Maxwell-Hanrahan $20M to RISD expands faculty funding, scholarships, and interdisciplinary programs

The Rhode Island School of Design in Providence has announced a record $20 million award from the Maxwell-Hanrahan Foundation to establish student scholarship and faculty position funds. The endowment will support eight full-tuition undergraduate scholarships, two endowed faculty positions, and a rotating global residency for artists, designers, architects, and scholars. The initiative aims to expand student access, deepen global and cultural perspectives in the curriculum, and strengthen interdisciplinary teaching across studio and liberal arts programs. The award also supports long-term integration of global art traditions and sustainability-focused creative practice, with lasting impact on how art and design are taught.