THE MELLON FOUNDATION STEPS IN — BUT WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP

Things are moving quickly, and we know it can be hard to keep up. In the wake of the unexpected loss of federal operating support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation has stepped in with a generous $15 million emergency funding for state and jurisdictional humanities councils. We’re grateful to share that our council has received a one-time $200,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation with the opportunity to unlock an additional $50,000 through matching contributions.

This funding provides critical short-term support, but it is not a long-term solution. The grant delivers immediate assistance, helping us maintain core functions temporarily. The road ahead is still unknown and uncertain.

Mellon’s investment comes at a critical time 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, the New Mexico Humanities Council received notice that all its grant funding through NEH had been cancelled effective immediately.  

The grant from the Mellon Foundation means an immediate $200,000 for NMHC and an additional $50,000 available in matching grants. Mellon’s support will help us but it won’t carry us all the way. While we may not be able to operate full scale, our commitment to serving New Mexicans through meaningful humanities programming remains unchanged. It is likely that some of our programs may be reduced in size or paused, but wherever possible, we’ll continue to bring thoughtful, engaging opportunities.

Any donations received from April 29, 2025 through December 1, 2025 count towards this match. You can donate to NMHC by going the Donate page, once there please select discretionary fund to make your donation. You may also send a donation to our physical address.  

We’re incredibly grateful to our friends, partners and supporters who have made donations and have reached out to show their support during this time of uncertainty. 

For more information about this generous support, please visit the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Mellon Foundation.