We Met Our Mellon Match – Thank You!

October 18, 2025

In April of this year, following drastic cuts to Congressionally appropriated funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation stepped up to support state humanities councils nationwide. They generously donated $200,000 to each council, with an additional $50,000 available to councils that matched that amount with private fundraising.

We are happy to announce that the South Dakota Humanities Council, with the help of ALL OF YOU, has raised $50,000, which means we will also receive the full $50,000 Mellon match!

SDHC thanks the Mellon Foundation, all of our donors, and the amazing humanities community for making this match possible. Special gratitude goes to Steven and Kathy Sanford of Sioux Falls, whose major gift carried us over the top.

SDHC Executive Director Christina Oey described the Mellon Foundation’s $250,000 gift as “critical support at a time of real need,” but cautioned that more work lies ahead to replace the full $950,000 lost.

“We still need our supporters to encourage Congress to release the previously appropriated FY25 funds and to include NEH in the FY26 budget,” Oey said. “Private philanthropy will always be integral to our work, but federal funding is necessary to replace the programs we have suspended and to ensure that communities across our state continue to benefit from the vital work of the humanities”

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