NJ Council for the Humanities

MENUMENU
  • About
        • Our What, Why, and How
          • About NJCH
          • Impact
        • Our People
          • Staff & Interns
          • Board of Trustees
          • Grantees
          • Job Openings
        • Our Commitments
          • Accessibility
          • Engagement
          • Representation
  • Grants & Sponsorships
    • Grants
    • Sponsorships
    • Funded Projects
    • Information For Grantees
  • Programs & Initiatives
        • For the General Public
          • Clemente Course in the Humanities
          • Community Conversations
          • Democracy Conversation Project
          • Informed NJ
          • Museum on Main Street
        • For Organizations and Professionals
          • Community History
          • Humanities Lab
          • In the Weeds
          • Katz Prize
          • Prime Time Reading
        • Thematic Areas
          • Strengthening Democracy
          • Supporting Nonprofit Professionals
          • Supporting Community Colleges
        • Past Programs
  • News
  • Events
  • Donate

NEH is being gutted, and New Jerseyans will suffer as a result. Here’s how you can help.

About / News / Homepage Feature

NEH is being gutted, and New Jerseyans will suffer as a result. Here’s how you can help.

April 3, 2025

NEH Seal reading "Democracy Demands Wisdom"


Friends of the Humanities and of NJCH,

I write to you today with the very somber news that the humanities are in peril across the Garden State and across the country.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which has supported humanities programs, scholarship, digitization projects, and education across all districts and counties of our state and nation for 60 years, is being gutted at the recommendation of DOGE. At least 600 previously awarded grants, including statutory state council operating support grants, are being terminated and rescinded.

Over its history, NEH has accomplished much of its valuable work through its system of state humanities councils—a private, locally governed 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner in each state. These councils were created to be nimble and responsive. The drastic cuts being demanded of NEH, echoing what has happened with other parts of government, means this federal funding for state councils will be decimated.

NJCH will suffer directly, as will its partners, grantees, and communities of New Jerseyans who look to the humanities for connection and perspective. The impacts will be swift and severe:

  • NJCH will be forced to significantly scale back or cut grants, programs, and operations.
  • New Jersey-based cultural organizations will lose access to critical first grants for projects just getting underway, grants that often act as a springboard to larger foundation or federal funding.
  • Interdisciplinary humanities programs for veterans, which create pathways to healing AND to higher education, will be imperiled.
  • Literacy programs that teach whole families to read, give them books, and provide them meals while learning may be shuttered.
  • Community history programs empowering small organizations and municipalities to collect and share their local histories in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of our country’s founding will be disrupted or discontinued.

Cultural nonprofits make meaning of our histories and our heritage, create bridges between cultures, and enliven our communities. They also contribute significantly to our state and local economies. Destroying a primary source of their funding will make New Jersey poorer, culturally and economically.


Here’s what you can do

  • We urge you to contact your local members of Congress to demand restored funding for the humanities: https://p2a.co/DdtlGIT
  • Share this call to action with your networks.
  • Submit stories of how NJCH or NEH funding has impacted you, and particularly stories of any hardships that you are experiencing as a result of NEH being defunded, to darmstrong@njhumanities.org.
  • While the responsibility for preserving our country’s history and culture rightfully lies with the federal government, you can also support this vital work with a private donation by visiting https://njhumanities.org/donate/. Thanks to the generous support of the Mellon Foundation, your gift will be doubled, up to a total of $50,000.

Our country has weathered many storms with grit, gratitude, and faith. We humbly thank you for your support and shared hope to weather this most daunting threat.

With all best wishes,

Carin Berkowitz (Executive Director), Greg Waters (NJCH Board Chair), and the NJCH Staff, Gigi Naglak, Colleen Tryner, Joseph Szumowski, Sylvester Cruz, and Amy Liberi

Media Contact

Dan Armstrong
Communications Consultant
(847) 749-9675
darmstrong@njhumanities.org

Recent Posts

  • Resource Roundup May 2025
  • NJCH receives emergency stabilization funds from Mellon Foundation
  • Resource Roundup April 2025

CONTACT

Physical: 336 Friends Street Camden, NJ 08102
Mailing: PO Box 3287, Camden, NJ 08101

609.695.4838

Explore

CONNECT

Sign Up For Our Email List

Follow

Facebook
X (Twitter)
LinkedIn
Youtube

© 2025 · New Jersey Council for the Humanities · Site Credits · Accessibility

  • About
    ▼
    • Our What, Why, and How
      ▼
      • About NJCH
      • Impact
    • Our People
      ▼
      • Staff & Interns
      • Board of Trustees
      • Grantees
      • Job Openings
    • Our Commitments
      ▼
      • Accessibility
      • Engagement
      • Representation
  • Grants & Sponsorships
    ▼
    • Grants
    • Sponsorships
    • Funded Projects
    • Information For Grantees
  • Programs & Initiatives
    ▼
    • For the General Public
      ▼
      • Clemente Course in the Humanities
      • Community Conversations
      • Democracy Conversation Project
      • Informed NJ
      • Museum on Main Street
    • For Organizations and Professionals
      ▼
      • Community History
      • Humanities Lab
      • In the Weeds
      • Katz Prize
      • Prime Time Reading
    • Thematic Areas
      ▼
      • Strengthening Democracy
      • Supporting Nonprofit Professionals
      • Supporting Community Colleges
    • Past Programs
  • News
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Search