irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $337KMEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT: THROUGHOUT FISCAL YEAR 2024, AIGA REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF MEMBERSHIP DUES RETURNED TO CHAPTERS FROM 15% TO 0%. AIGA IS EXPLORING OPTIONS TO RESUME FUNDING CHAPTERS FOR FY 2026. IN JANUARY 2024, AIGA GRANTED EACH CHAPTER THE OPTION TO SET THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL CHAPTER DUES RATES. FOR CHAPTERS THAT OPTED IN, AIGA COLLECTS AND RETURNS THOSE FUNDS TO EACH RESPECTIVE CHAPTER, LESS A 3% CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEE. CHAPTER DUES ARE USED TO FUND LOCAL EVENTS WITH INVITED SPEAKERS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, EXHIBITIONS AND ACTIVITIES TO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL PROFESSIONAL DESIGN COMMUNITY. CHAPTERS ARE RUN BY VOLUNTEER BOARDS AND ADD TO THE VITALITY OF THE ORGANIZATION BY PROVIDING OCCASIONS FOR NETWORKING AND CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
- #2 $4KPUBLISHING: AIGA'S PUBLICATIONS PROVIDE A CRITICAL FORUM FOR INTELLECTUAL ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN AND THE PROFESSION. NUMEROUS RESOURCES ARE PROVIDED ON THE WEBSITE AS PART OF AIGA'S AUTHORITATIVE VOICE ON PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
365: AIGA Year in Design
National design competition showcasing excellence in design, open to submissions from professionals and students.
AIGA Design Conference
National conference convening over 1,300 designers annually for immersive exploration of design’s future, offered in-person and online.
AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarships
Annual scholarship program supporting talented students committed to social change, environmental responsibility, and cultural awareness through design.
Design Educators Community (DEC)
Supports design educators through conferences, peer-reviewed publications (Dialectic and Dialogue), and research grants to enhance design education and practice.
Eye on Design
Digital publication covering leading designers and critical issues in the design industry, including business, law, and professional development.
Membership and Chapter Development
Supports local AIGA chapters run by volunteer boards, enabling networking, professional development, exhibitions, and community-building events for designers. AIGA collects and redistributes chapter dues (less a 3% processing fee) to fund local programming.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Design and Architecture Education Support 2 activities
- Administering design scholarshipsFunds and administers the AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship Program and other scholarship initiatives to support underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students studying design, illustration, and photography in U.S. colleges and universities.
- Supporting design education and educatorsProvides support and resources for design educators at undergraduate and post-graduate levels through the Design Educators Community, including conferences, grant programs, and freely available conference proceedings and research.
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Artist and Curatorial Publications 2 activities
- Producing design journals and exhibitionsDevelops journals, exhibitions, and publications to promote design standards, innovation, and critical discourse within the design profession and the public.
- Publishing design media and digital contentPublishes Eye on Design digital publications and journals such as Dialectic and Dialogue, and produces podcasts and webinars to share exemplary design work, critical issues, and research in the field.
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Arts Professional Advocacy & Equity Initiatives 1 activity
- Advocacy for design recognition and equityAdvocates for the recognition of design and designers in government, business, and media, and supports initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in design education, discourse, and practice. Also advances civic participation through the Design for Democracy Initiative.
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Artist Legacy Preservation and Documentation 1 activity
- Curating and preserving design archivesIdentifies, preserves, and provides access to works of enduring value through the AIGA Archives and Special Collections, supporting research and historical understanding in the design field.
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Photography and Creative Arts Competitions 1 activity
- Hosting design events and competitionsOrganizes and hosts major design events including the AIGA Design Conference, Design + Business Conference, Portfolio Festival, and the 365: AIGA Year in Design competition, along with managing the 50 Books/50 Covers competition. These events serve thousands of designers annually and include exhibitions, portfolio reviews, and networking opportunities.
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Regional Chapter Network Support 1 activity
- Operating a national network of local chaptersOperates a national network of more than 70 chapters that provide regionally tailored programming and services to over 15,000 members, strengthening local professional design communities through events, networking, and professional development funded by chapter dues.
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Professional Development & Advocacy for Designers 1 activity
- Professional development and leadership programsOffers learning opportunities, webinars, volunteer leadership roles, and resources for career advancement and leadership development for designers at all career stages, including through membership programs, community engagement, and national training events.
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Professional Job Board & Career Placement Services 1 activity
- Providing job and career support servicesOffers a job alert service that delivers customized design job opportunities to subscribers and provides career development tools, resources, and guides to help designers strategically plan and grow their careers.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Providing business and legal resources for designersOffers business planning tools, contracts, legal guides, and partnerships with companies like FreshBooks to support freelance and in-house designers in managing their professional practice.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$3.28M
Contributions & grants$331K10%
Program service revenue$2.86M87%
Investment income$42K1%
Other revenue$49K
expenses
Total expenses$2.90M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$927K
Grants paid out$36K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.71M
Cash$854K
Investments$0
Liabilities$843K
Net assets$867K
Liquid reserves3.5 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -1.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN D KIELL | SR. DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP | 40 | $133K |
| DANIEL PEREZ | CONTROLLER | 40 | $122K |
| TIIA V SCHURIG | DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL OPERATIONS | 40 | $104K |
board members · 21
- ALEXSEY FEDEROV — DIRECTOR
- ANNA THOMSEN — DIRECTOR (TO JUN '24)
- CESAR RIVERA — PRESIDENT
- DAWN DAVIDSON — SECRETARY
- EILEEN PRADO — DIRECTOR (TO JUN '24)
- ELISE ROY — DIRECTOR (TO JUN '24)
- H ART TAYLOR — TREASURER
- ISAIAH STEINFELD — DIRECTOR (TO JUN '24)
- JENNIFER FORD — DIRECTOR
- LAMA AJINAH — DIRECTOR (FROM JUN '24)
- LAUREN YANKO — PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL CHAIR
- MANUHUIA BARCHAM — PRESIDENT (TO JUN '24)
- NICOLE PARENTE-LOPEZ — DIRECTOR (FROM JUN '24)
- OEN HAMMONDS — DIRECTOR (TO JUN '24)
- RACHEL ELNAR — DIRECTOR
- REGGIE TIDWELL — DIRECTOR
- RICHARD SHANKS — DIRECTOR (FROM JUN '24)
- STEVE MEZZIO — DIRECTOR (FROM JUN '24)
- TERENCE HOBSON — DIRECTOR (FROM JUN '24)
- VICTOR DAVILA — DIRECTOR
- XOUCHEE MOUA — DIRECTOR (TO JUN '24)
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- 70 chapters Network — Local chapters forming a nationwide network serving designers, educators, students, and design enthusiasts.
- AIGA Board Partner — Presidents Council Chair serves as an ex-officio voting member of the AIGA Board.
- Design Educators Community Partner — Provides leadership and support to the Design Educators Community for advancing design education.
- Design History Society Partner — Partners with the Design History Society for the Latino Design Histories Series.
- Eye on Design Partner — Collaborates on award-winning digital and print publications covering prominent designers and critical issues in design.
- FreshBooks Partner — Collaborates with FreshBooks to support creative entrepreneurs with business tools and resources.
- Human Rights Foundation Partner — Employer of board member Ying Zhang, indicating cross-sector affiliation and potential collaboration.
- IBM Partner — Recognized IBM as the 2025 Outstanding Corporate Leader for its contributions to design leadership.
- LinkedIn Partner — Platform for sharing job opportunities and professional engagement.
- National Partner Program Partner — Collaborates with national partners to support programs and initiatives.
- Oracle Cloud Applications Partner — Employer of board member Aylin Uysal, indicating corporate affiliation and potential collaboration.
- Presidents Council Coalition — Coalition of active chapter presidents that connects local chapter leadership with national AIGA governance and staff.
- Society of Design Arts Partner — Co-hosts the Latino Design Histories Series with the Society of Design Arts to promote Latin American contributions to design.
- Stevenson University Partner — Partners with Stevenson University for the Latino Design Histories Series.
- University of Central Florida Partner — Employer of board member Victor Davila, indicating institutional affiliation and potential collaboration.
- University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Partner — Employer of board member Jennifer Ford, indicating institutional affiliation and potential collaboration.
- University of North Texas Partner — Employer of board member Omari Souza, indicating institutional affiliation and potential collaboration.
- Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre Partner — Collaborates with the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre on the Latino Design Histories Series.
- Web Scribble Solutions, Inc. Partner — Technology partner powering the job board platform for designcareers.aiga.org.
- Worldstudio Partner — Co-sponsors the AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship Program to support diverse design students.
- Worldstudio Partner — Collaborates on the AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships program supporting underrepresented and economically disadvantaged design students
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Advancing Inclusive Professional Standardsmethodology: diversity-equity-inclusionBy disseminating professional standards and advocating for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, AIGA transforms the design field because authoritative, equitable frameworks reshape industry norms and expand access to the profession.
- Design Thinking for Civic and Professional Systemsmethodology: design-thinking for civic engagementBy applying design thinking to civic challenges and career development, AIGA fosters public engagement and professional agency because structured, human-centered design processes improve outcomes in both democratic and individual contexts.
- Design as Strategic Leveragemethodology: design-as-strategyBy positioning design as a strategic function rather than a technical service, AIGA elevates its role in business and society, thereby increasing the profession’s impact and influence because strategic design drives innovation and decision-making.
- Member-Led and Peer-Governed Networkmethodology: peer-led governance mentorshipBy using federated governance with member-elected boards, peer mentorship, and member-led committees, AIGA sustains organizational continuity and relevance because lived experience and grassroots leadership produce more resilient and accountable professional communities.