Matching opportunity invites Californians to help sustain critical cultural programming statewide
Oakland, CA—California Humanities is expected to receive $200,000 in emergency funding from the Federation of State Humanities Councils with support from the Mellon Foundation to help stabilize all 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils across the United States. On April 2nd, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) at the behest of the “Department of Government Efficiency” eliminated $65 million in grants to all the humanities councils nationwide, including California Humanities—funding that has long been essential to bringing free, accessible cultural programs to communities across California and the nation.
“This funding is a meaningful show of solidarity from the Mellon Foundation during an incredibly difficult time,” said Rick Noguchi, President and CEO of California Humanities. “The cuts by the White House are devastating to our field and to the communities we serve. The humanities in California are critical, especially in an environment where corrosive ideology is being advanced, so we appreciate Mellon’s sending this powerful and important message that the work we do matters, and that gives us hope right now.”
The Mellon Foundation has committed $15 million in an emergency relief effort for the 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils coordinated by the Federation of State Humanities Councils, the membership and advocacy organization for humanities councils nationwide. It is the largest direct investment Mellon has made in the Federation’s network to date.
“While these generous funds don’t come close to covering what was lost, we are grateful because they give us a bit of breathing room,” said Rick Noguchi, President and CEO of California Humanities. “We’ll use this support to stabilize the organization in the short term, focus on core operations, and continue advocating for the public investment needed to sustain the humanities in California.”
In addition to the $200,000 commitment to all the humanities councils, each is also eligible to receive an additional $50,000 in matching funds through a Challenge Grant designed to spark new donations from individuals, businesses, and local philanthropies. Representing the state with the largest population in the country, California Humanities faces a particularly steep challenge in filling the gap left by the elimination of NEH funding. Every gift made on or after April 29, 2025, will count toward the match and help support continued public humanities work across the state. To contribute, visit calhum.org/support-our-work
Still, the situation remains critical. The public-private partnership model that supported state humanities councils for more than 50 years is in jeopardy—threatening the ability of organizations like California Humanities to continue funding the local events, grants, and programs that help Californians better understand themselves and one another. The national network of humanities councils is too valuable to lose—even a single member.
Elizabeth Alexander, President of the Mellon Foundation, spoke to the urgency of the moment:
“At stake are both the operational integrity of these councils and the mechanisms for cultural exchange that are a fundamental part of American civic life. While this funding doesn’t fill the entire gap, we stand shoulder to shoulder with humanities councils across the country as they fight to sustain their vital work.”
For 50 years, California Humanities has connected Californians to one another through ideas and one another in order to understand our shared heritage and diverse cultures, inspire civic participation, and shape our future—providing grants and producing programs that reflect the full range of experiences across the state.
To learn more or make a donation that will be matched by the Mellon Foundation, visit calhum.org/support-our-work
About California Humanities
California Humanities is a nonprofit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For 50 years, California Humanities has worked to connect Californians to ideas and one another, helping people learn about their shared history and culture through the humanities. To learn more, visit calhum.org, or like and follow on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
About Humanities Councils
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 US. 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 five decades, councils have received federal funding through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
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.
