Mellon Foundation Announces $15 Million Emergency Funding
In Response to Federal Cuts to National Endowment for the Humanities, Mellon Foundation Announces $15 Million Emergency Funding for Humanities Councils, including up to $250,000 for HUMANITIES TENNESSEE
This investment by the Mellon Foundation will help stabilize HUMANITIES TENNESSEE after the sudden cancellation of its federal operating grants by NEH earlier this month.
NASHVILLE, April 29, 2025 — Today, 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 Humanities Tennessee.
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 cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). On April 2, Humanities Tennessee received notice that all its grant funding through NEH had been cancelled effective immediately, a loss of $1.2 million annually.
The grant from Mellon means an immediate $200,000 for Humanities Tennessee and an additional $50,000 available in matching grants. Any donations received by Humanities Tennessee starting April 29, 2025, count towards the match.
Members of the public can donate to Humanities Tennessee HERE.
What does this grant mean for Humanities Tennessee?
Executive Director Tim Henderson says, “This emergency funding from the Mellon Foundation is a lifeline for our organization. It will help us keep our staff in place for a few extra months while we work with urgency on our fundraising efforts. And our staff are the key to the future of our programs for all Tennesseans.”
Humanities Tennessee intends to meet the $50,000 fundraising match set by Mellon to maximize this grant opportunity and bolster efforts to rally community support. While new funds of up to $300,000 make a dramatic difference today, this amount represents about one-quarter of the NEH funds previously appropriated.
For Tennesseans, programs like the Tennessee Books Awards, Chapter16.org, student reader days, grant monies for local museums and exhibits, and the Southern Festival of Books are all on the line.
About Humanities Tennessee
Humanities Tennessee is a nonprofit organization that fosters community and civility in Tennessee through engaging programs that examine and reflect upon ideas, stories, history, arts and culture. In addition to our own programming, we partner with a variety of organizations across the state who are similarly encouraging community dialogue and activities that push us to think deeper and develop mutual respect and understanding for each other.
Humanities Tennessee, formerly the Tennessee Humanities Council, is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Founded in 1973, we continue to develop ways to connect, learn, and grow as a community.
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.