ON April 29, 2025, the Mellon Foundation 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 the Northern Marianas Humanities Council.
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. On April 2, the Northern Marianas Humanities Council received notice that all its grant funding through NEH had been cancelled effective immediately, a loss of $718,638.
The grant from Mellon means an immediate $200,000 for the Northern Marianas Humanities Council and an additional $50,000 available in matching grants. Any donations received by Northern Marianas Humanities Council starting April 29, 2025, count towards the match. Members of the public can donate to the Northern Marianas Humanities Council by visiting http://nmhcouncil.org/.
The Northern Marianas Humanities Council will use these funds to stabilize its operations and minimize reduction in force activities affecting its personnel through the end of the current fiscal year or October 31, 2025. Programs and activities through this transition period will be executed in accordance with staff capacity, remaining grant funds and new donations from the community.
“I am grateful for the work of the Federation of State Humanities Councils and of course, this extraordinary investment in humanities councils across our nation by the Mellon Foundation. This could not have come at a better time. This significant infusion of cash into our operations will give us the time we need to restructure our work and explore our options for sustainability beyond the next 6 months,” said Leo Pangelinan, executive director of the Northern Marianas Humanities Council.
Chair of the Northern Marianas Humanities Council, Gretchen A. Smith, said: “The Council continues to fulfill its mission to navigate and explore the human experiences of the indigenous and diverse peoples of the Commonwealth. This generous donation by the Mellon Foundation will ensure the continued longevity to achieve the Council’s mission for the community at large.”
About the Northern Marianas Humanities Council
The Northern Marianas Humanities Council is a private, non-profit organization affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council comprises a 13-member volunteer board whose mission is to navigate and examine the human experiences of the indigenous and diverse communities of the Commonwealth by enriching their lives through research, publications, programs, and dialogue. For information about the Council’s programs, please visit www.nmhcouncil.org/.
About the Federation of State Humanities Councils
Founded in 1977, the Federation of State Humanities Councils is the membership organization of the 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils. The Federation supports, connects, and amplifies the work and voices of 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,” the Foundation said.
