National Humanities Center
The National Humanities Center is a public charity based in Research Triangle Park, an individual recipient Founded in 1976, it advances humanities scholarship, education, and public engagement through fellowships, teaching initiatives, and public programs.
National Humanities Center at a glance
In short: National Humanities Center gave $676K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $61K), top state North Carolina. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $676,011
- -39.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -56.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $61,456
- +37.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $57,500
- Total assets
- $96,848,452
- +6.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (5 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (35% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to National Humanities Center
- Contact
Mailing address: 7 Tw Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-0152
Phone: (919) 406-0121
Website: https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from National Humanities Center
Fellowships for HBCU Faculty
National Humanities Center
Amount
Up to $1,147,000 total over three years (4 fellows per year)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Geiss Hsu Foundation Fellowship for Chinese History
National Humanities Center
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Humanities in Class Mini Course: Ming Dynasty China Education Initiative
National Humanities Center
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who National Humanities Center funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Duke University ($104K). Together the top 9 received $562K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($114,511), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
91 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 91 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Center’s residential fellowship program welcomes applicants from institutions in the United States and other countries. Its Being Human Festival events are organized by local partners across the United States. In 2025, 35% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in an individual recipient, 12% to New York, and 9% each to Tennessee, Maryland, and Nevada.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is National Humanities Center open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 10 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $58K; repeat grants $77K. How we count
Medians: $58K first-time, $75K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $676K (2025) to $1.3M (2022). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $676K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Duke University Durham, NC | Fellowship Stipends | $103,500 |
| Cornell University Ithaca, NY | Fellowship Stipends | $80,000 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | Fellowship Stipends | $75,000 |
| Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | Fellowship Stipends | $60,500 |
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $114,511 |
| University of Nevada Reno Reno, NV | Fellowship Stipends | $57,500 |
| Florida State University Tallahassee, FL | Fellowship Stipends | $54,000 |
| Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington, IN | Fellowship Stipends | $51,000 |
| University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Fellowship Stipends | $40,000 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Fellowship Stipends | $40,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Center states that endowment funds support its fellowships, public programs, education, and general operations.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $96,848,452 | $9,563,292 | $6,916,360 | $676,011 | 11 | $7,376,039 |
| 2024 | $91,105,664 | $5,894,952 | $7,390,968 | $1,121,542 | 25 | $3,819,101 |
| 2023 | $84,734,350 | $5,879,492 | $6,763,289 | $1,049,000 | 18 | $4,134,850 |
| 2022 | $81,630,091 | $12,139,201 | $6,099,615 | $1,279,350 | 22 | $9,193,014 |
| 2021 | $96,326,647 | $7,434,600 | $5,415,870 | $1,105,000 | 15 | $4,739,991 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Center’s mission is to advance research and discovery about the human experience, cultivate community among scholars, educators, and other humanities practitioners, and empower those who share a passion for humanistic knowledge. Its website describes three complementary aims: bolstering rigorous scholarship, nurturing educators, and encouraging appreciation and use of humanities knowledge beyond academic settings.
Its residential fellowships support scholars undertaking humanities research intended to result in publication. The Center also offers professional development, teaching resources, and collaborative learning opportunities for K–12 and collegiate educators, and public programs that bring humanities scholarship to broader audiences. Being Human Festival grants support events grounded in research methods and designed to engage the general public.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Center reported 11 grants totaling $676,011. The grants ranged from $40,000 to $103,500, with a median of $57,500; all listed purposes were fellowship stipends. The largest awards were $103,500 to Duke University, $80,000 to Cornell University, and $75,000 to the University of an individual recipient at Chapel Hill.
The Center’s website also describes Being Human Festival grants of $500 to $5,000 to help defray costs for public-facing events. The 2027 U.S. festival is scheduled for April 17 to May 1, 2027, with the theme “Crossroads.” Academic lectures and symposia are not eligible; creative educational events such as walking tours, performances, interactive exhibits, and communal storytelling are encouraged. The Center is entertaining proposals from prospective partners.
Residential fellowships provide support to scholars for their own research and are distinct from grants to outside organizations. Applicants must have a doctorate or equivalent terminal degree earned at least five years before applying, a record of published scholarship beyond the dissertation, and a humanities research project intended to result in publication. The Center does not fund doctoral research or postdoctoral applicants. Its fellowship FAQ welcomes applications from scholars at a range of U.S. and international institutions, as well as independent scholars.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these trustees: David Blackbourn, Daniela Bleichmar, Dennis M. Campbell, Willo Carey, William D. Cohan, Joy Connolly, Margo Drakos, David Folkenflik, Pamela Hendrickson, and William C. Jordan.
National Humanities Center is led by J. Porter Durham Jr., Chair & Interim President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 7 of 36 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
J. Porter Durham Jr.
Chair & Interim President
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
Chair → Chair & Interim President, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
$90K (2025)
Robert D. Newman
Director & President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$440K (2021) → $509K (2025)
Rishi Jaitly
Interim Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Interim Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald Solomon
Director of Communications
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$101K (2025)
Ann Wierda Rowland
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ben Vinson III
Trustee
Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carol Quillen
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Blackbourn
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dennis M. Campbell
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Harriet Ritvo
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane O. Newman
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Hinde Stewart
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joy Connolly
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Whitmore
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Hendrickson
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter J. Rogers Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raymond J. Wiacek
Trustee
Treasurer → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas J. Scherer
Trustee
Secretary → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vincent E. Price
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William C. Jordan
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William D. Cohan
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Willo Carey
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hector Tobar
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Folkenflik
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Sherer
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Schroeder
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margo Drakos
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yolanda Y. Wilson
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniela Bleichmar
Trustee
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Rhee
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Camp
Vice President of Institutional Advancement
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$157K (2021) → $187K (2025)
Margo Francis
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer & Operations Director F → Chief Financial Officer & Operations Director, 2023
Chief Financial Officer & Operations Director → Chief Financial Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$96K (2022) → $100K (2025)
Joel Elliott
Information Technology Coordinator
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$108K (2024) → $114K (2025)
Joseph Schwartz
Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$40K (2025)
Karen R. Lawrence
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vincent Lovoi
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: A. Morris Williams Jr. (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Matthew Booker (2022–2024) — Vice President Scholarly Programs
- Former: Nancy Cable (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Brooke Andrade (2024) — Vice President for Library & Digital Services
- Former: Andy Mink (2021–2023) — Vice President of Education Programs
- Former: Joshua Ruch (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Annette Gordon-Reed (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Bruce D. Voncannon (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: David Bromwich (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Stephanie Tucker (2021–2022) — Chief Financial Officer & Vice President of Oper
- Former: Susan Wolf (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jonathan G. Weiss (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Mark E. Thierfelder (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Ric Burns (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Richard Levy (2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $509K, to Robert D Newman (Director and President (Thru June 2024)). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about National Humanities Center
How much does National Humanities Center give each year?
National Humanities Center gave $676K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 25 grants.
What is National Humanities Center's typical grant size?
National Humanities Center's median grant in 2025 was $57,500, and its average grant was $61,456, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from National Humanities Center that year got $58K on average.
Where does National Humanities Center give grants?
National Humanities Center's top state is North Carolina, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (12%) and Tennessee (9%).
Does National Humanities Center give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on National Humanities Center's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Fellowship Stipends" (11 grants).
Who are National Humanities Center's largest grantees?
National Humanities Center's largest 2025 grantees include Duke University ($103,500), Cornell University ($80,000) and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($114,511), which are not listed by name. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is National Humanities Center?
National Humanities Center reported $96.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.6M.
What does National Humanities Center fund?
The Center’s mission is to advance research and discovery about the human experience, cultivate community among scholars, educators, and other humanities practitioners, and empower those who share a passion for humanistic knowledge. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from National Humanities Center?
National Humanities Center has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check nationalhumanitiescenter.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is National Humanities Center's EIN?
National Humanities Center's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-1735367. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). National Humanities Center funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/national-humanities-center-morg_597d54464f59431ea19a07e6c996f3df
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_591735367_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{National Humanities Center funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/national-humanities-center-morg_597d54464f59431ea19a07e6c996f3df},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 National Humanities Center'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.
National Humanities Center down — hundreds of funders to go?