Humanities Iowa
The mission of Humanities Iowa is to promote understanding and appreciation of the people, communities, culture, and stories of importance to Iowa and the nation. Humanities Iowa (HI) is committed to bringing the humanities to the public through grant making, publications, interactive programming and events. Founded in 1971. We provide grants and partnerships to other non-profit organizations that further the humanities in the state, and we conduct our own programs that support the humanities across Iowa. Each year we serve over 250,000 iowans with programming and projects like our speakers bureau. We have a strong commitment to sharing and supporting the humanities with all iowans, and to bringing the humanities to life.
Humanities Iowa at a glance
In short: Humanities Iowa gave $35K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $35,000
- -63.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- -62.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,667
- -1.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $438,282
- -34.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Humanities Iowa
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Humanities Iowa
Who Humanities Iowa funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Siouxland Public Media ($15K). Together the top 3 received $35K.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 44 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Humanities Iowa gives
- Giving fell 55% from 2021 to 2024. 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $35K (2024) to $263K (2019). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $35K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Siouxland Public Media Po Box, IA | Preservation Project | $15,000 |
| Sioux City Art Center Sioux City, IA | E&D Project | $10,000 |
| Iowa Poetry Association Des Moines, IA | Poetrypalooza | $10,000 |
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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 | $438,282 | $114,597 | $357,078 | $35,000 | 3 | $10,782 |
| 2023 | $670,794 | $99,056 | $441,636 | $94,500 | 8 | $21,397 |
| 2022 | $975,082 | $123,120 | $377,997 | $106,650 | 7 | $56,892 |
| 2021 | $1,550,896 | $77,679 | $525,169 | $78,502 | 8 | $39,995 |
| 2020 | $1,784,495 | $759,087 | $702,109 | $256,499 | 18 | $21,626 |
| 2019 | $1,595,847 | $834,849 | $776,154 | $263,207 | 20 | $20,550 |
About Humanities Iowa
Based on IRS filings
Humanities Iowa is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Ames, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $438K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $35K. Net investment income was $11K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Humanities Iowa is led by Linda Shenk, President since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 14 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Linda Shenk
President
Director → Vice President, 2020
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Shea
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gaye Shannon Burnett
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jan Warren
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janet Flanagan
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Baum
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Mason
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lanisha Cassell
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn Baszczynski
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Fredricks
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Plucar
Executive Di
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$82K (2022) → $106K (2024)
Cynthia Sweet
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dave Bright
Vice President
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sherry Gupta
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Karen Mitchell (2019–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Rosemarie Ward (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Hoover De Galvez (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Richard Moeller (2021–2023) — Past President
- Former: Trevor Harvey (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Treyla Lee (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Kay Krekow (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Radhi Al-Mabuk (2022–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: David Eckert (2023) — Director
- Former: Debra Marquart (2023) — Director
- Former: Gretta Berghammer (2023) — Director
- Former: Peter Drahozal (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Steve Siegel (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Harry Dunstan (2022) — Director
- Former: Christopher Rossi (2019–2021) — Executive Di
- Former: Courtney Craig (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Jack Wertzberger (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Dick Moeller (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Kurt Meyer (2019–2020) — President
- Former: Mark Felderman (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Rick Crowl (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Amy Nolan (2019) — Director
- Former: Charissa Menefee (2019) — Vice President
- Former: Jeff Heland (2019) — Director
- Former: Jose Amaya (2019) — Director
- Former: Kenneth Lyftogt (2019) — Director
- Former: Marianne Mickelson (2019) — Director
- Former: Marina Sandquist (2019) — Director
- Former: Tom Dean (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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $106K, to Heather Plucar (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Humanities Iowa
How much does Humanities Iowa give each year?
Humanities Iowa gave $35K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $95K across 8 grants.
What is Humanities Iowa's typical grant size?
Humanities Iowa's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,667, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Humanities Iowa give grants?
Humanities Iowa gives mostly in Iowa: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Humanities Iowa give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Humanities Iowa's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Humanities Iowa?
Humanities Iowa reported $438K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $115K.
What is Humanities Iowa?
Humanities Iowa is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Ames, IA. It holds $438K in total assets as of 2024.
What is Humanities Iowa's EIN?
Humanities Iowa's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7374180. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
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 June 1, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 30, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 25, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Humanities Iowa funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Humanities Iowa's focus areas in our free grants database
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Humanities Iowa down — hundreds of funders to go?