The Federation of State Humanities Councils is pleased to announce a $15 million award from the Mellon Foundation for emergency funding to stabilize all 56 state and territorial humanities councils. This is the largest single investment by the Mellon Foundation in the Federation’s nationwide network of member councils.
Each humanities council will receive support for operating expenses in the wake of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) abruptly terminating all federal grants for the councils, cuts which eliminated $65 million from their operating budgets overnight.
Without immediate intervention, many state councils face steep reductions — or even closure — jeopardizing the vital cultural programming that Americans in states across the country rely on and the jobs that the humanities support. This emergency assistance from the Mellon Foundation will strengthen and preserve the humanities councils as the Federation works alongside the councils to restore permanent public funding and secure further private support.
“This is more than a grant — it’s a lifeline for communities across the country who rely on their humanities councils’ programs and grants to fill critical needs and enrich their lives,” said Phoebe Stein, President of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. “Mellon’s support allows us to not only preserve this vital network — it helps ensure that everyday Americans can thrive through lifelong learning, connection, and understanding of one another.”
Each humanities council will receive an immediate unrestricted grant of $200,000 outright, with an additional $50,000 available to each council to use as a Challenge Fund to help drive direct donations from individuals, businesses, and philanthropies in their local communities. Any donations received by councils starting April 29, 2025, count toward the match.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Donations can be made to the Colorado Humanities at this web page.
“For more than 50 years, humanities councils have served as the backbone of American cultural life, connecting people through programs that illuminate, honor, and celebrate our shared history at the local level,” said Phillip Brian Harper, Mellon’s Program Director for Higher Learning. “The work of these councils touches every aspect of communities across our country. This grant ensures that these irreplaceable institutions can continue their mission.”
There are 56 humanities councils — one in every state, territory, and the District of Columbia. From Alaska to Alabama, they serve nearly every district in the U.S. As independent nonprofits, councils can reach communities of all sizes and geographies. These nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations were established in 1971 by Congress to make outstanding public humanities programming accessible to everyday Americans. For over 50 years, councils have received federal funding through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
From Colorado Humanities:
We are incredibly grateful to Mellon. And for your support in these times. For spreading the word. For donating. For making connections on our behalf. It is (clearly!) making a difference. Please don’t stop now. As the above funding materializes, we will act to preserve as much of our statewide programming as possible!
One important thing to keep in mind: This isn’t a silver bullet for our long-term viability. Colorado Humanities’ future remains tenuous. When the Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency terminated our NEH operating grant in April, we lost most of our funding.
What your donations are helping us do right now is to chart a bold course for the future. We have a plan to generate new funding streams and build capacity for our state’s cultural and educational sectors. Programs like the Colorado Book Awards show what’s possible when we invest in local voices and stories. With your support, we can build a lasting future for the public humanities in Colorado. Every donation helps buy us the time we need to keep this vision alive.
Thank you for standing with us at this pivotal moment and protecting the public humanities in our state.
Sincerely,
Sarah Olivier
Associate Director