Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation Receives Florida Humanities “American Rescue Plan” COVID Relief Funding

ISLAMORADA, Florida (Dec. 3, 2021) — Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), has awarded Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation (FKHDF), which operates the Keys History & Discovery Center, a $8,500.00 grant for general operating costs to help recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the grant application, the Foundation sought funding to support post-pandemic outreach efforts to reconnect with museum members and the general community after providing programming and lectures in a virtual-only capacity for more than a year. Funding was also sought to support the hiring of one employee to cover Saturdays to counter the loss of volunteers due to health concerns and relocations out of the Keys.

“Florida Humanities has been diligent in ensuring funding opportunities for cultural centers throughout the pandemic,” said Jill Miranda Baker, the Foundation’s outgoing executive director. “I’m pleased to be one of three not-for-profit organizations in Monroe County to have been awarded funding to help with the challenges presented by the prolonged pandemic.”

The NEH received $135 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, which was approved by Congress this past spring. The state humanities councils, including Florida Humanities, each received a portion of the NEH award to support museums, archives, historic sites and other humanities-focused nonprofits. FKHDF was one of 129 organizations in Florida that was awarded ARP funding totaling $1.88 million from Florida Humanities. The grants are intended to meet immediate operational needs in order for organizations to remain viable and maintain delivery of public humanities programming and resources in their communities. Florida Humanities received 188 applications for ARP funding, with nonprofits requesting the most funds for staffing and utilities.

These funds, said Florida Humanities Executive Director Dr. Nashid Madyun, provide a safety net for the organizations so they can focus on other priorities, such as fundraising and creating programming. “For smaller nonprofits, when bills are paid and staff are safe and intact, that type of alleviation is immeasurable,” he said. “Florida Humanities is honored to provide a lifeline to our state’s cultural and historic organizations, ensuring they continue to enrich their local communities, and the Sunshine State at large, for years to come.”

Funding for this grant was provided by Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and NEH’s Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this announcement do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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