Federation of State Humanities Councils

Founded in 1977, the Federation of State Humanities Councils (”the Federation”) is the national membership organization for the state and jurisdictional humanities councils. Rooted in the distinctive places and people they serve, the councils are independent nonprofit organizations that conduct and fund public humanities programs, engaging millions of people in community and civic life. The councils are funded in part by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The humanities, including history, ethics, literature, philosophy—and the reflection and connection they invite—make communities stronger. As the legislation that created the NEH in 1965 states, “democracy demands wisdom and vision in its citizens.” Today, cultivating wisdom and vision calls for centering the diversity of peoples’ identities, experiences, and needs. The Federation serves the councils by fostering connections and deepening their networks, providing resources and capacity-sharing opportunities, acting as a liaison with the NEH, and advocating to Congress for federal funding.

See our Strategic Plan here: https://www.statehumanities.org/the-federations-strategic-plan/