Missouri Humanities Council
Missouri Humanities Council, which uses the name Missouri Humanities, is a public charity based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1971, it supports humanities programs and public engagement across Missouri through grants and its own programming.
Key facts about Missouri Humanities Council
In short: Missouri Humanities Council gave $508K across 54 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in Missouri. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 43-1103937
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $507,910
- Grants made (2024)
- 54
- Average grant
- $9,406
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 51, 2024)
- Total assets
- $7,701,975
- Primary geography
- Missouri (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Eligible nonprofit organizations must have a UEI and principal offices in Missouri, and the proposed project must serve audiences and communities in Missouri. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Mini Grant applications may be submitted April 1–May 1 and October 1–November 1.
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
$7.7M
+66.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$508K
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
54
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+0.0% YoY
Is Missouri Humanities Council open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 51 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count
- 100% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to enrich lives and strengthen communities by connecting Missourians to the people, places, and ideas that shape society. Its grants support humanities-based programs that bring public audiences into contact with humanities experts, such as scholars, authors, and educators. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations such as museums, libraries, and educational institutions, as well as local governments, civic associations, and similar organizations. Organizations may apply individually or in partnership, but only one may serve as the applicant.
Grant-supported activities may include interpretive exhibits, humanities-based discussions accompanying arts presentations, public forums, teachers’ workshops, and media or publication projects. The council gives preference to projects involving veterans’ initiatives, literacy festivals and programs, film projects, and its annual Signature Series theme; it also encourages applications from underserved communities and organizations that have never or infrequently applied.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations receiving support. History Museum on the Square said its mission is to collect, preserve, and exhibit historical and cultural materials from Springfield, Greene County, and the surrounding Missouri Ozarks. Guadalupe Centers said its mission is to improve quality of life in Latino communities in greater Kansas City through education, financial counseling and lending, and cultural events. UMKC Foundation said its purpose is to support academic programs and educational opportunities at the University of Missouri–Kansas City.
Grantmaking
In filing-year 2024, the council reported 54 itemized grants totaling $507,910. Grants ranged from $5,225 to $10,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed awards were $10,000 each, including grants to Washington University Libraries, Trail of Tears Association, Guadalupe Centers, City of Sikeston, Charleston Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, and History Museum on the Square.
Review Cycle
** Mini Grant applications may be submitted April 1–May 1 and October 1–November 1. Major Grant applications may be submitted January 1–February 1 and July 1–August 1. The council states that award notifications are sent six weeks after the application deadline.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Missouri Humanities Council
MHC: Mini Grants
Missouri Humanities Council
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Missouri Humanities - Mini Grants
Missouri Humanities Council
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Semiquincentennial Grants
Missouri Humanities Council
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with Missouri Humanities Council?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant applicants’ principal offices and the audiences and communities served must be in Missouri. All grant dollars in the council’s 2024 itemized grant data went to recipients in Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 54 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
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
164 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES St Louis, MO | HUMANITIES PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| TRAIL OF TEARS ASSOCIATION Kansas City, MO | HUMANITIES PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| GUADALUPE CENTERS INC Kansas City, MO | HUMANITIES PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| CITY OF SIKESTON Sikeston, MO | HUMANITIES PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| CHARLESTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND TOURISM Charleston, MO | HUMANITIES PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| MISSOURI'S NATIONAL VETERANS MEMORIAL Perryville, MO | HUMANITIES PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| FOR THE PEOPLE POW WOW COMMITTEE Columbia, MO | HUMANITIES PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| FOR THE PEOPLE POW WOW COMMITTEE Columbia, MO | HUMANITIES PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| HISTORIC BETHEL GERMAN COLONY INC Bethel, MO | HUMANITIES PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| ST LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION St Louis, MO | HUMANITIES PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Itemized grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,701,975 | $5,949,523 | $2,999,525 | $507,910 across 54 grants |
| 2023 | $4,637,122 | $3,425,523 | $2,065,347 | $507,910 across 54 grants |
| 2022 | $3,183,944 | $2,622,833 | $1,667,664 | $218,279 across 25 grants |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,701,975 | $4,637,122 | $3,183,944 |
| Revenue | $5,949,523 | $3,425,523 | $2,622,833 |
| Expenses | $2,999,525 | $2,065,347 | $1,667,664 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $14,363 | $-10,421 | $11,600 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Petra DeWitt as chair; Trish Erzfeld and Jason Sides as vice chairs; John M. Robinson III as treasurer; and Nicholas Inman as secretary. Directors listed include Marci Bennett, Thomas M. Brandom, Betty Coleman, Marvin Silliman, and Marilynn Bradford.
Missouri Humanities Council is led by Ashley Beard-Fosnow, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 17 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ashley Beard-Fosnow
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$63K (2021) → $90K (2024)
Petra Dewitt
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
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
Marvin Silliman
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas M. Brandom
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/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
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alicia Starr
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dawn Smith-Popielski
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Pettigrew
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Juan Meraz
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/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
Nicholas Inman
Secretary
Assistant Secretary → Director, 2022
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Trish Erzfeld
Vice Chair
Chair → Director, 2022
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Sides
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- 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, 2019–2024. "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
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 270166 108, Kansas City, MO 64127
Phone: (314) 371-8788
Website: https://mohumanities.org
Frequently asked questions about Missouri Humanities Council
How much does Missouri Humanities Council give each year?
Missouri Humanities Council gave $508K across 54 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $508K across 54 grants.
What is Missouri Humanities Council's typical grant size?
Missouri Humanities Council's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $9,406, across 54 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
Where does Missouri Humanities Council give grants?
Missouri Humanities Council gives mostly in Missouri: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (14 grants), St Louis, MO (14 grants), Columbia, MO (3 grants) and Springfield, MO (3 grants).
Does Missouri Humanities Council give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 54 grants with a stated purpose on Missouri Humanities Council's 2024 IRS Form 990 filing were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Humanities Programs" (54 grants).
Who are Missouri Humanities Council's largest grantees?
Missouri Humanities Council's largest 2024 grantees include For the People Pow Wow Committee ($20,000 across 2 grants), The Griot Museum ($20,000 across 2 grants) and University of Missouri-Columbia AR ($20,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Missouri Humanities Council?
Missouri Humanities Council reported $7.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $5.9M.
What does Missouri Humanities Council fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to enrich lives and strengthen communities by connecting Missourians to the people, places, and ideas that shape society. Its grants support humanities-based programs that bring public audiences into contact with humanities experts, such as scholars, authors, and educators. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations such as museums, libraries, and educational institutions, as well as local governments, civic associations, and similar organizations. …
How do I apply for a grant from Missouri Humanities Council?
Eligible nonprofit organizations must have a UEI and principal offices in Missouri, and the proposed project must serve audiences and communities in Missouri. 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 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Missouri Humanities Council by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Missouri Humanities Council's focus areas in our free grants database
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