named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
AIGA Member Webinars
Virtual educational sessions on topics such as typography, job searching, and professional relationships, offered to members.
Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders
Program offering open house events and resources focused on the business side of design for creative professionals.
Emerging Designers’ Portfolio Review
Annual event in Troy where emerging designers receive feedback on their portfolios from experienced professionals.
Spark Mentorship Program
Connects experienced design professionals (Leaders) with emerging designers (Learners) for one-on-one mentoring relationships over a three-month period, with structured guidelines and goals.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
- Administers mentorship and student engagement programsRuns a structured three-month mentorship program connecting emerging and experienced designers with monthly meeting requirements; supports student groups at colleges and maintains student chapters at six institutions across Upstate New York.
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Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 1 activity
- Advocates for civic design through targeted eventsHosts virtual events focused on improving civic engagement design, such as a 2020 event rethinking get-out-the-vote (GOTV) campaign strategies.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Facilitates community engagement through digital and partnership platformsOperates a newsletter and a Slack workspace to connect members and share news; enables co-hosting of events and provides event access benefits to sponsors and partners to strengthen community ties.
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Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- Offers professional development and leadership resourcesProvides members with access to continuing education, virtual webinars, and leadership opportunities to advance their skills and engagement in the design field.
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Architecture and Design Public Education Programs 1 activity
- Organizes professional development events and workshopsHosts designer talks, skill-building workshops, webinars, and portfolio review events to support emerging and established designers; includes recurring annual events in Troy and virtual programming on topics such as advanced typography and the AIGA Year in Design collection.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Provides volunteer and organizational membership opportunitiesOffers volunteer roles in event staffing, communications, and outreach to students and educators; provides group membership options for organizations to collectively engage with the chapter.
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Professional Development & Advocacy for Designers 1 activity
- Supports the graphic arts profession in Upstate New YorkProvides ongoing support to the graphic arts profession through programs and services tailored to students, professionals, and advocates of communication design in the region.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Participates in national design conference programmingPlays a role in organizing and promoting the AIGA Design Conference, a national event held in Los Angeles in 2025.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$2K
Contributions & grants——
Program service revenue$2K100%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$1K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$20K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$20K
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -7.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022
Who runs it
board members · 1
- Jennifer Wilkerson — Director
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- AIGA Network — Local chapter of the national AIGA organization, participating in national programs and events.
- AIGA Network — Operates as a chapter aligned with the mission of the parent organization AIGA.
- AIGA Upstate New York Network — Local chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts serving the Upstate New York region.
- Alfred University Partner — Hosts an AIGA student chapter supported by AIGA Upstate NY.
- College of St. Rose Partner — Hosts an AIGA student chapter supported by AIGA Upstate NY.
- Disqus Partner — Technology sponsor of AIGA Upstate New York.
- Disqus Partner — Technology sponsor supporting AIGA Upstate New York programming.
- Emily Borst Partner — Spark Coordinator for the Spark Mentorship Program.
- Mailchimp Partner — Technology sponsor supporting AIGA Upstate New York programming.
- Mailchimp Partner — Technology sponsor used for email communications.
- Mohawk Valley Community College Partner — Hosts an AIGA student chapter supported by AIGA Upstate NY.
- Rochester Institute of Technology Partner — Hosts an AIGA student chapter supported by AIGA Upstate NY.
- SUNY IT Partner — Hosts an AIGA student chapter supported by AIGA Upstate NY.
- Sage College of Albany Partner — Hosts an AIGA student chapter supported by AIGA Upstate NY.
- State University of NY at Fredonia Partner — Hosts an AIGA student chapter supported by AIGA Upstate NY.
- State University of NY at Oswego Partner — Hosts an AIGA student chapter supported by AIGA Upstate NY.
- Syracuse University Partner — Hosts an AIGA student chapter supported by AIGA Upstate NY.
strategies · 5
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.
- Co-Created Programming for Deeper Engagementmethodology: co_created_programmingBy co-creating events with partners, we enable deeper engagement and higher return on investment, because collaborative design leads to more relevant and impactful programming.
- Design as Strategic Tool and Cultural Forcemethodology: design-as-strategic-toolBy advancing design as a professional craft and strategic tool, we promote ethical practice and amplify design's impact on society, because design shapes cultural narratives and systemic outcomes.
- Equity-Centered Design Conference Participationmethodology: equity-centered design conference participationBy participating in the Design in Equity Conference series, we advance inclusion in design practice, because engaging with equity-focused discourse transforms individual and institutional approaches to design justice.
- Mentorship-Based Professional Developmentmethodology: mentorship-based professional developmentBy using structured yet flexible mentoring relationships tailored to mentee goals, we support professional growth, because personalized mentorship builds confidence, skills, and network access more effectively than one-size-fits-all training.
- Student Chapter Development for Early Professional Engagementmethodology: student_chapter_developmentBy establishing student groups at educational institutions, we create pathways for early professional engagement, because immersive, community-based learning helps students understand the design profession and build identity as practitioners.