The Mellon Foundation, which helps arts and humanities, has committed $15 million in emergency funding to the Federation of State Humanities Councils.
That means councils like Arizona’s may stay afloat after their funding was zeroed out by the Department of Government Efficiency.
AZ Humanities had to pause several grants, programs and events after DOGE clawed back money already given out, including congressionally allocated funds.
With the foundation’s help, AZ Humanities expects around $200,000 to go towards general operating costs. Executive Director Brenda Thomson says there’s also a possible $50,000 boost with fundraising matching.
“It is really something that buys us time. $250,000 can’t replace a million but what it can do is allow us to do what we are doing which is outreach, advocacy, outside grant writing, fundraising, reaching out to our congressional leaders," Thomson said.
She says the conversation is not over yet and the organization's budget for the next fiscal year has been submitted for congressional approval.
-
Arizonans are speaking out after the Trump administration announced it would rescind the key scientific finding that allows the Environmental Protection Agency to put limits on carbon pollution. -
Last September, the Trump administration announced major cuts to Minority-Serving Institutions, including so-called Hispanic-Serving Institutions. There are 21 of those in Arizona. -
Arizona’s largest power company, Arizona Public Service, is losing out on $1.8 billion from the federal government. The money would have been used for clean energy projects. -
The Institute of the American Indian Arts — or IAIA — is synonymous with the Southwest. Housed in Santa Fe, it’s where some of Indian Country’s most creative minds have gone to hone their craft in New Mexico. More than 4,000 students have graduated from there since 1962. -
Public health agencies faced a chaotic few days after the Trump administration canceled more than $2 billion in grants for mental health and addiction programs, but then quickly reversed course.
