Help Us Write the Next Chapter
After 50+ years of partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities, Wisconsin Humanities lost all federal funding on April 3 due to a directive from DOGE and the Trump Administration. As a result, Wisconsin Humanities is entering a temporary hibernation starting in June— halting all programs but doing everything we can to preserve what we’ve built.
To return in the future, we’ve launched The Next Chapter Fund—an emergency campaign to keep Wisconsin Humanities alive during this pause.
Your support will:
➞Keep us legally and operationally active
➞Preserve our eligibility for future NEH funding
➞Protect decades of impact across Wisconsin
This is a bridge. A lifeline. A temporary pause with a purpose.

Celebrating our past, envisioning our future
Ways to Connect
Grantee Spotlight: Celebrating Our Grantees
What the WH grant program means in Wisconsin communities
For 53 years, Wisconsin Humanities has re-distributed federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) with integrity and a passion for always improving. WH’s grant program has made accessible public humanities programming possible for everyday Wisconsinites. WH Director of Grants and Outreach, Meghan Dudle, connected with recent grant recipients to ask, "What will be lost?" with the loss of NEH funds and the subsequent suspension of the WH grant program. Hear from project directors in Oshkosh, Appleton, Beloit, Marathon County, Dane County, Dane County, and Milwaukee.
Join WH Staff for a Casual Open House on May 15th
We’re heading into hibernation, but not without a chance to connect, laugh, and raise a glass with the friends and supporters who’ve made our 53-year journey so meaningful.
While you’re here, you can:
➞ Say hello and goodbye to our staff
➞ Pick up a Love Wisconsin book or two
➞ Record a short video sharing why Wisconsin Humanities matters to you
➞ Make a donation to support our Next Chapter Campaign (if you’re moved to do so!)
➞ And simply enjoy some time in community with folks who care about the humanities
We’d love to see you! Drop in anytime — no need to RSVP.
LOCATION: 3801 Regent Street, Suite 101, in Madison (PARKING: available in parking lot or street parking available on Larkin St.)

Visit the Wisconsin Historical Society for a FREE Love Wisconsin Book!
Thanks to our colleagues and friends at the Wisconsin Historical Society for sharing our story!
Stop into the beautiful WHS headquarters and library at 816 State Street to pick up a FREE copy of our Love Wisconsin book.
Wisconsin Humanities is heading into hibernation, but our Love Wisconsin collection of more than 300 authentic Wisconsin voices is still here for you. Each story offers nuance, delight, and complexity to our understanding of what it means to be a Wisconsinite.
Our Statewide Commitment
Since our organization's founding as an independent nonprofit in 1972, Wisconsin Humanities has worked in every corner of the state with YOU to explore what it means to be human, to be part of a democracy, and to strengthen each of our communities.

Explore: Opportunities to Engage Statewide
Follow Your Curiosity
Find Wisconsin Humanities on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn!
I was thrilled to be invited to give the commencement address at University of Wisconsin-Platteville this past weekend for their College of Liberal Arts and Education graduates. I talked about -- guess what? -- the power of storytelling and the public humanities to change lives, this state, and the... world. It was such fun to be there with WH board member Carrie Van Hallgren, who is the college's Assistant Dean. She and Dean Travis Nelson should be so proud of their students!
We know we keep asking, but this is important! As board member Janet Bewley says, "The public humanities truly bring us together, give us that place to be fully human, and see in each other something that also warms our hearts."
We are raising $10,000 over the next 10 days and ...writing the Next Chapter together! And all donations to the Next Chapter Campaign will be TRIPLED over these 10 days! Thanks to a generous donor AND the Mellon Foundation, every dollar you give right now will be matched 3:1!
#MellonFoundation #Humanities #HumanitiesforAll #humanities50kchallenge
#wisconsinhumanities #nextchaptercampaign #givewisely
https://wisconsinhumanities.org/donate/
Thank you Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez for visiting with Wisconsin Humanities staff and board member Ann Huntoon to learn about the impact of the termination of our NEH funding after 53 years of bi-partisan Congressional support. If you want to learn more, share you thoughts with your ...legislators, and contribute to WH's Next Chapter Campaign that will help us preserve our work, please go to https://wisconsinhumanities.org/
Before we head into hibernation, please join us at the Barrymore Theatre for a film screening on May 22nd at 7PM!
We are very happy to partner with The Progressive Magazine to present this special public screening of "When Rubber Hit the Road," a new film by Fireside Productions,... funded in part with a grant from Wisconsin Humanities!
The film tells the story of the departure of the Uniroyal Tire plant from Eau Claire, Wisconsin and a Midwestern city’s attempt to reinvent itself in the wake of America’s manufacturing decline. It airs on PBS Wisconsin on May 20th.
Hear from WH Development Director Tony Sansalone -- who will share the latest about WH and our Next Chapter Campaign -- as well as journalists Norman Stockwell and John Nichols, plus filmmakers B.J. Hollars and Steve Dayton!
Admission $5.00 at the door and donations to the Next Chapter Campaign will be TRIPLED! Thanks to a generous donor AND the Mellon Foundation, every dollar you give right now will be matched 3:1!
#MellonFoundation #Humanities #HumanitiesforAll #humanities50kchallenge
#wisconsinhumanities #nextchaptercampaign #givewisely
The Progressive Magazine The Barrymore Theatre Fireside Productions PBS Wisconsin

The Progressive and Wisconsin Humanities screening of documentary about Uniroyal leaving Eau Claire and the city's reinvention, with remarks by...
isthmus.comOur Next Chapter Campaign just launched—and we’re aiming to raise $10,000 in 10 days!
Thanks to a generous donor AND the Mellon Foundation, every dollar you give right now will be TRIPLED!
That means your $50 becomes $150 in support of programs like Love Wisconsin and our ...Human Powered podcast.
Let’s write the next chapter: Donate today at wisconsinhumanities.org/donate/
#givewisely
#MellonFoundation #Humanities #HumanitiesforAll #humanities50kchallenge
#wisconsinhumanities #nextchaptercampaign #DoubleYourImpact #CommunityPowered #givewisely
We love our WH community! Tomorrow we launch the next phase of our fundraising campaign -- and thanks to generous donors, your gifts will be matched 3:1!
#Humanities #HumanitiesforAll #humanities50kchallenge
#wisconsinhumanities #nextchaptercampaign #DoubleYourImpact #CommunityPowered... #givewisely
THANK YOU! Since April 30, we have brought in $19,155 in individual donations.
✏️CAN YOU HELP US WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER? 📖
https://wisconsinhumanities.org/donate/
All donations made to Wisconsin Humanities will be generously matched 1:1 by the Federation of State Humanities... Councils with support from the Mellon Foundation, up to $50,000.
#MellonFoundation #Humanities #HumanitiesforAll #humanities50kchallenge
#wisconsinhumanities #nextchaptercampaign #DoubleYourImpact #CommunityPowered #givewisely
For this very special Grantee Spotlight, we wanted to share what some of our grantees told us in response to the question, “What will be lost without the Wisconsin Humanities grant program?" We received many heartfelt responses. Thank you specifically to Project Directors from ArtWorks for ...Milwaukee, Hmong American Center, Inc., UW-Oshkosh Department of Chicana/o & Latinx Studies, Beloit College, and Friends of McCarthy Youth and Conservation Park!
👉 Click the link to read a reflection from our Director of Grants and Outreach, the wonderful Meghan Dudle!
For 53 years, Wisconsin Humanities has re-distributed federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities with integrity and commitment. WH’s grant program has made accessible public humanities programming possible for everyday Wisconsinites. We are going into hibernation but we are not giving up. Learn more on our website: wisconsinhumanities.org

What will be lost? Grantees share why WH's grants are crucial in communities around Wisconsin.
wisconsinhumanities.orgHappy Friday and a HUGE thank you to 14 new donors who made gifts today to help Wisconsin Humanities write the next chapter!
All donations made to Wisconsin Humanities will be generously matched 1:1 by the Federation of State Humanities Councils with support from the Mellon Foundation, up... to $50,000. Every dollar you give will be doubled. To make an online donation, you can click the link here: https://wisconsinhumanities.org/donate/
#MellonFoundation #Humanities #HumanitiesforAll #humanities50kchallenge
#wisconsinhumanities #nextchaptercampaign #DoubleYourImpact #CommunityPowered #givewisely
Mellon Foundation