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 $11K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Arkansas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $11,193
- -89.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -90.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,193
- +15.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,193
- Total assets
- $328,183
- -3.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Arkansas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 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 recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Arkansas at Little Rock ($11K).
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 66 (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 the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Arkansas Humanities Council gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2025) to $683K (2021). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $11K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR | Further Exempt Purpose | $11,193 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $328,183 | $858,208 | $742,473 | $11,193 | 1 | $5,378 |
| 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. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 1 grant totaling $11,193.
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; 3 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jama Best
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$78K (2019) → $142K (2025)
Mel Zabecki
Chair
Board Member → Board Vice Chair, 2023
Board Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katie Dailey
CFO
Chief Financial Officer → CFO, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$75K (2024) → $90K (2025)
Adrienne Jones
Associate Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$90K (2025)
Leatrice Russ-Glenns
Board Member
Board Member → Board Chair, 2023
Board Chair → Board Member, 2025
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
Jillian Hartley
Vice Chair
Board Member → Board Secretary, 2023
Board Secretary → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judy Costello
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Wallack
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
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
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 Stark
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amber Thompson
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Gibbs
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Blake Perkins
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brain Jones
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caree Banton
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dallas Martinez
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (30)
- Former: James Metzger (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Joseph Key (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Tippi McCullough (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Bettye Gragg (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Elizabeth Shores (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Kathy Anderson (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Leita Spears (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Brian Jones (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Christine Busser (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Temma Balducci (2023–2024) — Board Member
- 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, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $142K, to Jama Best (Executive Director). 3 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 $11K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $106K across 11 grants.
How large is Arkansas Humanities Council?
Arkansas Humanities Council reported $328K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $858K.
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.
Where does Arkansas Humanities Council make 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.
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 2019–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 15, 2026)
- 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
Other open foundation grants in Arkansas
Arkansas Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Arkansas Humanities Council's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Heart of Arkansas United Way
Little Rock, AR
Heart of Arkansas United Way supports measurable programs focused on youth opportunity, financial security, health, and community resiliency, especially for people below the ALICE threshold or federal poverty line. Its Community Investment Grants offer $3,000–$12,000 for six months, with possible renewal, to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations serving Pulaski, Lonoke, or Saline Counties in Arkansas. The profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$8.9M
Grants
26
Total Given
$511K
Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable
Arkadelphia, AR
The Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable Foundation supports varied causes, including education, food assistance, churches, and arts and cultural organizations, with awards restricted to Arkansas. In 2024, grants ranged from $2,500 to $56,472, with a median of $10,000. It does not limit giving to preselected organizations and requests a letter explaining the request and an IRS determination letter; no submission deadlines are stated.
Assets
$10.6M
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33
Total Given
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Walter O Caldwell Foundation
Fort Smith, AR
The Walter O Caldwell Foundation supports organizations in areas including arts, education, health care, emergency assistance, food support, and local history, with awards restricted to the Fort Smith, Arkansas area. In 2025, grants ranged from $1,500 to $160,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts requests by letter with proof of exempt status, financials, and the request’s purpose; the filing does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$1.1M
Grants
33
Total Given
$633K
Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable
Dallas, TX
The foundation funds educational, cultural, human services, and health care programs, including capital projects, medical research, and endowments, primarily in Arkansas and Texas, with an emphasis on the Dallas area. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $250,000, with a median of $20,000. It accepts applications from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations; the deadline is March 1.
Assets
$33.5M
Grants
82
Total Given
$2.1M
Southern Bancorp Capital Partners
Little Rock, AR
Southern Bancorp Capital Partners supports community development and asset-building in disadvantaged rural communities, with a reported 2024 grant for education scholarships in Arkansas. Its typical giving level was $332,146; the available information does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$49.0M
Grants
1
Total Given
$332K
Rebsamen Fund
Little Rock, AR
The fund supports arts, education and literacy, health, and social services, with most awards going to Arkansas organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $5,000. It says there is no required application form or deadline and directs applicants to contact the fund.
Assets
$2.3M
Grants
40
Total Given
$282K
More similar funders
More Funders in Arkansas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Arkansas Humanities Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 4, 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 2026-11-04. 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?