Maryland Humanities Council Inc logo

Maryland Humanities Council Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Baltimore, MD EIN: 52-1102799 Website

Maryland Humanities Council Inc is a public charity based in Baltimore, Maryland. Formed in 1977, it supports humanities programming across Maryland through grants to nonprofits and its own public programs.

Key facts about Maryland Humanities Council Inc

In short: Maryland Humanities Council Inc gave $1.2M across 109 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
52-1102799
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$1,213,389
Grants made (2025)
109
Average grant
$11,132
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$2,099,451
Primary geography
Maryland (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Deadline
September 13, 2026, for the FY27 cycle; this deadline has passed.

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$2.1M

-19.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.2M

+27.7% YoY

Grant Count

109

+14.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$11K

+11.3% YoY

How Maryland Humanities Council Inc gives

  • 39% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Maryland Humanities says its mission is to create and support bold experiences that explore and elevate shared stories to connect people, enhance lives, and enrich communities. Its programming includes public activities related to history, reading and literacy, and other humanities disciplines; programs named in its 2024 filing include Maryland History Day, One Maryland One Book, Museum on Main Street, and Veterans Book Groups.

Its SHINE grant program supports general operating expenses for nonprofits whose work has a significant humanities focus. The council’s eligibility information includes museums, historic sites, preservation and historical societies, and community and cultural organizations. Examples of grantees’ work include the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area’s efforts to preserve and promote local history, culture, and natural resources; the Fire Museum of Maryland’s work teaching firefighting history and safety; and the Captain Avery Museum’s work sharing local Chesapeake history.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the council reported 109 grants totaling $1,213,389. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $75,000, with a median of $10,000. All listed 2025 grants were for general operating support. Notable awards included $75,000 to The Emancipation Group; $21,500 each to Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, Berlin Heritage Foundation, and Indian Cultural Association of Howard County; and $20,000 to Fractured Atlas.

Review Cycle

September 13, 2026, for the FY27 cycle; this deadline has passed.

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1 open opportunity from Maryland Humanities Council Inc

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The council describes its grants as supporting humanities nonprofits throughout Maryland. In filing year 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland and 2% to recipients in New York.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 109 itemized grants.

Cities

BaltimoreAnnapolisCambridgeFrostburgSilver SpringTowsonChestertownFrederickHavre De GraceCumberlandHagerstownBerlinColumbiaEllicott CityLa PlataEastonMcHenryFort WashingtonThurmontBenedict

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M15 grants2019 113 grants2020 106 grants2021 0 grants2022 50 grants2023 95 grants2024 109 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $138K (2019) to $1.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 109 grants totaling $1.2M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

The Emancipation Group: $75KThe Emancipation Group$75KAnacostia Trails Heritage Area Inc: $22KAnacostia Trails Heritage AreaInc$22KBerlin Heritage Foundation Inc: $22KBerlin Heritage Foundation Inc$22KIndian Cultural Association of Howard County Inc: $22KIndian Cultural Association ofHoward County Inc$22KFractured Atlas: $20KFractured Atlas$20KHeart of the Civil War Heritage Area Inc: $18KHeart of the Civil WarHeritage Area Inc$18KWashington College: $17KWashington College$17KBuffalo Soldier Living History Display: $14KBuffalo Soldier Living HistoryDisplay$14KCambridge Woman's Club Inc: $14KCambridge Woman's Club Inc$14KFire Museum of Maryland Inc: $14KFire Museum of Maryland Inc$14K

The largest 2025 recipient was The Emancipation Group ($75K). Together the top 10 received $236K.

Grant Size Distribution

360 grants across all recorded years

359<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 359 grants of 360 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Emancipation Group Silver Spring, MDGeneral Operating Support$75,000
Anacostia Trails Heritage Area Inc Hyattsville, MDGeneral Operating Support$21,500
Berlin Heritage Foundation Inc Berlin, MDGeneral Operating Support$21,500
Indian Cultural Association of Howard County Inc Ellicott City, MDGeneral Operating Support$21,500
Fractured Atlas Hartsdale, NYGeneral Operating Support$20,000
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Inc Frederick, MDGeneral Operating Support$17,500
Washington College Chestertown, MDGeneral Operating Support$16,500
Buffalo Soldier Living History Display Joppa, MDGeneral Operating Support$14,000
Cambridge Woman's Club Inc Trappe, MDGeneral Operating Support$14,000
Fire Museum of Maryland Inc Lutherville, MDGeneral Operating Support$14,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $2,099,451 $2,991,430 $3,202,157 $1,213,389
2024 $2,609,331 $3,005,485 $3,000,638 $950,000
2023 $2,172,943 $1,807,993 $2,457,187 $500,000
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M$4M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$2,099,451$2,609,331$2,172,943
Revenue$2,991,430$3,005,485$1,807,993
Expenses$3,202,157$3,000,638$2,457,187
Net Investment Income$63,696$51,419$53,165

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 15, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 28, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 30, 2024)
  4. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 18, 2020)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 5, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 9, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Chanel Johnson, chair; Dr. Ronald Nowaczyk, chair through January 2025; Alicia Jones, immediate past chair; Carmel Roques, vice chair; Soo Koo, secretary; Ruth Kim, treasurer; and directors Mary Hastler, Julia Madden, Allyson Black Woodson, and Christian Pulley.

Maryland Humanities Council Inc is led by Lindsey Baker, CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 28 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Lindsey Baker

    CEO

    Executive Director → Chief Executive Officer, 2024

    Chief Executive Officer → CEO, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    35 hrs/week

    $47K (2021) → $125K (2025)

  • Ronald Nowaczyk

    Chair

    Treasurer & Board of Directors → Treasurer, 2024

    Treasurer → Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chanel Johnson

    Chair

    Board of Directors → Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeanne Pirtle

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Julia Madden

    Director

    Government Liason & Board of Director → Government Liason, 2024

    Government Liason → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Hastler

    Director

    Immediate Past Chair & Board of Director → Immediate Past Chair, 2024

    Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Saima Sitwat

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Allyson Black Woodson

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kendra Brown

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kimberly R. Moffitt

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marshall Stevenson Jr.

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mollie Caplis

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rachael Gibson

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shauna Knox

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tahira Christmon

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alejandra Balcazar

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brian Casemore

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christian Pulley

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jill Ferris

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kara French

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tamar Sarnoff

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Veronica Gallardo

    Director

    Board of Directors → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Charmaine Weston

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth Benton

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carmel Roques

    Vice Chair

    Secretary & Board of Directors → Secretary, 2024

    Secretary → Vice Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Soo Koo

    Secretary

    Board of Directors → Secretary, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alicia Jones

    Immediate Past Chair

    Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ruth Kim

    Treasurer

    Board of Directors → Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (36)
  • Former: Jennifer Shea (2019–2024) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Rahne Alexander (2024) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Guffrie Smith Jr. (2019–2023) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Heather Mitchell (2019–2023) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Nancy Rogers (2019–2023) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Sharon Whitney (2019–2023) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Alicia Jones McLeod (2020–2023) — Chair & Board of Directors
  • Former: Chanel Compton (2020–2023) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Mary Mateer Cummings (2022–2023) — Board of Directors
  • Former: The Honorable Ronald Pete Les (2022–2023) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Tuajuanda Jordan (2022–2023) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Keith Stone (2019–2022) — Vice Chair & Board of Directors
  • Former: Dennett Edwards (2021–2022) — Director of Administrator
  • Former: Cynthia Raposo (2019–2021) — Immediate Past Chair & Board of Directors
  • Former: James Cornelsen (2019–2021) — Treasurer & Board of Directors
  • Former: Jayson Williams (2019–2021) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Maarten Pereboom (2019–2021) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Mark Irwin (2019–2021) — Secretary & Board of Directors
  • Former: Mary Kay Finan (2019–2021) — Board of Directors
  • Former: The Honorable Ronald Pete Lesher (2019–2021) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Thomas Riford (2019–2021) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Tiffany McGhee (2019–2021) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Mary Callis (2020–2021) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Randy Ontiveros (2020–2021) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Soo Park (2020–2021) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Allyson Black (2019–2020) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Jim Kitterman (2019–2020) — Fiscal Officer
  • Former: Phoebe Stein (2019–2020) — Executive Director
  • Former: Rian Hargrave (2019–2020) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Ron Nowaczyk (2019–2020) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Scott Casper (2019–2020) — Secretary & Board of Directors
  • Former: Tahira Mahdi (2019–2020) — Board of Directors
  • Former: The Honorable Gale Rasin (2019–2020) — Board of Directors
  • Former: The Honorable Stephen Sfekas (2019–2020) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Elizabeth Cannon (2019) — Board of Directors
  • Former: Silvia Golombek (2019) — Board of Directors

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

Lindsey Baker — CEO: $125KLindsey BakerCEO$125K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $125K, to Lindsey Baker (CEO).

Contact

Mailing address: 3600 Clipper Mill Rd Ste 320, Baltimore, MD 21211
Phone: (410) 685-0095
Website: https://mdhumanities.org

Frequently asked questions about Maryland Humanities Council Inc

How much does Maryland Humanities Council Inc give each year?

Maryland Humanities Council Inc gave $1.2M across 109 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $950K across 95 grants.

What is Maryland Humanities Council Inc's typical grant size?

Maryland Humanities Council Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,132, across 109 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Maryland Humanities Council Inc give grants?

Maryland Humanities Council Inc gives mostly in Maryland: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (21 grants), Silver Spring, MD (4 grants), Columbia, MD (4 grants) and Annapolis, MD (4 grants).

Does Maryland Humanities Council Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Maryland Humanities Council Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (109 of 109) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Who are Maryland Humanities Council Inc's largest grantees?

Maryland Humanities Council Inc's largest 2025 grantees include The Emancipation Group ($75,000), Anacostia Trails Heritage Area Inc ($21,500) and Berlin Heritage Foundation Inc ($21,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Maryland Humanities Council Inc?

Maryland Humanities Council Inc reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.0M.

What does Maryland Humanities Council Inc fund?

Maryland Humanities says its mission is to create and support bold experiences that explore and elevate shared stories to connect people, enhance lives, and enrich communities. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Maryland Humanities Council Inc?

Maryland Humanities Council Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check mdhumanities.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Maryland Humanities Council Inc's EIN?

Maryland Humanities Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1102799. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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