries present selections from its extensive holdings of Orthodox icons and Chinese, Japanese, Korean and American art. Special exhibitions galleries display works from the collection and on loan, representing many cultures of the world, past and present.

—By Ed Dorsch, University Communications