URGENT: Help Us Write the Next Chapter
Introducing The Next Chapter Fund: A Bridge for the Future
We’re launching an emergency campaign to sustain Wisconsin Humanities through this crucial pause. Your support will help us:
- Preserve our nonprofit status and NEH eligibility
- Keep essential operations running
- Maintain our statewide network and lay the groundwork to restart decades of programming
Your gift matters twice as much.
Thanks to the generous support of the Mellon Foundation, Wisconsin Humanities has received a $200,000 award for operating expenses—providing vital breathing room for our organization during a critical time. In addition, the Mellon Foundation has awarded us a $50,000 Challenge Grant. Starting April 29, every dollar you donate will be matched 1:1, up to $50,000. That means your $100 gift becomes $200. Your $500 becomes $1,000.
This isn’t just about one organization. It’s about the driving force of public life in Wisconsin—the conversations, ideas, and connections that shape our communities every day. From Love Wisconsin to Community Powered, your support has always made this possible.
We’re not giving up—but we can’t make it back without you. Give today to keep the heart of Wisconsin Humanities beating.
With deep gratitude,

Dena Wortzel
Executive Director
Wisconsin Humanities
We are not closing our story—we’re turning the page.
But without this bridge, we risk fading from the landscape of public life and losing the chance to bring federal support back to Wisconsin. That would be a loss we can’t recover from.
Here’s what’s at stake — and what Wisconsin Humanities can accomplish with the funds we raise between now and May 31st:
- ➞ $100,000 – WH’s board can maintain our nonprofit status and our digital and physical assets are protected for one year of hibernation
- ➞ $150,000 – WH’s board can maintain our nonprofit status, our digital presence and physical assets are protected, and a few staff can stay on long enough to ensure a successful hibernation until 2026.
- ➞ $300,000 – WH can maintain our organizational infrastructure with a skeleton part-time staff and protect our statewide network and presence with a single program through 2025 while the board advocates and fundraises.
- ➞ $1M – restores full programming
Increase your impact!
-
➞ If you’re interested in discussing a major gift to support Wisconsin Humanities during our hibernation period and through our Next Chapter Campaign, please reach out to our Development Director Tony Sansalone at tony.sansalone@wisconsinhumanities.org or call 608-265-5594.
-
➞ Use this link to contact your elected officials and ask that they support the National Endowment for the Humanities and Wisconsin Humanities.
-
➞ Write a social media post that says you donated to Wisconsin Humanities Next Chapter Campaign and urge your friends to do the same – include a hyperlink to WH’s donate page to make it even easier for more people to give.
Bequests & IRA Distributions
Ensure that your legacy lives on by including Wisconsin Humanities in your will. Please speak with your attorney about appropriate language. Or if you have an IRA and are at least 70½, you might enjoy the pleasure of giving today by making a qualified charitable distribution.
Consult your accountant regarding the tax benefits you could receive.
Call Tony Sansalone at 608-265-5594 with any questions.