Idaho Humanities Council
FUNDING CUT
In April, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) terminated funding for all state humanities councils. Similar cuts were made to the Institute of Museum and Library Services and other federal cultural agencies. In July, IHC's NEH grant was restored but at a 53% cut--a loss of nearly $500,000.
The NEH is IHC’s largest funder. Our organization was created 53 years ago to distribute NEH funds to public humanities projects in communities all over Idaho. The loss of NEH funding has a devastating impact on our ability to serve our communities. As a result of this loss of funding, all IHC programs and grants are paused until further notice.
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Read more at the Idaho Capital Sun, the NY Times, and Boise State Public Radio.
How You Can Help
Send A Message
Call or message your US senators and representatives and urge them to protect the NEH and state humanities councils.
Spread the Word
Share this action alert: Post it on social media, then send it directly to five people in your network and ask them to take action as well. Ask your family members, colleagues and neighbors, wherever they live, to do the same.
Write a letter to the editor or your local newspaper explaining why the humanities councils are important and the impact these federal dollars have in Idaho and in your community.
Donate
Make a gift to help us keep our programs and grants available, now and in the future.
By Idaho, For Idaho
The Idaho Humanities Council plays a crucial role in our state by providing locally relevant programming and grants across the state with Federal dollars. DOGE is comprised of individuals who have never set foot in our state, yet they are making sweeping decisions about the future of Idaho's history and culture. They do not understand our values, our challenges, and the priorities of our communities. We are grounded in local leadership from every region of the state and 25% of our board is appointed by the governor, ensuring accountability and alignment with the people we serve.
The IHC is a strong leader in civics education and civil dialogue. At a time when many legislators are hesitant to hold town halls due to rising incivility, we are actively working to rebuild public trust and strengthen responsible citizenship. We have a proven track record of offering thoughtful, inclusive, and engaging public programs that foster understanding and civic engagement. In fact, we need more funding to tackle this incredibly pressing issue.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation, our planned commemorative programs- including book discussions, teacher trainings, Smithsonian exhibit tour, community conversations, and speakers - are in jeopardy without continued support.
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These Dollars Go a Long Way
Since 1973, IHC has funded requests amounting to $8,226,572 in grants and awards provided to Idaho organizations and educators. We have supported 587 organizations in every county and reached countless individuals. Since 2020, IHC has hosted a total of 745 live and virtual programs attended by 47,581,935 people. Our grant recipients have conducted 2,617 programs since 2020.
CARES and SHARP funding provided relief and assistance to Idaho organizations facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. IHC traditionally does not provide General Operating support funding for organizations. However, the funds awarded saved or created 235 full time positions, 139 part-time positions, and 293 temporary positions for Idahoans and cultural organizations across the state.
We support the work of K-12 educators across our state with $50,694 in teacher grants awarded, our annual Outstanding Humanities Educator Awards, and our annual summer teacher institute which has served over 150 teachers in 24 counties since 2020.
On average, Idahoans have provided $2.33 of in-kind support for every $1 of federal support they receive from IHC. All these services cost Idahoans less than 40 cents a year. This demonstrates a significant investment from all of you in Idaho’s history and culture. We do not want to let what generations have invested go to waste.
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