So, Vermont Humanities has hit a bit of a rough patch lately. They got the rug pulled out from under them when federal funding was slashed from their budget. But fear not, because the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is riding in on their white horse to save the day with a whopping $250,000. Talk about a knight in shining armor!
The Mellon Foundation, known for being the nation’s largest private supporter of the arts and humanities, has graciously decided to dish out $15 million in emergency funding to the Federation of State Humanities Councils. This money is meant to support all 56 humanities councils across the nation. Vermont Humanities is set to receive a sweet $200,000 right off the bat, with an extra $50,000 up for grabs in a matching grant.
Why the sudden influx of cash, you ask? Well, it all started when the Department of Government Efficiency decided to swing the axe and make deep cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities. Vermont Humanities, along with their comrades across the country, received a swift kick in the pants when they found out their NEH grant funding had been yanked away, effective April 1st. Ouch.
To put things into perspective, Vermont Humanities lost a whopping $729,000, which is nearly a third of their $2.2 million annual budget. Executive director Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup expressed his gratitude towards the Mellon Foundation for swooping in to save the day, but let’s be real here, it’s like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm. The math just doesn’t add up.
Vermont Humanities is no slouch when it comes to providing cultural and literacy programs. They’ve got all sorts of goodies up their sleeve, from the Vermont Reads community reading program to book discussions for veterans and medical professionals. They even host free public talks and a fall festival. On top of all that, they dish out around $500,000 in grants each year to organizations across Vermont’s 14 counties. Talk about spreading the love!
Kaufman Ilstrup isn’t one to mince words. He’s calling the DOGE cuts illegal and unconstitutional, and he’s ready to throw down with a lawsuit to prove it. In the meantime, Vermont Humanities has had to tighten their belts. They’ve had to lay off two employees and cut the hours of a part-time staffer. It’s like a scene straight out of a budget-slashing horror movie.
But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom. Vermonters have rallied together and donated about $150,000 to Vermont Humanities since the cuts were announced. Their generosity has allowed the organization to keep their promises and fulfill the grants they’ve promised. Kathryn Tufano, the director of development and communications, sent out an email asking for donations to snag that $50,000 matching grant from the Mellon Foundation. And wouldn’t you know it, someone pledged $700 just 15 minutes later. Talk about fast fingers!
While Vermont Humanities is grappling with the aftermath of the federal cuts, Kaufman Ilstrup wants to remind everyone that it’s the communities that are hurting the most. The National Endowment for the Humanities was put in place to provide opportunities for cultural activities that support our democracy. As Kaufman Ilstrup puts it, democracy demands wisdom, and that’s why they’re fighting tooth and nail to keep the humanities alive and kicking.
So, there you have it. Vermont Humanities might have taken a hit, but they’re not out for the count just yet. With a little help from their friends at the Mellon Foundation and the generosity of Vermonters, they’re ready to roll up their sleeves and keep the humanities train chugging along.
