Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah College of Art and Design was established in 1978 by Paula Wallace and Richard Rowan. The institution operates as a private art and design university with no external wealth creator disclosed. The endowment holds direct positions in commercial, mixed-use, and residential real estate across Savannah and Atlanta. Confirmed holdings include Poetter Hall, the SCAD Savannah Campus parcels, the SCAD Atlanta Campus, and the SCAD Lacoste Campus in France. The SCADpro Fund has taken limited partner positions in FilmHedge and previously owned Liist. Additional assets encompass the SCAD Museum of Art permanent collection of more than 4,500 works and the Walter and Linda Evans Collection of African American Art. The university employs 1,906 people and maintains an active development pipeline. In 2024 it launched the SCAD SERVE Community Fund with an estimated $2 million in giving that included grants to the City of Savannah and Union Mission. A $159 million bond financed the 641 West River St student housing project while a $38.75 million purchase closed on the 645 Indian St site in April 2023. State Street Global Advisors serves as investment advisor. SCAD maintains a hybrid structure that combines endowment management with direct ownership of operating campuses and cultural assets. This architecture allows the institution to control physical infrastructure and art holdings without reliance on external fund commitments.