Dear Friend:

You can help the IHC by writing your legislators!

The Illinois Humanities Council is an educational organization dedicated to fostering a culture in which the humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities. Through our programs and grants, we promote greater understanding of, appreciation for, and involvement in the humanities by all Illinoisans, regardless of their economic resources, cultural background, or geographic location. 

We are supported by federal, state, and private funds. As an independent nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1973, we receive a congressional appropriation that varies from year to year. For the last 20 years, we have also merited an annual appropriation from the Illinois General Assembly, which comes to us as a line item in the budget of the Illinois Arts Council. 

Like all of us who support worthy causes, legislators like to hear about the results of their actions. If you have benefited in any way from one of our many programs, please take the time to write your legislators at the state and national levels to let them know about how the Illinois Humanities Council has made a difference in your life or community.

If you would like to see an example of a letter that was written by one of our grantees, please download the sample legislative letter from the Applications and Forms section of this site. We have been given permission to share this letter as a model for you.

I look forward to seeing you at an IHC event soon.

Sincerely,

Kristina A. Valaitis
Executive Director

P.S. If you don’t know who your legislators are, please go to the Congressional website and enter your address to get a listing of your U.S. and Illinois legislators.