Federal funding cuts, freezes hit Palouse nonprofits

Palouse area nonprofits focused on helping with emergency food and the arts have had their funding frozen or cut.

“Food insecurity is huge in our region right now,” said Deanna Bren, the executive director of United Way Whitman County. Part of her job is to help oversee a federal grant program with the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which is funded through FEMA. 

The federal funds come through United Way and provide structural funding for multiple organizations on the Palouse, Bren said. Now, the funds are frozen.

Many of the organizations focus on getting food to people in crisis, like Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse, a nonprofit that offers support and shelter to people affected by domestic violence and sexual assault, she said. 

“A lot of times these women are fleeing domestic violence and they’re stepping into an unknown kitchen, they don’t have anything with them,” Bren said. “This provides a really essential food for their family during a crisis situation.”

Currently, the FEMA website has a banner that reads, “FEMA.gov is being updated to comply with President Trump’s Executive Orders. Thank you for your patience and understanding.” Bren said she has no idea if or when the funds will come through. 

 “I am just wondering how we’re going to make things work for everyone, because these are essential services,” she said.

Impact on the arts

Local organizations in the arts and humanities have also been hit. 

On April 2, David Pettyjohn, the executive director of the Idaho Humanities Council, said the organization was notified that its funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities was canceled in its entirety, effective immediately. 

“These are projects like bringing in speakers from around the country, bringing in museum collections, and reading and discussion programs. We no longer have money to do that,” Pettyjohn said. 

The IHC receives federal funding that is then spread out to smaller grants and projects throughout the state, Pettyjohn said. He added that for the fiscal year 2025, $735,000 was taken away from the nonprofit.

All IHC programs are paused until further notice. 

The funding cuts for IHC are having a domino effect for multiple projects in Moscow, Idaho. 

A project to restore the first feature film made in Idaho is now on hold because of the canceled IHC funds. 

The Western-romance titled “Told in the Hills” was filmed in Kamiah in 1919. The film features more than 100 Nez Perce actors, said Colin Mannex, the executive director of the Kenworthy Theatre in Moscow. 

A still from the 1919 film “Told in the Hills.” It was filmed in Kamiah, Idaho. (Credit: Boise State University Special Collections)

“We have all the collaborative elements that are lined up for this production, but we just don’t have the money to pay people to do the work now that this grant has been suspended,” said Mannex. He added that they would need approximately $12,000 to finish the project. 

While Mannex has been meeting with local donors, he said he’s uneasy about other grant funded projects on the line, like the restoration of the Kenworthy marquee.

“The marquee project is still moving forward as planned, but we are apprehensive about the future federal funding cuts to the National Park Service grant program that is making this possible,” said Mannex.

The grant money for the restoration of the classic sign has to be spent before it can be reimbursed, which makes him nervous, he said.

“The situation changes so rapidly, it’s hard to know what’s coming next,” Mannex said.

The IHC also funds history projects through organizations like the Latah County Historical Society. 

IHC is their biggest funding partner, said Hayley Noble, the historical society’s executive director. 

For instance, the organization was chosen for the Museum on Main Street program, which brings Smithsonian exhibits to local communities across the country. A special exhibition titled “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” which focuses on the history of voting in the U.S., was set to be displayed at the University of Idaho campus.

“This is a big deal to have a Smithsonian-level exhibit come to our communities because so few of us can go to Washington, D.C.,” Noble said. 

The exhibit is still scheduled for the fall, but the program will be scaled back without much support beyond the exhibit itself, said Noble.

That means no help with travel costs to bring in speakers for educational programming with the exhibit, Noble said. She’s applied for additional grant funds to help with programming costs, such as location rentals and books for a youth book club. 

The state seems to be following in the footsteps of the Trump administration when it comes to canceling funds for the arts, Noble said. 

The Idaho Legislature also recently cancelled a grant for America250, an exhibition that traces voting rights history through the suffrage movement and other periods in history. Noble and her team received an $18,877 grant from the Idaho State Historical Society. 

Kaitlynn Anderson, a museum curator, leads a school group on a tour of the Latah County Historical Society archive and collection storage. (Credit: Latah County Historical Society)

A letter sent to Noble last month said, “After careful consideration of legislative intent, the grant program through America250 is cancelled.”

The letter was signed by state Rep. Brandon Mitchell and state Sen. Ben Adams. 

“Initially, there was limited legislative oversight regarding the distribution of these funds, which raised concerns about the alignment of grant projects with the intended purpose of celebrating America’s anniversary,” Mitchell said in a statement by email. 

A dedicated committee will review the intended purpose of the funds going forward, he said.

The Palouse has a wide variety of nonprofits that do a lot for the community, Noble said. “But I think we’re in for some tough times ahead,” she said.

Even amid the stress, Mannex said he remains hopeful because the Palouse community is so supportive of nonprofits and the arts. 

“We’re determined to continue with the same programs that make this a special place in the community, and we appreciate the outpouring of support that we’ve already seen,” he said.