Arizona Humanities Council Inc logo

Arizona Humanities Council Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Phoenix, AZ EIN: 86-0287464 Website

Arizona Humanities Council Inc is a public charity based in Phoenix, Arizona. Arizona Humanities describes itself as a statewide nonprofit and Arizona’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. It supports public humanities programs and awards grants to organizations for community-based projects that explore cultures, peoples, histories, and issues significant to Arizonans.

Arizona Humanities Council Inc at a glance

In short: Arizona Humanities Council Inc gave $151K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in Arizona. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$150,573
+17.6% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
16
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$9,411
+17.6% vs 2023
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$1,020,558
+22.7% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
33% first-time grantees (5 of 15, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Arizona (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Arizona Humanities Council Inc

How to Apply

Mini Grants and Project Grants are currently suspended, according to the organization’s website. When grants are available, applicants submit through the online grants portal; Project Grant applicants need a humanities scholar to oversee the project.

Contact

Mailing address: 1242 N Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: (602) 257-0335
Website: https://azhumanities.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Arizona Humanities Council Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Flagstaff Arts Council: $20K across 2 grantsFlagstaff Arts Council$20K · 2 grantsNatural History Institute: $10KNatural History Institute$10KNorthern Arizona Book Festival: $10KNorthern Arizona Book Festival$10KLatinx Kidlit Book Festival: $10KLatinx Kidlit Book Festival$10KMuseum of Contemporary Art: $10KMuseum of Contemporary Art$10KThe Hopi Foundation - Hopi Leadersh: $10KThe Hopi Foundation - HopiLeadersh$10KMonsoon Youth Education Project - S: $10KMonsoon Youth EducationProject - S$10KChildren's Museum Tucson: $10KChildren's Museum Tucson$10KVeterans Heritage Project: $10KVeterans Heritage Project$10KNaco Heritage Alliance: $10KNaco Heritage Alliance$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was Flagstaff Arts Council ($20K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $110K.

Grant Size Distribution

162 grants across all recorded years

162<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 162 grants of 162 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Arizona Humanities describes its work as statewide and says its grants support projects connecting Arizonans to cultures, peoples, and histories. In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona and 7% went to recipients in Connecticut.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.

Cities

PhoenixTucsonFlagstaffTempeScottsdaleSedonaPrescottChandlerMesaVailFlorenceFountain HillsGilbertGlobeKykotsmoviLake Havasu CityNacoNogalesPageSurprise

Is Arizona Humanities Council Inc open to new grantees?

33%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $10K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 33% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 83% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M8 grants2019 60 grants2020 55 grants2021 15 grants2022 16 grants2023 16 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $70K (2019) to $881K (2021). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $151K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Natural History Institute Prescott, AZProject Grant$10,000
Flagstaff Arts Council Flagstaff, AZProject Grant$10,000
Northern Arizona Book Festival Flagstaff, AZProject Grant$10,000
Latinx Kidlit Book Festival Washington Depot, CTProject Grant$10,000
Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson, AZProject Grant$10,000
The Hopi Foundation - Hopi Leadersh Kykotsmovi, AZProject Grant$10,000
Monsoon Youth Education Project - S Globe, AZProject Grant$10,000
Children's Museum Tucson Tucson, AZProject Grant$10,000
Veterans Heritage Project Phoenix, AZProject Grant$10,000
Flagstaff Arts Council Flagstaff, AZProject Grant$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$1,020,558$1,307,582$1,212,297$150,57316$8,395
2023$831,990$1,138,682$1,081,226$128,00216$10,051
2022$771,505$1,141,749$1,092,493$136,75015$2,352
2021$745,855$1,732,816$1,678,009$880,85155$11,946
2020$662,934$1,414,820$1,372,723$588,50760$4,295
2019$634,856$827,810$835,237$69,8708$4,683

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Arizona Humanities’ mission is to build a just and civil society by creating opportunities for people to explore shared human experiences through discussion, learning, and reflection. The organization says it supports projects that use the humanities to provide context, depth, and perspective, and that its programs aim to encourage community exchange, build audiences for the humanities, and support understanding of the humanities’ role in democracy.

It welcomes proposals from nonprofit, educational, and governmental organizations. Examples of eligible formats include lectures and discussions, exhibits, peer-reviewed publications, public broadcasts, documentaries, and discussions connected to performances. Its 2023 filing describes work that included literacy programs and book distribution through AZ Reads, AZ Speaks programs, festivals, and hosting a Smithsonian traveling exhibition in rural Arizona communities. The filing also says it focused on underserved communities, including Title I schools and Indigenous youth.

Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the variety of organizations funded. The Hopi Foundation describes its mission as maintaining, preserving, and revitalizing Hopi and Indigenous cultures. The Natural History Institute says it integrates art, science, and humanities to promote the well-being of people and the natural world. The Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson describes its work as cultivating, exhibiting, and interpreting contemporary art through exhibitions and public education, while Flagstaff Arts Council says it promotes and advocates for the arts in its community.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, Arizona Humanities reported 16 grants totaling $150,573. Grant amounts ranged from $7,200 to $10,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed awards included $10,000 each to the Natural History Institute, Flagstaff Arts Council, Northern Arizona Book Festival, Latinx KidLit Book Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson, the Hopi Foundation, Monsoon Youth Education Project, Children’s Museum Tucson, Veterans Heritage Project, and Naco Heritage Alliance. Pueblo Grande Museum Auxiliary received $9,662.

The organization offers Project Grants and Mini Grants. Its website describes Project Grants as competitive awards of up to $10,000, awarded twice yearly, and says applicants must have a humanities scholar oversee the project. Mini Grants are described as awards of up to $2,500, accepted on a rolling basis, with priority for organizations with annual budgets of $500,000 or less. The website says Mini Grant applications for 2026–2027 were to begin August 1, 2026, but also states that Mini Grants and Project Grants are currently suspended pending a determination about federal funds. It says AZ Reads is not affected by the suspension.

The 2023 filing describes a digital application through an online grants portal. It says regrant applications require board approval, and that the grants manager monitors grant compliance, project completion, and reporting.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Dr. Tamika Sanders as chair, Christine Coe as treasurer, Dr. Almira Poudrier as vice chair, Caryn Byrd as secretary, and Edgar Olivo as prior chair. Directors listed are Dr. James Blasingame, Heather Mattison, Dr. Chris Boyer, Alain Philippe Durand, and Dr. Tanae Morrison.

Arizona Humanities Council Inc is led by Edgar Olivo, Prior Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 15 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Edgar Olivo

    Prior Chair

    Vice Chairman & Director → Chair, 2022

    Chair → Prior Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tamika Sanders

    Chair

    Director → Vice Chair, 2022

    Vice Chair → Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alain Philippe Durand

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • James Blasingame

    Director

    Chairman & Director → Past Chair, 2022

    Past Chair → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tanae Morrison

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Crys Waddell

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chris Boyer

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joe Ray

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Natalia Ronceria Ceballos

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alex Soto

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Heather Mattison

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brenda Thomson

    Executive Di

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $103K (2019) → $124K (2024)

  • Almira Poudrier

    Vice Chair

    Director → Secretary, 2022

    Secretary → Vice Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Caryn Byrd

    Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christine Coe

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2022

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (23)
  • Former: Karl Kendall (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Regi Adams (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Eshe Pickett (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Martin Stamat (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Albrecht Classen (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Julie Codell (2019–2021) — Member at La & Director
  • Former: Andrew Krahe (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Emerson Yearwood (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Eve Krahe (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Jennifer Bonilla (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Mary Lu Nunley (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Debbie Nez-Manuel (2020) — Director
  • Former: Kari Paulson (2020) — Director
  • Former: Tamika Snaders (2020) — Director
  • Former: Christine Szuter (2019) — Treasurer
  • Former: Dana Jamison (2019) — Director
  • Former: Dianna Soe Myint (2019) — Director
  • Former: Joel Fritzler (2019) — Director
  • Former: Ryan Bruce (2019) — Chairman
  • Former: Sherman Elliott (2019) — Director
  • Former: Stephen Richer (2019) — Director
  • Former: Valerio Ferme (2019) — Director
  • Former: Vince Lujan (2019) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Brenda Thomson — Executive Di: $124KBrenda ThomsonExecutive Di$124K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $124K, to Brenda Thomson (Executive Di).

Frequently asked questions about Arizona Humanities Council Inc

How much does Arizona Humanities Council Inc give each year?

Arizona Humanities Council Inc gave $151K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $128K across 16 grants.

What is Arizona Humanities Council Inc's typical grant size?

Arizona Humanities Council Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $9,411, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Arizona Humanities Council Inc that year got $9K on average.

Where does Arizona Humanities Council Inc give grants?

Arizona Humanities Council Inc gives mostly in Arizona: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Connecticut (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (4 grants), Flagstaff, AZ (3 grants), Tucson, AZ (2 grants) and Prescott, AZ (2 grants).

Does Arizona Humanities Council Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Arizona Humanities Council Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Project Grant" (16 grants).

Who are Arizona Humanities Council Inc's largest grantees?

Arizona Humanities Council Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Flagstaff Arts Council ($20,000 across 2 grants), Natural History Institute ($10,000) and Northern Arizona Book Festival ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Arizona Humanities Council Inc?

Arizona Humanities Council Inc reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.3M.

What does Arizona Humanities Council Inc fund?

Arizona Humanities’ mission is to build a just and civil society by creating opportunities for people to explore shared human experiences through discussion, learning, and reflection. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Arizona Humanities Council Inc?

Mini Grants and Project Grants are currently suspended, according to the organization’s website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Arizona Humanities Council Inc's EIN?

Arizona Humanities Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0287464. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 15, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 15, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 13, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 16, 2025)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 8, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Arizona Humanities Council Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/arizona-humanities-council-inc-morg_abdce38d2f464c0486a35fd14790307f

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_860287464_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Arizona Humanities Council Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/arizona-humanities-council-inc-morg_abdce38d2f464c0486a35fd14790307f},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Arizona Humanities Council Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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