Last night, all state humanities councils, including Ohio Humanities, received word that DOGE—the Department of Government Efficiency—has terminated our operating grants. While we don’t yet know the full scope of the damage, we believe most grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) have been or will soon be canceled. Many institutions also received grant terminations today from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—effectively freezing the bulk of federal cultural funding for our state.
Ohio Humanities’ mission is at stake.
This decimates our ability to serve Ohio, freezing our grant program and interfering with our ability to tell stories that are essential to our cultural infrastructure.
This is an existential crisis for cultural organizations—and all of Ohio’s stories.
The humanities are our history, our heritage, and the chronicling of what we do today so that future generations can learn from our experiences. The projects we fund—from the restoration of a WWII bomber for public display to a documentary film about Ohio’s unique role in the Civil Rights Movement—bring stories, context, and economic development to Main Streets across the state.
Ohio Humanities and the federal funding we receive is critical for many reasons:
- We serve everyday Ohioans statewide, from school children to veterans, living everywhere from one-stoplight communities to big cities.
- No private funder will look at a whole state and demand programs that benefit communities statewide.
- We are an important partner in Ohio’s America 250 Commission, providing infrastructure and support that ensures Ohioans can enjoy our country’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration on Main Streets across the state.
- We can multiply funding, leveraging federal dollars into additional private and state money, effectively tripling every federal dollar.
Without Ohio Humanities, projects like these may not exist:
- An open mic night at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum that allowed veterans—some for the first time—to express their feelings through poetry and music.
- Historical projects and events meaningful to Ohio communities, from the restoration and display of a WWII bomber to a Living History Field Day for 8th grade students in Athens to “Beyond the Battlefield,” a two-day interactive event that offered people in Fort Recovery a memorable look at the past.
- The Lincoln School Marchers documentary, which has aired to tens of thousands of viewers nationwide, and book, which shares the remarkable story of Ohio’s important role in the Civil Rights Movement.
As a vital supporter of Ohio Humanities, you care about our mission to bring public humanities programs to everyday Ohioans. We know you want to help. Here’s what you can do:
- Call your Congressional representatives. You can find yours here. Here’s an idea of what you can say. As a supporter of ours, you may have a personal story to share. Tell them why you support Ohio Humanities and our mission.
- Donate. In these uncertain times, financial support is more important than ever to keep us operating. Every dollar matters, and every dollar shows government leaders how important this work is to you.