Just two months after joining the Met’s board, Jennifer Rubio and her husband Stewart Butterfield have pledged a whopping $23 million to the museum. Rubio, known for founding Away, and Butterfield, co-founder of Flickr and Slack, alongside his role in top art institutions, bring significant clout to their pledge.

The donation is specifically aimed at funding fully paid internships across 40 departments annually, aiming to ensure a steady influx of new ideas and voices. Met director Max Hollein highlights the importance of this support, stating it will 'support a continuous pipeline for new voices and innovative ideas.'

This pledge comes after the Met has been offering over 100 paid internships per year since 2021, funded in part by Adrienne Arsht. With Rubio Butterfield’s foundation backing the internship programme, the museum can now secure this initiative into perpetuity.

Rubio notes that 'Internships are often the first meaningful point of entry into this field,' adding that they aim to make these opportunities more equitable, supporting emerging voices and expertise in defining the future of the Met and broader cultural landscape.

As top collectors who have supported artists like Simone Leigh, Claire Tabouret, Mickalene Thomas, and Alicja Kwade, their philanthropy reflects a long-standing commitment to both technology and culture.