Missouri Humanities Council
Missouri Humanities Council is a public charity based in Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1971, it supports humanities-based projects and public programming across Missouri through grants and its own programs.
Missouri Humanities Council at a glance
In short: Missouri Humanities Council gave $1.3M across 79 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Missouri. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,316,640
- +159.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 79
- +46.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,666
- +77.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,500
- Total assets
- $5,959,306
- -22.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Missouri (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Missouri Humanities Council
- How to Apply
-
Apply through the grant portal and follow the guidelines and application instructions for the relevant grant cycle. The application materials request project details, location, audience, alignment with the council’s goals, and cash and in-kind matching information.
- Review Cycle
- The listed 2026 Mini Grant deadline is November 1, 2026. The website’s recurring schedule gives Mini Grant cycles of April 1–May 1 and October 1–November 1, and Major Grant cycles of January 1–February 1 and July 1–August 1. The 2026 cycles earlier than October 2 have passed.
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 Mini Grant deadline is November 1, 2026.
- Next open deadline
- November 1, 2026 (Missouri Humanities - Mini Grants)
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 270166 108, Kansas City, MO 64127
Phone: (314) 371-8788
Website: https://mohumanities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Missouri Humanities Council
MHC: Mini Grants
Missouri Humanities Council
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Missouri Humanities - Mini Grants
Missouri Humanities Council
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
November 1, 2026
Listed date — confirm with the funder
Semiquincentennial Grants
Missouri Humanities Council
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Missouri Humanities Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ozark Vitality ($39K). Together the top 10 received $309K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($13,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
229 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 221 grants of 229 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The grant guidelines require applicant organizations to have their principal offices in Missouri and proposed activities to serve audiences in Missouri. All grant dollars in the 2025 itemized filing data went to Missouri recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 79 itemized grants.
Cities
How Missouri Humanities Council gives
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $159K (2019) to $1.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 79 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ozark Vitality Farmington, MO | Humanities Programs | $39,000 |
| Ready Readers St. Louis, MO | Humanities Programs | $36,000 |
| Reel Images Film & Video Group Kansas City, MO | Humanities Programs | $36,000 |
| Magnificent Missouri St. Louis, MO | Humanities Programs | $31,500 |
| Route 66 Association of Missouri Inc St. Louis, MO | Humanities Programs | $29,700 |
| Newton County Tourism Council Neosho, MO | Humanities Programs | $28,800 |
| Union Station Kansas City Inc Kansas City, MO | Humanities Programs | $28,000 |
| Springfield Regional Opera Springfield, MO | Humanities Programs | $27,000 |
| Stone County Historicalgenealogical Society Crane, MO | Humanities Programs | $27,000 |
| Presser Hall Restoration Society Mexico, MO | Humanities Programs | $25,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing narrative separately reports $1,510,287 in grants distributed in FY25.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,959,306 | $2,986,857 | $4,756,571 | $1,316,640 | 79 | $16,410 |
| 2024 | $7,701,975 | $5,949,523 | $2,999,525 | $507,910 | 54 | $14,363 |
| 2023 | $4,637,122 | $3,425,523 | $2,065,347 | $507,910 | 54 | $-10,421 |
| 2022 | $3,183,944 | $2,622,833 | $1,667,664 | $218,279 | 25 | $11,600 |
| 2021 | $2,269,660 | $3,215,573 | $2,391,012 | $819,696 | 17 | $3,337 |
| 2020 | $1,623,263 | $2,260,679 | $2,475,718 | $379,215 | 31 | $804 |
| 2019 | $1,765,962 | $1,865,810 | $2,215,580 | $158,702 | 17 | $1,818 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that it explores history, civics, and culture through community partnerships and public programming. Its programs include public dialogue, cultural heritage activities, veterans programming, digital storytelling, literary programs, and presentations by historians and other experts.
Missouri Humanities offers grants for humanities-based programs that connect public audiences with humanities experts. Its guidelines identify possible activities such as interpretive exhibits, public forums, humanities workshops, and media or publication projects. The guidelines say expert involvement in planning, development, and execution is an important evaluation factor.
Grantees in 2025 included organizations with varied missions. Ready Readers says it expands literacy for young children in low-income communities. Magnificent Missouri says it works to conserve and increase appreciation of the Katy Trail and the last 100 miles of the Missouri River Valley. Union Station Kansas City says it preserves its historic monument and stories and supports lifelong learning. Springfield Regional Opera says it fosters and promotes opera, while History Museum on the Square says it collects, preserves, and exhibits historical and cultural materials from Springfield, Greene County, and the surrounding Missouri Ozarks.
Grantmaking
The 2025 filing data itemizes 79 grants totaling $1,316,640. Individual awards ranged from $5,237 to $39,000, with a median of $13,500. Separately, the organization’s filing narrative reports that it distributed $1,510,287 in grants in FY25 and that 90 grant-funded programs served 404,667 people.
The largest itemized 2025 awards included $39,000 to Ozark Vitality; $36,000 each to Ready Readers and Reel Images Film & Video Group; $31,500 to Magnificent Missouri; and $29,700 to Route 66 Association of Missouri. Other listed awards included $28,800 to Newton County Tourism Council, $28,000 to Union Station Kansas City, $27,000 each to Springfield Regional Opera and Stone County Historical-Genealogical Society, and $25,500 each to Presser Hall Restoration Society and Steelville Area Historical Society. The listed grants were all to Missouri recipients.
The council’s grant page describes Mini Grants of up to $5,000 and Major Grants of up to $15,000. Its guidelines specify Mini Grant requests of $5,000 or less and Major Grant requests of $5,001 to $15,000, with full or partial funding possible. The guidelines require a nonprofit applicant with a UEI and principal offices in Missouri; individuals and for-profit entities may not apply. Applicants may apply individually or with partners, but only one organization may serve as applicant. Proposed projects must serve audiences in Missouri. The budget form requires cash and in-kind matching contributions from sources other than Missouri Humanities equal to or greater than the requested grant amount, and grant funds may not cover meals or food and beverages.
The website describes application through the council’s grant portal, with project information and supporting documents submitted as part of the application. It offers application reviews 20 days before deadlines. The council’s 2026 Mini Grants listing also describes funding for Veterans Initiatives, Literacy Festivals and Programs, Film Projects, and projects aligned with the annual Signature Series theme; alignment is preferred but not required. A separate Semiquincentennial Grants opportunity offers awards up to $25,000 for projects telling the story of America through Missouri’s lens.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Trish Erzfeld as chairperson, Jason Sides as vice chair, and John M. Robinson III as treasurer. Directors listed include Marci Bennett, Betty Coleman, Marilynn Bradford, Peter Hofherr, Sudarsan Kant, George Pettigrew, and Juan Meraz.
Missouri Humanities Council is led by Ashley Beard-Fosnow, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 14 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ashley Beard-Fosnow
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$63K (2021) → $90K (2025)
Trish Erzfeld
Chairperson
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Betty Coleman
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marci Bennett
Director
Vice Chair → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholoas Inman
Director
Director → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marilynn Bradford
Director
Director → Chair, 2021
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Hofherr
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sudarsan Kant
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alicia Starr
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dawn Smith-Popielski
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George Pettigrew
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Juan Meraz
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John M. Robinson III
Treasurer
Chair → Fiscal Officer, 2022
Fiscal Officer → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Sides
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Marvin Silliman (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Thomas M. Brandom (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Petra Dewitt (2021–2024) — Chair
- Former: Blake Sherer (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Laura Dierberg Ayers (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Justin Dyer (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Nat Hardy (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Etta Madden (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Susanne Evens (2019–2021) — Former Treasurer
- Former: William Belko (2019–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Adam Criblez (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Carla Jordon (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Deborah Taffa (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Erica A. Doerhoff (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Gay Wilson (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Lesley Hunt (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Siegrid Maness (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: J. Howard Fisk (2020) — Director
- Former: Joseph Houts Jr. (2019) — 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 $90K, to Ashley Beard-Fosnow (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Missouri Humanities Council
How much does Missouri Humanities Council give each year?
Missouri Humanities Council gave $1.3M across 79 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $508K across 54 grants.
What is Missouri Humanities Council's typical grant size?
Missouri Humanities Council's median grant in 2025 was $13,500, and its average grant was $16,666, across 79 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Missouri Humanities Council give grants?
Missouri Humanities Council gives mostly in Missouri: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (14 grants), Kansas City, MO (12 grants), Columbia, MO (5 grants) and Springfield, MO (4 grants).
Does Missouri Humanities Council give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 79 grants with a stated purpose on Missouri Humanities Council's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Humanities Programs" (79 grants).
Who are Missouri Humanities Council's largest grantees?
Missouri Humanities Council's largest 2025 grantees include Ozark Vitality ($39,000), Ready Readers ($36,000) and Reel Images Film & Video Group ($36,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($13,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Missouri Humanities Council?
Missouri Humanities Council reported $6.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.0M.
What does Missouri Humanities Council fund?
The organization states that it explores history, civics, and culture through community partnerships and public programming. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Missouri Humanities Council?
Apply through the grant portal and follow the guidelines and application instructions for the relevant grant cycle. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Missouri Humanities Council's EIN?
Missouri Humanities Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1103937. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Missouri Humanities Council funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Missouri Humanities Council's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Missouri Humanities Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/missouri-humanities-council-morg_5afbc15128074fc980530b5870a1e0ea
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_431103937_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Missouri Humanities Council funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/missouri-humanities-council-morg_5afbc15128074fc980530b5870a1e0ea},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Missouri 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.
Missouri Humanities Council down — hundreds of funders to go?