Key Takeaways
- The Philadelphia Museum of Art announced a $20 million gift from Lois G. and Julian A. Brodsky on October 23, 2026.
- The gift will establish the Lois G. and Julian A. Brodsky Learning and Engagement Center in the museum's north wing.
- The $20 million equals 21.2% of the museum's total revenue for the fiscal year ending June 2025, according to its Form 990.
- The museum expects the design by summer 2027 and expects construction to finish within a few years.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art announced on October 23, 2026, a $20 million gift from Lois G. and Julian A. Brodsky to establish a new learning and engagement center. The $20 million equals 21.2% of the museum's total revenue of $94,551,536 for the fiscal year ending June 2025, according to its Form 990. Julian A. Brodsky is a Comcast co-founder. The commitment will turn the north wing into a space dedicated to the museum's education work.
What the Brodsky Learning and Engagement Center Will Include
The center will sit just inside the museum's north entrance. Plans are at an early stage, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the concept calls for a family learning center, art studios, a visitor orientation area and a multipurpose community hub.
MGA Partners, a Philadelphia architecture firm, is working with the museum on the schematic design. The museum expects the design by summer 2027, and it expects construction to finish within a few years.
The Brodsky Center is the museum's first major capital project since the Core Project, a four-year interior renovation and expansion by Frank Gehry that reopened to the public in May 2021.
Daniel Weiss, the George D. Widener Director and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, said of the gift: "It represents the capstone of their enduring commitment to the museum and will strengthen the vital work, energy, and impact of our mission."
What the Museum's Form 990 Records Show About the $20 Million Gift
Form 990 is the yearly information return that U.S. nonprofits file. The latest Form 990 in WYDE's records for the Philadelphia Museum of Art covers the fiscal year ending June 2025. It reports total revenue of $94,551,536 and contributions of $37,762,691. Net assets, meaning total assets minus liabilities, were $1,124,006,069 at year end (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer).
The $20 million commitment equals 21.2% of that year's total revenue. It also equals 53.0% of the $37,762,691 in contributions the museum reported for the same year. Neither the museum's announcement nor the Inquirer article gives either comparison. The sources do not state a payment schedule, so these ratios measure scale, not the timing of payments.
Why the Gift Matters for Education at the Museum
Julian A. Brodsky said in the museum's release: "Throughout our lives, we have been ardently involved in educational initiatives, with a particular focus on children and families from underserved communities."
The commitment is larger than half of the $37,762,691 in contributions the museum reported for the fiscal year ending June 2025. That comparison puts a number on the museum's description of the gift as "among the largest in the museum's history." The sources do not rank it against other gifts.
The Brodskys' Ties to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Inquirer reported that Julian A. Brodsky, 93, has been a member of the museum's board for three decades. Weiss said the couple has served on museum committees, with Lois as a guide and volunteer and Julian as trustee.
Related WYDE coverage: Jensen and Lori Huang Give Vanderbilt $75 Million for a New San Francisco Arts College.
People Also Ask
How much did Lois G. and Julian A. Brodsky give to the Philadelphia Museum of Art?
Lois G. and Julian A. Brodsky committed a $20 million gift to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The museum announced the gift on October 23, 2026, to establish the Lois G. and Julian A. Brodsky Learning and Engagement Center.
What will the Lois G. and Julian A. Brodsky Learning and Engagement Center include?
The Lois G. and Julian A. Brodsky Learning and Engagement Center will sit just inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art's north entrance. Early plans call for a family learning center, art studios, a visitor orientation area and a multipurpose community hub.
When will the Lois G. and Julian A. Brodsky Learning and Engagement Center be finished?
The Philadelphia Museum of Art expects the design of the Lois G. and Julian A. Brodsky Learning and Engagement Center by summer 2027. The museum expects construction to finish within a few years, and the sources give no specific opening date.
How large is the $20 million gift from Lois G. and Julian A. Brodsky compared with the museum's revenue?
The $20 million gift equals 21.2% of the Philadelphia Museum of Art's total revenue of $94,551,536 for the fiscal year ending June 2025, according to its Form 990. The museum's announcement does not give that comparison.
Sources: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Inquirer, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.