Indiana Humanities gets up to $250,000 in emergency relief following DOGE cuts

Indiana Humanities will receive up to $250,000 in emergency funds as part of a national response to the recent loss of federal support.

Indiana Humanities was notified last month that its $1.3 million federal grant, which made up 35-40% of the nonprofit’s budget, would be terminated. The funding cancellation caused the organization to halt its grant distribution programs.

Now, the Federation of State Humanities Councils will distribute $15 million in emergency funding – given by the Mellon Foundation – to aid humanities councils across the nation.

In Indiana the money will help stabilize the nonprofit as it looks for “new revenue streams,” said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities.

“It's giving us a minute to breathe and to try to identify other partners and individual donors that can come in and help us support this,” Amstutz said.

Indiana Humanities will receive $200,000 immediately. An additional $50,000 is available to the organization through matching grants. Nearly 60 people have donated so far, Amstuz said.

“We're really seeing a wonderful response from the community,” she said. “They've lifted our spirits.”

Amstutz said she is grateful for the Mellon Foundation’s nationwide dedication to the arts and humanities. However, even with the emergency relief, she said the organization is “still down.”

“As much as this is incredibly generous and welcome, it does not change the fundamentals,” Amstutz said. “The nearly $800,000 that did not come to Indiana Humanities this year as the result of that cancellation has created a very large hole for us to fill.”

Even with the emergency relief Indiana Humanities still has a funding gap of around $500,000 for this fiscal year. The organization also has to figure out how to make up for the possible loss of $1.3 million in 2026.

In the meantime, Indiana Humanities will continue the pause on its local grant program.

The nonprofit and its national partners are also still pursuing legal action against the federal grant termination.

Contact WFYI Morning Edition newscaster and reporter Abriana Herron at aherron@wfyi.org.