Recent cuts and changes at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) present new and dire challenges for arts organizations in Chicago and nationwide. The NEA provides critical funding and research for communities of every kind in every corner of the nation. Changes at the agency will have significant ramifications. Private philanthropy is unlikely to fully replace this lost funding, and it cannot replace the agency’s expertise, nonpartisan credibility, or its extensive reach across the United States. Withdrawn or terminated grants and contracts from the NEA and other federal agencies imperil jobs and programming at arts organizations in Chicago and around the country.
To help mitigate this, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation (RHDF) partnered with the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation (PMAFF) to offer one-time, general operating grants to help offset the worst impacts of federal funding loss. PMAFF and RHDF worked closely to design the relief effort and coordinated on funding for shared grantees to ensure that both Foundations reached as many impacted organizations as possible in each of their portfolios. RHDF provided $220,000 in relief to 13 grantees, with three more organizations funded by both RHDF and PMAFF receiving relief through PMAFF’s program. PMAFF provided $284,480 in relief to 15 organizations in Chicago.
It felt important to RHDF to provide some relief to organizations with whom we work, but we also know that there are many more organizations in Chicago reeling from the loss of federal funds. Thankfully, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) have announced a one-time relief effort of their own. If you have experienced federal funding loss, or you know others that have, the DCASE deadline is August 20, 2025. You can find specifics about the opportunity here.
RHDF is proud to work alongside PMAFF and DCASE to respond to this moment of profound challenge for creatives in Chicago and across the country. We are grateful for the work artists and arts organizations do every day to make our city and communities around the country more vibrant and welcoming places.
