Illinois Humanities Council Inc
Illinois Humanities Council Inc is a 501(c)(3) grantmaker based in Chicago, Illinois (EIN 37-0971586). Established in 1983, the organization operates as a public charity in the arts, culture, and humanities sector. The Council uses the humanities as a tool to stimulate conversations and engagement among diverse publics about ideas and issues that matter to communities.
Key facts about Illinois Humanities Council Inc
- EIN
- 37-0971586
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Total assets
- $5,539,032
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- Illinois Humanities Council Inc does not accept unsolicited proposals. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.5M
+12.0% YoY
Revenue
$5.6M
+35.4% YoY
Net Investment Income
$66K
+67.8% YoY
Expenses
$5.0M
+20.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Fostering a culture in which the humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Humanities engagement and education
- Public policy—bringing people across lines of ideology, race, and socioeconomic status together for constructive public policy discussions
- Media and journalism—building dialogue and collaboration between journalists and the public
- Art—improving conditions under which art thrives and combating notions of exclusivity
- Education—increasing access to humanities-based education for K-12 students, teachers, and adults throughout Illinois
- Digital humanities community grants—funding projects that bring people together for inquiry and conversation about digital humanities
Grantmaking
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Illinois Humanities Council Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Illinois Humanities Council Inc primarily gives to organizations located in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Revenue: $5,843,080
- Total Expenses: $4,898,255
- Total Assets: $6,346,876
- Net Assets: $5,502,714
- Operating Surplus: $944,825
- Staff: 28 employees
- Volunteers: 315
Revenue Breakdown (FY2024):
- Contributions: $6,039,910 (103.4%)
- Government Grants: $2,577,765 (44.1%)
- Other Revenue: -$2,774,595 (-47.5%)
Expense Breakdown (FY2024):
- Compensation & Benefits: $2,524,513 (51.5%)
- Grants & Assistance: $605,738 (12.4%)
- Service Providers: $39,945 (0.8%)
- Other Expenses: $1,728,059 (35.3%)
Historical Financials:
- FY2023: Revenue $5,639,982 | Expenses $4,985,993 | Assets $5,539,032
- FY2022: Revenue $4,165,542 | Expenses $4,154,768 | Assets $4,943,921
Funding Sources: The organization receives grants from 46 funders totaling $10,354,564 in recorded grants. Major funders include The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation ($2,750,000), John D & Catherine T MacArthur Foundation, and others. Twenty-seven funders have supported the organization in multiple years.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,539,032 | $4,943,921 | $4,489,432 |
| Revenue | $5,639,982 | $4,165,542 | $6,335,999 |
| Expenses | $4,985,993 | $4,154,768 | $3,937,026 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $65,526 | $39,047 | $5,168 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 0 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Illinois Humanities Council Inc
Collaborative Project Grants
Illinois Humanities Council Inc
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
IH Action Grants
Illinois Humanities Council Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
IH: Activate History Micro-Grants Program
Illinois Humanities Council Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for 2024.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Gabrielle Lyon, Executive Director
- Morven Elizabeth Higgins, Director of Development and Communication
- Vicki Garza, Director of Finance
- Susan Manning, Board Member
- Deborah Epstein, Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jai L Winston | Chair | 1 | — |
| Rikeesha Phelon | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Laurence Sophian | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Bridget Hayman | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Myriam Del Angel | Director | 1 | — |
| Antoinette Burton | Director | 1 | — |
| Aaron Diaz Bianco | Director | 1 | — |
| Sylvia Ewing | Director | 1 | — |
| Erica Hubbard | Director | 1 | — |
| Susan Manning | Director | 1 | — |
| Heather Norman | Director | 1 | — |
| Tawa Mitchell | Director | 1 | — |
| Julio Paz | Director | 1 | — |
| Lou Sandoval | Director | 1 | — |
| Nakea West | Director | 1 | — |
| Deborah Epstein | Life Director | 1 | — |
| Alton B Harris | Life Director | 1 | — |
| J Paul Hunter | Life Director | 1 | — |
| Gabrielle Lyon | Executive Director | 35 | $212,282 |
| Vicki Garza | Director of Finance | 40 | $124,074 |
| Morven Elizabeth Higgins | Director of Development and Communications | 40 | $122,502 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Federal Awards (FY2024):**
Promotion of the Humanities—Federal/State Partnership: $1,790,000
Grants to States: $30,000
Promotion of the Arts—Grants to Organizations and Individuals: $20,000
Total Federal Expenditures: $1.84 million
**Financial Performance:**
The organization operates with a healthier operating margin (12%) than the median of comparable arts and culture nonprofits in its size range ($1M–$10M). It maintains 4.3 months of reserve and demonstrates 8% annualized revenue growth, both above peer medians.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Illinois Humanities Council Inc fund?
**Mission:** Fostering a culture in which the humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Humanities engagement and education • Public policy—bringing people across lines of ideology, race, and socioeconomic status together for constructive public policy discussions • Media and journalism—building dialogue and collaboration between journalists and the public • Art—improving conditions under which art thrives and combating notions of exclus…
How do I apply for a grant from Illinois Humanities Council Inc?
Illinois Humanities Council Inc does not accept unsolicited proposals. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Illinois Humanities Council Inc make grants?
Illinois Humanities Council Inc primarily gives to organizations located in Illinois.
What is Illinois Humanities Council Inc's EIN?
Illinois Humanities Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-0971586. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does Illinois Humanities Council Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Illinois Humanities Council Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.