Arkansas Humanities Council
The Arkansas Humanities Council, which uses the brand name HumanitiesAR, is a public charity based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded in 1974, it supports humanities projects and programs for Arkansas audiences through competitive grants and related training and technical assistance. The organization describes itself as a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Arkansas Humanities Council at a glance
In short: Arkansas Humanities Council gave $106K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Arkansas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $106,232
- -7.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- -15.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,657
- +9.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $9,253
- Total assets
- $339,276
- -3.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Arkansas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Arkansas Humanities Council
- Contact
Mailing address: 1400 W Markham Street Suite 307, Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 353-0349
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
15 open opportunities from Arkansas Humanities Council
AHC Access to the Humanities Grant
Arkansas Humanities Council
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
AHC Arkansas State Park Field Trip Grant
Arkansas Humanities Council
Amount
Up to US $1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
AHC Black History and Culture Grant
Arkansas Humanities Council
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Arkansas Humanities Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Central Arkansas Library System ($14K). Together the top 10 received $101K.
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 102 grants of 102 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The council’s grant programs serve Arkansas audiences, and its website describes awards to organizations, teachers, and schools statewide. All grant dollars itemized for 2024 went to recipients in Arkansas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Arkansas Humanities Council gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $12K (2022) to $683K (2021). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $106K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Central Arkansas Library System Little Rock, AR | Further Exempt Purpose | $14,250 |
| Arkansas Association of Instructional Media Hot Springs, AR | Further Exempt Purpose | $13,342 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR | Further Exempt Purpose | $13,059 |
| University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Fayetteville, AR | Further Exempt Purpose | $12,859 |
| Preserve Arkansas Little Rock, AR | Further Exempt Purpose | $11,689 |
| Historic Cane Hill Inc Cane Hill, AR | Further Exempt Purpose | $9,253 |
| Arkansas Imagination Library Little Rock, AR | Further Exempt Purpose | $7,500 |
| Living the Dream MediaInc Little Rock, AR | Further Exempt Purpose | $7,466 |
| Arkansas Emergency Medical Foundation Little Rock, AR | Further Exempt Purpose | $5,930 |
| Arkansas Association of Black Psychology Professionals Little Rock, AR | Further Exempt Purpose | $5,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $339,276 | $1,557,638 | $1,475,708 | $106,232 | 11 | $1,872 |
| 2023 | $351,475 | $1,301,425 | $1,345,420 | $114,828 | 13 | $626 |
| 2022 | $184,676 | $1,091,261 | $1,074,608 | $11,790 | 2 | $760 |
| 2021 | $163,161 | $1,422,263 | $1,344,720 | $682,574 | 39 | $2,164 |
| 2020 | $190,267 | $860,101 | $897,275 | $386,019 | 37 | $773 |
| 2019 | $574,654 | $606,238 | $607,910 | $67,416 | 7 | $2,691 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The council’s stated mission is to promote understanding, appreciation, and use of the humanities in Arkansas. Its website describes work that engages educators statewide, shares storytelling by local historians, authors, and scholars, and helps Arkansans connect through the humanities.
The council awards grants through a competitive process to nonprofit groups and organizations, as well as teachers and schools statewide. Its 2024 grantees included Historic Cane Hill, whose stated mission is to preserve historic buildings and property for educational and preservation purposes; Arkansas Imagination Library, which mails free books to children from birth to five in participating communities; and Watershed Conservation Resource Center, which works to protect, conserve, and restore natural resources.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the council reported 11 grants totaling $106,232. Awards ranged from $5,384 to $14,250, with a median of $9,253. All reported grant dollars went to Arkansas recipients. The largest awards included $14,250 to Central Arkansas Library System, $13,342 to Arkansas Association of Instructional Media, $13,059 to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and $12,859 to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
The website lists the AHC Black History and Culture Grant, AHC Access to the Humanities Grant, and AHC Other Media Mini-Grant as currently open. It describes a competitive application process, but the available program information does not provide application materials, restrictions, or deadlines.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Leatrice Russ-Glenns as Board Chair, Mel Zabecki as Board Vice-Chair, and Jillian Hartley as Board Secretary. It also lists Bettye Gragg, Catherine Wallack, Dr. Brian Jones, Dr. Christine Busser, Dr. Lisa Speer, Dr. Temma Balducci, and Dr. Tricia Starks as board members.
Arkansas Humanities Council is led by Jama Best, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 2 of 22 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jama Best
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$78K (2019) → $119K (2024)
Leatrice Russ-Glenns
Board Chair
Vice Chairman → Board Member, 2022
Board Member → Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katie Dailey
Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$75K (2024)
James Metzger
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Key
Board Member
Board Member → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mel Zabecki
Board Vice Chair
Board Member → Board Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tamela Tenpenny-Lewis
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tippi McCullough
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bettye Gragg
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Shores
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jillian Hartley
Board Secretary
Board Member → Board Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judy Costello
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Anderson
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leita Spears
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Jones
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Wallack
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Busser
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Foley
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Speer
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Temma Balducci
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Nutt
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tricia Starks
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Katherine Dailey (2021–2023) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Amelia Bowman (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Edma I. Delgado (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: James F. Willis (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Hughes (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Kaylin Mason (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Kevin D. Butler (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Paul R. Babbitt (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Rachel Miller (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Robert Moore (2019–2022) — Vice Chairman
- Former: Marjorie Hunter (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Kim Coryat (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Claudine James (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Felicia R. Smith (2019–2020) — Chair
- Former: Laura McClellan (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Marynell Branch (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Scott Cashion (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Stuart Towns (2019–2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Sydney Westbrook (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Paul Austin (2019) — Former Executive 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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $119K, to Jama Best (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Arkansas Humanities Council
How much does Arkansas Humanities Council give each year?
Arkansas Humanities Council gave $106K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $115K across 13 grants.
What is Arkansas Humanities Council's typical grant size?
Arkansas Humanities Council's median grant in 2024 was $9,253, and its average grant was $9,657, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Arkansas Humanities Council give grants?
Arkansas Humanities Council gives mostly in Arkansas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Little Rock, AR (7 grants) and Fayetteville, AR (2 grants).
Who are Arkansas Humanities Council's largest grantees?
Arkansas Humanities Council's largest 2024 grantees include Central Arkansas Library System ($14,250), Arkansas Association of Instructional Media ($13,342) and University of Arkansas at Little Rock ($13,059), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Arkansas Humanities Council?
Arkansas Humanities Council reported $339K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.6M.
What does Arkansas Humanities Council fund?
The council’s stated mission is to promote understanding, appreciation, and use of the humanities in Arkansas. Its website describes work that engages educators statewide, shares storytelling by local historians, authors, and scholars, and helps Arkansans connect through the humanities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Arkansas Humanities Council?
Arkansas Humanities Council has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Arkansas Humanities Council's EIN?
Arkansas Humanities Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-0459112. 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
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 6, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Arkansas Humanities Council's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Arkansas Humanities Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/arkansas-humanities-council-morg_fa3d0304373c4a70b7c9fe6ce38c0499
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_710459112_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Arkansas Humanities Council funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/arkansas-humanities-council-morg_fa3d0304373c4a70b7c9fe6ce38c0499},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Arkansas Humanities Council'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.
Arkansas Humanities Council down — hundreds of funders to go?