The Atlantic Out Loud The Plot Against Humanities
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Feb 28, 2026 A probe of how one foundation came to dominate arts and letters and whether its priorities reshape scholarship. Short histories trace federal retreat, philanthropic rise, and a shift toward social-justice funding. Stories show scholars pressured to reframe research and colleges revamping curricula for activist aims. The discussion asks what is lost when funding favors causes over traditional inquiry.
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Mellon’s De Facto Monopoly On Humanities Funding
- The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation now dominates US humanities funding, giving it outsized power to shape fields.
- Mellon awarded $540 million in 2024 while the NEH budget was $78 million, creating a near-monopoly on grant influence.
Mellon Pivoted Publicly Toward Social Justice
- Under president Elizabeth Alexander, Mellon pivoted in 2020 to prioritise social justice across its grantmaking.
- The Foundation publicly declared it would prioritise grants that contribute to “a more fair, more just, more beautiful society.”
Funding Scarcity Drove The Humanities Toward Activism
- The article reverses the usual claim that humanities ‘went woke’ first, arguing financial scarcity drove the shift toward activist-oriented work.
- As other funders retreated, Mellon became a lifeline and shaped priorities by funding choices.