Urge Congress to support the humanities sector in this time of crisis!

As Congress and the administration continue to develop a relief package, it is essential that they know about the significant financial challenges the humanities sector—including museums, libraries, historic sites, and educators in K-12 and higher education—is facing due to the crisis. These organizations and educators have an essential role to play in renewing our civic and democratic culture, rebuilding the economy, and revitalizing communities, but they face enormous financial hurdles that must be addressed.

The CARES Act, passed last March, included $75 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities, which ultimately allowed 4,000 educational and cultural organizations to maintain jobs amid the pandemic. Unfortunately, this amount covered only a fraction of the ongoing need for assistance.

The House’s draft bill currently includes an additional $135 million for the NEH. Urge Congress to keep at least this amount of funding in the final bill to help the humanities sector rebuild from the COVID crisis.

Enter your information to take action now!

Subject:

Support Relief Funding for the Humanities Sector

Dear Official,

I was pleased to see the inclusion of $135 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in the current draft of the draft reconciliation package. Today, I am writing to urge you to support at least this amount in the final package to help the humanities sector recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

The CARES Act included $75 million for the NEH, 60 percent of which went to direct grants and 40 percent of which was distributed to the states. Collectively, the NEH and state councils provided essential support to over 4,000 educational and cultural organizations. The museums, libraries, archives, associations, and small colleges that received these funds were able to avoid layoffs, create jobs, safeguard cultural heritage, host virtual programs, provide resources to teachers faced with rapid transition to remote instruction, and safely reopen.

Nonetheless, the need among educational and cultural institutions far exceeded the amount appropriated: The NEH was able to fund only 14 percent of applications received, while on average the state councils have been able to fund only 38 percent.

Additional supplemental funds for the NEH are needed to offset the ongoing impact of COVID-19. In the past year, museums, libraries, and cultural institutions have been forced to shut their doors to the public, cancel fundraising events, and then re-open at diminished capacity with additional costs to ensure safety. The American Alliance of Museums estimates that a third of museums in the U.S. will permanently close as a result of COVID-19, while over 52 percent of museums have 6 months or less of operating reserves, and 53 percent have had to furlough or lay off staff. Those museums that are able to reopen do so under considerable financial burden, spending on average $27,000 according to the American Alliance for Museums.

The crisis also burdens humanities educators, both in K-12 and higher education, as they work to educate students in unprecedented circumstances. The educational system relies heavily on humanities educators who are casually-employed and on contract, and they are especially vulnerable to the impacts of the crisis. The organizations that create in-person and remote opportunities for professional development are investing resources to meet virtual needs while struggling with the financial consequences of cancelling in-person meetings.

With an additional $135 million in relief funding, the NEH and state humanities councils can provide emergency support for museums, libraries, historical societies, cultural organizations, and professional associations that can be applied to operational expenses to sustain them in this time of crisis. Funding is also necessary for bolstering humanities organizations, colleges, and universities so that they can create jobs and develop the digital content that is now necessary for classroom use and for the digital resources to sustain communities during this moment of crisis.

I recognize that the decisions ahead will continue to be difficult, but I hope you will consider supporting the humanities sector, which plays a vital role in our civic and cultural life.

Regards, Your Name

Send me emails about this campaign

Send me text messages about this campaign

Thank you for taking action for the National Endowment for the Humanities! Please encourage others to do so!

Hello, Thank you for taking my call! I'm a constituent from [city/town] and I am calling today in support of the humanities.

There are currently Dear Colleague Letters circulating in the House and the Senate supporting increased funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities. I would like to request that Representative/Senator [name] sign the letter.

For House offices: The House letter is sponsored by Rep. David Price.

For Senate offices: The Senate letter is sponsored by Senator Tom Udall.

Do you know what the Representative/Senator's position is on the National Endowment for the Humanities?

Optional Talking Points

Have you received an NEH grant or participated in or attended and NEH funded project? Share your experience with the agency!
NEH grants are critical for encouraging private financing of projects. Challenge Grants, for example, have been leveraged at a 3:1 ratio, while State Council grants are leveraged at a 5:1 ratio and Public Programs at an 8:1 ratio.
NEH grants are highly competitive, funding less than 16% of peer-reviewed grant applications.
NEH's Standing Together initiative supports veterans and their families in the transition back to civilian life, and promotes public understanding of the military experience for all Americans.
NEH-supported humanities councils provide continuing education and family literacy programs in every state in the country.

In all, please try to keep the conversation to just a few minutes.