California Humanities is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Oakland, California, dedicated to connecting Californians to ideas and one another through humanities programming. The organization operates as a humanities council and grantmaking entity, serving as a catalyst for public engagement with cultural and historical topics across the state.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
-18.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$858K
Grant Count
41
Avg Grant Size
$21K
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To connect Californians to ideas and one another in order to understand our shared heritage and diverse cultures, inspire civic participation, and shape our future.
The organization focuses on:
- Humanities for All — A grant program supporting locally-initiated public humanities projects that respond to community needs and interests, encourage greater public participation in humanities programming (particularly among new and underserved audiences), and promote understanding and empathy to cultivate a thriving democracy
- Equity Alignment — An ongoing effort to ensure intentional, informed, and fair centering of equity across all aspects of the organization's work
- Informed Citizen Programs — Supporting democracy and civic engagement initiatives
- Cultural and Community Connection — Programming that celebrates California's shared heritage and diverse cultures
Grantmaking
California Humanities operates a tiered grant structure:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
California Humanities primarily funds projects in California, with some activity in New York and Nevada.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $1,943,658
- Total Revenue: $3,414,639
- Total Expenses: $3,444,896
- Number of Employees: 11
Historical Data (2023):
- Revenue: $3.16M
- Expenses: $4.11M
- Total Assets: $2.39M
- Total Liabilities: $1.52M
The organization maintains a Three-Star rating with an 86% overall score based on accountability, finance, and organizational metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,943,658 | $2,391,984 | $3,232,677 |
| Revenue | $3,414,639 | $3,163,451 | $3,719,623 |
| Expenses | $3,444,896 | $4,107,494 | $3,663,193 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $23,007 | $23,574 | $240 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
187 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from California Humanities
California Documentary Project
CALIFORNIA HUMANITIES
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
California Documentary Project: Research and Development Grant
CALIFORNIA HUMANITIES
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Community Stories (formerly California Story Fund)
CALIFORNIA HUMANITIES
Amount
$7,700 - $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fjc ($50,000), From the Heart Productions Inc ($50,000), Kartemquin Educational Films ($45,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BAY AREA VIDEO COALITION INC SAN FRANCISCO, CA | CORE PROGRAMS | $30,000 |
| CAPITAL STORYTELLING SACRAMENTO, CA | CORE PROGRAMS | $20,000 |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY INC NEWTON, MA | CORE PROGRAMS | $15,000 |
| CHAFFEY COLLEGE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA | CORE PROGRAMS | $25,000 |
| CITY OF SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA | CORE PROGRAMS | $15,000 |
| COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY JURISDICTION DOWNEY, CA | CORE PROGRAMS | $5,500 |
| EAST PALO ALTO YOUTH ART & MUSIC CENTER (DBA EPACENTER) EAST PALO ALTO, CA | CORE PROGRAMS | $15,000 |
| ECOARTS OF LAKE COUNTY DBA MIDDLETOWN ART CENTER MIDDLETOWN, CA | CORE PROGRAMS | $25,000 |
| FILM INDEPENDENT INC LOS ANGELES, CA | CORE PROGRAMS | $14,000 |
| FJC NEW YORK, NY | CORE PROGRAMS | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Rick Noguchi — President and CEO
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RACHEL HATCH | CHAIR | 1.25 | — |
| NEHA BALRAM | VICE CHAIR | 1.25 | — |
| MINA PARA MATLON | TREASURER | 1.25 | — |
| OLIVER ROSALES | SECRETARY | 1.25 | — |
| THOMAS K ARNOLD | DIRECTOR | 1.25 | — |
| GENEVIEVE CARPIO | DIRECTOR | 1.25 | — |
| SHIVA FARIVAR | DIRECTOR | 1.25 | — |
| FRITZ FRIEDMAN | DIRECTOR | 1.25 | — |
| NILOFAR GARDEZI | DIRECTOR | 1.25 | — |
| RAFAEL LEMUS | DIRECTOR | 1.25 | — |
| GIL ROBERTSON IV | DIRECTOR | 1.25 | — |
| BIDHAN CHANDRA ROY | DIRECTOR | 1.25 | — |
| JENNIFER STEELE | DIRECTOR | 1.25 | — |
| DARYLE WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR | 1.25 | — |
| PENELOPE WONG | DIRECTOR | 1.25 | — |
| RICK NOGUCHI | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $179,496 |
| FELICIA KELLEY | DIRECTOR OF PROJECT & EVAL | 40 | $130,577 |
| JOHN LIGHTFOOT | DIRECTOR OF MEDIA/JOURNALI | 40 | $128,389 |
| BRETT CONNOR | DATABASE/GRANTS MANAGER | 40 | $124,336 |
| MARIKA GARCIA | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $108,666 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
California Humanities joined the national "By the People" initiative, launching an Indigenous-led podcast series
Grantee Spotlight: Honoring History, Building Forward\_ - California HumanitiesAnnounced the 2025 California Documentary Project Grant Awards
Grantee Spotlight: Honoring History, Building Forward\_ - California HumanitiesLaunched "What We Share: Culture. Community. California — Connection," a statewide initiative
California Humanities Joins National \u201CBy the People\u201D Initiative\_\Continues to support grantee projects focused on honoring history and building community forward
Grantee Spotlight: Honoring History, Building Forward\_ - California HumanitiesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does California Humanities fund?
**Mission:** To connect Californians to ideas and one another in order to understand our shared heritage and diverse cultures, inspire civic participation, and shape our future. The organization focuses on: • **Humanities for All** — A grant program supporting locally-initiated public humanities projects that respond to community needs and interests, encourage greater public participation in humanities programming (particularly among new and underserved audiences), and promote understanding and…
How do I apply for a grant from California Humanities?
California Humanities operates a tiered grant structure: **Quick Grants:** $1,000–$5,000 • Awarded three times per year • For small-scale public humanities activities and projects • One-year project duration from award date **Project Grants:** $10,000–$20,000 • Awarded twice per year • For larger public humanities projects • Up to two-year duration from award date **Recent Grant Activity:** • Summer 2024: Awarded $52,500 to 11 Quick Grant projects • Winter 2022: Awarded $250,000 to 10 new human…
Where does California Humanities make grants?
California Humanities primarily funds projects in California, with some activity in New York and Nevada.
What size grants does California Humanities award?
In 2024, California Humanities awarded 41 grants totaling $858K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is California Humanities's EIN?
California Humanities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2952469. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in California Humanities's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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