Founders' Council

You can continue the legacy of the Field Museum’s founders.

Your gift’s impact

Join Chicago's most active civic leaders in supporting the Field Museum as a Founders’ Council supporter. The Founders’ Council welcomes annual donors who give $2,500 or more.

Your generosity is an investment in preserving and studying the natural world for generations to come. You help our staff study and care for our collection of 40 million objects and specimens and access technologies that illuminate the mysteries of our planet. Gifts from Founders’ Council donors make it possible for our scientists to travel the globe and conduct fieldwork, all in pursuit of conservation and cultural understanding. You enable us to create innovative exhibitions and public learning programs to inspire all ages.

When you join the Founders’ Council, you become part of a community of passionate, civic-minded peers invested in our shared future—both for the Field and our planet.


Founders’ Council events

As part of our Founders’ Council, you’ll enjoy behind-the-scenes access to our collections and the scientists who study them. Plus, receive invitations for exclusive online and in-museum events. From learning about taxidermy techniques to fossil hunting, each event connects you with our scientists and passionate civic-minded peers invested in the future of the Museum.  Missed a virtual event? Founders’ Council donors enjoy access to all previously broadcasted presentations. Email us at founderscouncil@fieldmuseum.org for help accessing the full library.

Concierge service

Founders' Council members have access to an exclusive concierge line. Contact us at 312.665.7773 or founderscouncil@fieldmuseum.org for help with coordinating tickets and building your visit itinerary for a day at the Field. At least 48 hours notice is required. This service is not available for large events.

Donor levels

All Founders’ Council donors get the privileges of Museum membership. Additional opportunities are available at various gift amounts.

GiftAdditional Opportunities
Member:
$2,500–$4,999
  •  Invitation to exclusive in-person and virtual experiences featuring Field Museum scientists and scholars
  •  All-access Field Museum visits throughout the year and an annual highlights tour for groups of up to ten*
  •  Invitation to new exhibition previews*
  • Special Founders’ Council communications, including a subscriptions to our weekly eNews and quarterly publication of In The Field
  •  Recognition in Stanley Field Hall and in the Museum’s Annual Report
  • Concierge service to navigate tickets, parking, and a personalized itinerary (48 hour notice required)
Surveyor:
$5,000–$9,999		All of the above, plus:
  • Invitation to behind-the-scenes hard-hat tour of upcoming exhibitions*
  •  Guided behind-the-scenes tours with a Field Museum scientist or scholar through restricted areas in the Museum*
  • Premier seating at select events*
Conservator:
$10,000–$24,999		All of the above, plus:
  • Invitation to the annual Field Forward Symposium featuring Field Museum scholars and community leaders from Chicago and around the world
  • Invitation to unpack and catalog items following scientific trips in the field*
  • Private curator-led tour through an exhibition of your choice
  • First access to domestic trips led by Museum scholars
Chairman's Circle:
$25,000+		All of the above, plus:
  • Invitation to select opportunities with our Board of Trustees and select science committees
  • Invitation to lunch with the Museum’s President and CEO*
  • Opportunity to join a Museum scholar on an international trip*

*Subject to health and safety regulations and Museum limitations

Founders' Council Leadership 

  • Ryan Ruskin, Co-Chair
  • Margie Stineman, Co-Chair
  • Kevin Stineman, Co-Chair

Questions

As a Founders’ Council supporter, you’re ensuring the future of the Field Museum. Contact us at founderscouncil@fieldmuseum.org or 312.665.7773.