Press Release
Mellon Foundation Provides $15 Million in Emergency Funding For State Humanities Councils, Including Oklahoma Humanities
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 1, 2025) —The Mellon Foundation recently 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 operating support to all 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils across the United States, including up to $250,000 for Oklahoma Humanities.
Mellon’s investment comes at a critical moment after $65 million in federal support for state humanities councils was eliminated by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). On April 2, Oklahoma Humanities received notice that its grant funding through the NEH had been suddenly cancelled.
The Mellon grant provides an immediate $200,000 for Oklahoma Humanities and an additional $50,000 available as a matching grant. Any donations received by Oklahoma Humanities now through December count towards this match. Members of the public can donate by visiting okhumanities.org/donate.