Mellon Foundation Announces $15 Million Emergency Funding for Humanities Councils, including up to $250,000 for NH
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On April 29, 2025, the Mellon Foundation announced a $15 million emergency funding commitment to the Federation of State Humanities Councils (the Federation) in response to federal funding cuts that have devastated state humanities councils. This emergency funding will help provide support to all 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils across the United States, including up to $250,000 for New Hampshire Humanities.
Mellon’s investment comes at a critical moment when $65 million in federal support for state humanities councils has been eliminated as a result of changes at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). On April 2, New Hampshire Humanities received notice that all its grant funding through NEH had been cancelled effective immediately, a loss of approximately $500,000.
The Mellon grant means an immediate $200,000 for New Hampshire Humanities and an additional $50,000 available in matching grants. All donations received by New Hampshire Humanities starting April 29, 2025 count towards the match. Anyone can help NHH meet this challenge by giving through New Hampshire Humanities’ secure website at www.nhhumanities.org/give.
“We are deeply grateful to the Mellon Foundation for recognizing the vital role humanities councils play in our lives, our communities, and across the country,” said Michael Haley Goldman, Executive Director of New Hampshire Humanities. “This grant provides much-needed breathing room—time to rally our supporters and rebuild the funding lost because of the abrupt cancellation of NEH funding for our work. For over 50 years, we’ve proudly served the Granite State by giving every resident of NH the opportunity to experience the power of the humanities. We’re committed to continuing that legacy, but we’ll need renewed and increased support from everyone who values our mission.”
For more information, contact info@nhhumanities.org.
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Mellon Foundation grant to humanities councils, continued
About New Hampshire Humanities
New Hampshire Humanities (NHH) funds and supports programs that inspire curiosity, foster civil dialogue, and explore big questions. An independent, statewide nonprofit, NHH made possible last year 786 free public programs reaching 26,656 residents, in partnership with 251 organizations in 172 communities, to engage all citizens, regardless of their age or educational level, with the humanities. For more information, please visit www.nhhumanities.org.
About the Federation of State Humanities Councils
Founded in 1977, the Federation of State Humanities Councils (Federation) is the membership organization of the 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils. The Federation supports, connects, and amplifies the work and voices of our members, demonstrating councils’ value for communities and their collective impact on civic health and cultural vibrancy. The Federation envisions a fully resourced, inclusive, and thriving humanities council network.
About The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the nation's largest supporter of the arts and humanities. Since 1969, the Foundation has been guided by its core belief that the humanities and arts are essential to human understanding. We believe that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and that everyone deserves the beauty and empowerment that can be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and guided by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive.
