University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and University of Maine Foundation President Jeff Mills announced a more than $3.5 million estate gift from Linda Zillman, including a record-breaking investment in the UMaine Honors College and major support for the Zillman Art Museum.
Linda and her late husband, Donald Zillman, shared a decades-long relationship with UMaine shaped by leadership and sustained philanthropy. Donald Zillman, who died in July 2023, served in leadership roles across the University of Maine System for more than three decades, while Linda Zillman, who died in September 2025, was an art historian and a longtime advocate for the visual arts.
The gift includes more than $2.1 million for the Honors College, the largest one-time donation in its history, and more than $1.4 million for the Linda G. and Donald N. Zillman Art Museum – University of Maine, which was named in the couple’s honor in 2020 following their $1.3 million naming gift.
“This extraordinary gift from Linda Zillman reflects a lifelong commitment to excellence in both the arts and education,” President Ferrini-Mundy said. “Her generosity to our flagship university will expand opportunities for UMaine honors students while strengthening the Zillman Art Museum as a valuable cultural and educational resource for the entire state.”
For the University of Maine Foundation, the gift represents the culmination of a long relationship built on trust, shared purpose and transformative generosity.
“Our staff worked with Linda and Don for many years. They had been very generous donors for a long time,” Mills said. “Their gift to the university in their estate plan exemplified their desire to make a significant impact on both the museum and the UMaine Honors College as their legacy.”
The gift to the Honors College will advance its role as a hub of transformative student learning at UMaine, according to Dean Ellen Weinauer.
“As we celebrate 90 years of Honors at UMaine, the Zillmans’ generous investment both recognizes our legacy on campus and paves the way for an even more vibrant future,” Weinauer said.
Linda Zillman played a key role in relocating the University of Maine Museum of Art to downtown Bangor and served for more than a decade on the museum’s support board. The Zillmans’ legacy — from expanded gallery space to sustained exhibition funding — continues to shape the museum, said Executive Director and Curator George Kinghorn.
“Throughout the years, Don and Linda Zillman were actively involved in advancing the museum’s mission and expanding its capacity to deliver top-tier contemporary art exhibitions and programs for the UMaine community and visitors,” Kinghorn said. “From the addition of five galleries to ensuring sustained exhibition funding, they were extraordinary champions for the visual arts. Through this transformative bequest, Linda Zillman ensures the museum — their shared legacy — will continue to provide the life-enriching experience of viewing original art.”
In addition to UMaine, the University of Maine at Presque Isle is also receiving a significant estate gift from Linda Zillman.
“Linda and Don Zillman believed deeply in the power of Maine’s public universities to expand opportunity and enrich communities across the state,” said Chancellor Dannel Malloy. “Consistent with that, this extraordinary gift will strengthen our flagship university’s ability to serve students and the public good for generations to come. Even after their passing, the Zillmans continue to positively impact the University of Maine System and inspire us all to honor their incredible legacy by elevating excellence in academics and the arts.”
Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu
