Mid-Year Update: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of the Humanities 

June 26, 2026

by Michele Anstine, Executive Director  

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” 

Perhaps the most well-known sentence in the Declaration of Independence, this profound statement not only helped to establish our nation, but it has shaped our experience as Americans. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of this revolutionary document, many of us continue to reflect on these words and their lasting impact. As Delawareans, our state holds a unique place in the story of the 250th. In fact, a spirit of independence has long permeated our history, with our own separation occurring merely weeks before the signing of the Declaration when the region then known as The Lower Counties on the Delaware formally separated from Pennsylvania on June 15, 1776, and thus formed the State of Delaware. In short, Delawareans are not afraid of standing on our own and, when necessary, forging ahead to form our own path. 

Just last year, Delaware Humanities began our Next Chapter after responding to an abrupt 51% reduction in federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which has supplied 85-95% of our revenue for the past decade. Despite this disruption and the continued pause of Delaware Humanities grants, we have maintained a resolute focus on sustaining our organization — and a pursuit to share the humanities across the state.  

Over the past nine months, we have partnered with organizations and groups across the state to present 77 educational Speakers programs focusing on history, culture, philosophy, literature, and Delaware 250, reaching almost 2,000 attendees. In addition, we partnered with three new libraries: the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center, Delaware City Public Library, and Harrington Public Library, to present our Prime Time Family Reading Program, which promotes childhood literacy and thoughtful family conversations around life’s big questions. Past grantees also hosted community-strengthening programs in Wilmington and debuted a new documentary film about family farming in Delaware.   

We also successfully launched our first By the People event, a special initiative in partnership with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. In collaboration with the Delaware Teachers Institute and the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, we hosted our Voices of the First Peoples event in May honoring the Lenape Tribe of Delaware. We welcomed 135 attendees—both educators and members of the public—to the Kalmar Nyckel’s Copeland Maritime Center for an afternoon of interactive presentations highlighting the Lenape’s history, culture, and foodways. We will be hosting another teacher-focused experience with the Nanticoke Indian Tribe this summer as well as supporting their annual pow wow in September.  

In addition to our programming, we have remained steadfast in our fundraising efforts. We have raised, thanks to many of you, almost $50,000 through individual donations to release matching funds from a challenge grant by the Mellon Foundation and acquired foundation funding for programs and planning.  

Simultaneously, we have asked our staff and stakeholders important questions over the past year; questions without easy answers, humanities questions. Our questions ranged from how do we continue to impact Delawareans through the humanities with reduced funding? to how do we help to create valued “third spaces” across the state where Delawareans can gather, connect, and build community together? And, where might there be opportunities we have not yet explored? We hoped that full NEH funding would be restored in 2026, but unfortunately, we have learned within the past three weeks that the NEH plans to continue funding state and jurisdictional humanities councils at half of the amount that Congress has appropriated. While we wait to learn how federal courts will rule on the withholding of funds, we must, as I mentioned last year, turn the page and move forward. 

Still, this is not the first time Delaware Humanities has encountered unprecedented circumstances that have compelled us to make necessary adjustments. Four years ago, Delaware Humanities surveyed our local partners and grantees about their needs during the COVID pandemic. After reviewing the results, our Board and staff concluded that the most effective way to impact communities throughout the state was to continue to re-grant some of our annual federal funding to organizations like libraries, historical societies, museums, community centers, and festival events for projects that meet local needs and then build capacity in those same community organizations that bring people together for conversation and to learn from one another. The amount Delaware Humanities has historically received from the federal government each year is not even a million dollars; yet, when focused on programs and services to strengthen local community organizations, these funds act as a multiplier, stimulate local economies, and provide a sense of place and belonging to residents old and new. 

This past April, our Board recommitted to our mission and vision statements and our focus on small humanities organizations and the impact we can have in building capacity. With the extended reduction of federal funding from the NEH, our board members set priorities on:  

Our Board and staff are excited to continue navigating through this New Chapter of Delaware Humanities. We have formed a task force to help us map our steps toward these priorities, and we will keep you informed about developments over the course of the next six months. If you have thoughts or suggestions, please reach out to us here. We are grateful for your continued support.

With the upcoming 250th, we hope the anniversary offers Delawareans a time to rest and reflect on our nation’s formation and what it might mean to them. While America’s past may be complex and complicated, its future is guided by the promise of those impactful words: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, and that we may all take part in contributing to its progress. Have a safe and happy Independence Day however you may celebrate!