29-04-2025
Mellon Foundation provides emergency funding to state humanities councils
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Under the terms of the grant, each humanities council will receive $200,000 in immediate unrestricted funds. Each council will also be eligible to receive up to $50,000 as a 'Challenge Fund,' matching funds they can leverage to secure donations from businesses, foundations, and philanthropists.
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'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,' Phillip Brian Harper, Mellon's program director for higher learning, said in a statement. 'The work of these councils touches every aspect of communities across our country. This grant ensures that these irreplaceable institutions can continue their mission and look forward to a sustainable future.'
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State humanities councils, established by congress in 1971, are nonprofit organizations that help fund and support a variety of cultural programs, including literacy initiatives, museum exhibitions, and cultural festivals.
Earlier this month, humanities councils and other cultural organizations had their grants terminated after the Department of Government Efficiency
'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,' Phoebe Stein, president of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, said in a statement. '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.'
Malcolm Gay can be reached at
