For Immediate Release

The Museum Association of New York (MANY) looks ahead amid federal grant termination, funding crisis, and shifts in organizational structure.

MANY Statement_Press Release - July 2025.pdf

JULY 29, 2025, Troy, New York- The Museum Association of New York (MANY) is contending with the loss of federal funding that has severely impacted daily operations. On April 2, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) terminated a $494,284 grant for MANY's multi-year program, "A New Agora for New York: Museums as Spaces for Democracy." The sudden withdrawal of income committed to a project already underway has been devastating. The organization has responded by reducing staff to one employee, maintaining essential programming, and restructuring the volunteer Board of Directors to ensure long-term sustainability.

Developed as an extension of the Smithsonian Institute's Voices & Votes exhibition, New Agora exemplifies MANY's commitment to linking institutions large and small. Awarded the NEH grant in 2023, the funding supported MANY's collaboration with Humanities New York and Museums on Main Street to sponsor the participation of 12 museums across the state in hosting the traveling exhibition and developing site-specific responses. The award was the largest in MANY's history and brought national visibility to New York's museum leadership in using museums as spaces for civic dialogue and public good.

Now operating at a critically reduced capacity, MANY is launching a $200,000 fundraising campaign to rebuild funds lost due to the NEH's sudden grant termination. 28% percent of MANY's 2025 budget was lost as a direct result of the federal funding decision. The cited reasoning – "misalignment with federal priorities" – was the same as hundreds of other terminations and stands in stark contrast to the program's success in fostering civic engagement, public trust, and inclusive dialogue in communities.

New executive director, Sarah Van Anden, began just three days after the notification. She notes, "Nonprofits around the country have been forced to reevaluate income streams and chart a new path forward. MANY is no different. I am committed to the future of this organization and grateful to the leaders who have stepped up during this difficult time. From world-renowned museums to rural historical societies, MANY provides advocacy, training, and networking that fortify the entire cultural landscape. Our path forward is service to our members and a focus on those three most essential mission priorities."

Traditionally focused on vision and governance, board members have also stepped up to assume day-to-day operational responsibilities. Board Member and Director of Human Resources at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Andrea Harden, weighs in on this transition, stating, "Throughout my Human Resources career, I have worked for or consulted with numerous companies that have had to deal with adversity. In all cases, the key to success was a committed leadership team and/or board. Our MANY Board, faced with unforeseen challenges this year, has banded together to pivot from support to hands-on. And though there has been a transition of some board members (not unusual in times of change), their commitment to continued support of the organization, personally and through their museums, models the resiliency of MANY".

In the face of setbacks, MANY has received an outflow of support from organizations, former board members, funders, and other constituents who have been alerted to these challenges and remain committed to supporting the organization. Likewise, MANY's work continues. Despite the loss of funding, MANY upheld its commitment to New Agora partners. Thanks to generous project support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, the exhibition will travel as planned and be presented in all 12 locations.

Thanks to continued generous funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, MANY will also continue to offer free virtual programming to all members for the remainder of 2025. "In 2024, MANY served 2,387 museum professionals from more than 900 organizations and from 48 states (including DC) and 26 countries (outside the US) through a series of 19 webinars," said Natalie Stetson, MANY board member, chair of the program committee, and executive director of the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse NY, "This year we're offering a new series of virtual programs with topics ranging from the impact of federal grant loss to creating accessible spaces and developing sustainable internship programs to deaccessioning."

Since 1960, MANY has been a trusted advocate, convener, and partner for New York's museums. Affirming its commitment to advocating for museums across New York State, MANY is committed to equipping museums to meet evolving challenges through education, professional development, and support in areas such as workforce development and digital transformation. Museums generate over $5 billion in economic activity in New York each year, supporting jobs, tourism, education, and community identity. We must continue to support these institutions that are resilient and future-facing. Collectively, we remain committed to elevating New York's cultural leadership nationally and to meeting the demands of the moment.

About MANY:

The Museum Association of New York (MANY) helps shape a better future for museums and museum professionals by sharing best practices and building organizational capacity through advocacy, training, and networking opportunities. Founded in 1960, MANY is the only statewide museum service platform and brings together more than 700 member museums, historical societies, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums. MANY's annual conference connects hundreds of professionals across the state and nation.

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