Status Update on National Funding & What's on the Horizon for Illinois Humanities in 2026

Dear Friends and Partners,

On April 2nd, our federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities was suddenly terminated by DOGE. A third of our budget was gone without warning - our operating model for the past 50 years was upended with a single email.

My team and I reached out to tell you what was happening and you rallied: you called your representatives and you told us incredible stories about why the public humanities matter to you and your communities.

We shared all of this with journalists, elected officials, donors, and partners. We signed on to a national lawsuit to try to get funding returned to Illinois. The funding cuts were significant and forced us, over the summer, to reduce our staff size.

I am reaching out today to let you know that Illinois' Congressionally appropriated funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities is still sitting in Washington - but Illinois Humanities is not slowing down. We might be smaller, but we're doubling down on what matters most.

Last month, for the first time in our 50-year history, we passed an annual budget without any funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. This year’s budget is historic for what it affirms, not for the changes we had to make.

Looking ahead, we are embracing this historical moment as an opportunity to move forward with imagination and resolve. Here’s what’s in store for the year ahead:

We are sustaining our commitment to funding community-based organizations, even if the available grant dollars are smaller. We are continuing core programs such as Envisioning Justice, the Odyssey Project/Proyecto Odisea, and our annual Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards. And, in an effort to ensure all communities have access to public humanities during this incredibly dynamic time, Road Scholars is expanding to meet increasing demand. This year, we welcomed 40 new speakers (up from 30 in our last cohort!) who will begin traveling statewide this spring, bringing conversation, history, and culture to local audiences, reminding us that our human connections run deep. Their stories remind us that our roots are what make us strong. Our shared roots are what stop erosion.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation in 2026, we are working to ensure that our collective historic and history-making roots are available for everyone. Community Conversations will center the idea that "History Belongs to All of Us." In 2026, we're also launching a year-long partnership with StoryCorps to collect stories from across Illinois to mark this moment. Together, these free programs will help us gather to explore how our state’s diverse communities have shaped, and continue to shape, our democracy.

Public humanities are not a luxury; they are the foundation of civic trust. Public funding remains the best way to ensure equitable access, and we will continue to advocate for the return of Federal humanities funding to Illinois.

Your generosity and partnership have enabled us to maintain this foundation as we adapt, evolve, and continue our work throughout the state.

We believe every Illinoisan can and should experience the power of connection, creativity, and civic belonging. We can only do that because we’re in community with you.

Sincerely,

Gabrielle H. Lyon, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Illinois Humanities