Advocacy Toolkit
AHCMC’s year-round advocacy efforts with lawmakers at the local, state, and federal levels forge strong and consistent policies that protect and support the County’s arts and humanities organizations.
National Advocacy
Action Items
- Write a letter to Congress
- Share Your Story! How have federal funding cuts impacted your work/organization?
Stand with National Campaigns
- American Alliance of Museums
– Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Campaign - American Library Association
– Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Campaign - National Humanities Alliance
– National Endowment for the Humanities Campaign - Federation of State Humanities Councils
– National Endowment for the Humanities Campaign - Americans for the Arts
– National Endowment for the Arts Campaign
If your organization has been affected by the recent NEA grant cancellations, we strongly urge you to submit an appeal by the official deadline, which was in the email grantees received from the NEA. Note that depending on your grant category, deadlines vary with some as early as Friday, May 9.
This step is critical for several reasons:
- Filing an appeal preserves your standing and ensures your organization is counted in any future coordinated action.
- It sends a clear signal to federal agencies and lawmakers about the scale and seriousness of this disruption.
- It helps us build a unified field response, allowing our collective voice to reflect the full scope of the damage.
Even if you’re unsure about the outcome, we encourage you to submit the appeal. This is new ground for all of us, and every submission adds to the larger picture—helping to inform advocacy efforts, guide legal understanding, and shape potential policy solutions. Please don’t navigate this process alone, contact Americans for the Arts or watch their Emergency Guidance on NEA Grant Cancellations webinar if you need help.
- Resources for Filing An Appeal
- Holland & Knight: What Recipients Need to Know if a Federal Grant Is Terminated by the Government
- National Council of Nonprofits: A Nonprofit Checklist: What to do When Your Federal Grant or Contract is Terminated
- To support your appeal, our friends at the Film Festival Alliance and Modern Language Association have developed step-by-step guidance and templates to get you started.
More resources and news on federal arts policy can be found here.
For information and resources on AHCMC’s grants, please click here.
Local Advocacy
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Maryland State Advocacy
Let Your Voice Be Heard! Use the tools above to advocate for the creative economy in Montgomery County Maryland and ensure the arts and humanities always have a seat at the table. As we discuss a strong economic rebound for Montgomery County through an equity lens, remember to include the creative sector whenever possible. When the devastation and slow recovery predictions of the hospitality, restaurant and hotel sectors are mentioned by elected officials, the arts and humanities must be included in that discussion for an equitable recovery.Stay in Touch
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