This investment by the Mellon Foundation will help stabilize Ohio Humanities after the sudden cancellation of its federal operating grants by NEH earlier this month
The Mellon Foundation has announced a $15 million emergency funding commitment to the Federation of State Humanities Councils 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 Ohio Humanities.
Mellon’s investment comes at a critical moment, when $65 million in annual federal support for state humanities councils has been eliminated as a result of cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). On April 2, Ohio Humanities received notice that all of its grant funding through NEH had been cancelled effective immediately, a loss of $4.8M over three years—90% of the organization’s funding.
The grant from Mellon means an immediate $200,000 for Ohio Humanities and an additional $50,000 available in matching grants. Any donations received by Ohio Humanities now through the end of 2025 count towards the match.
“This is a transformative gift for councils and Ohioans,” said Ohio Humanities Executive Director Rebecca Asmo. “This will help preserve Ohio stories that otherwise could be lost to history, give people cultural experiences that bring our communities to life and impact local economies in powerful ways. More importantly, this will help us build a more diverse base of funding for Ohio Humanities—an effort we have been pursuing for the past three years.”
What does this grant mean for Ohio Humanities?
It means the organization can respond to this crisis while maintaining financial and organizational health. Councils across the country are working together to pursue legal and legislative avenues to reinstate funding that is statutorily mandated by Congress. The grant also means Ohio Humanities can continue producing its award-winning magazine, Lumen, which shares important and powerful Ohio stories. And it can continue producing two major podcasts already in production: The Northwest Conspiracy: A Forgotten Tale of Armed Rebellion in the American Heartland and The Unopen Door: A Family’s Story of Survival. If fundraising and advocacy efforts exceed expectations, Ohio Humanities hopes to resume providing grants and other support to organizations and individuals statewide by year’s end.
“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.”
Members of the public can donate to Ohio Humanities by visiting ohiohumanities.org/donate.
About Ohio Humanities
Ohio Humanities is a statewide nonprofit that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas by hosting programs and awarding grants that support storytellers statewide, from museums to journalists to documentary filmmakers. For more information, visit ohiohumanities.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.