Nebraska Humanities Council
The Nebraska Humanities Council, which conducts programs and makes grants under the Humanities Nebraska umbrella, is a public charity based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Founded in 1973, it supports public humanities programs in Nebraska communities.
Nebraska Humanities Council at a glance
In short: Nebraska Humanities Council gave $699K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in Nebraska. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $698,540
- +286.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,927
- +209.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,835
- Total assets
- $387,862
- -39.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (6 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (100% 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 Nebraska Humanities Council
- How to Apply
-
Submit an application through the online grants system. Humanities Nebraska encourages applicants to consult grants staff while developing an application and says staff can review a draft if given enough lead time.
- Review Cycle
- Mini grant deadlines are Jan. 1, Mar. 1, May 1, July 1, Sept. 1, and Nov. 1; major grant deadlines are Mar. 1 and Aug. 1. Media and website/digital projects have earlier deadlines of Jan. 15 and June 15. The website says grant opportunities remain available in 2026, with fewer dollars overall for awards. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m.; when a due date falls on a weekend or holiday, the website says it is due the next business day. Projects must begin at least one month after a mini grant deadline or two months after a major grant deadline.
- Deadline
- Mini grant deadlines are Jan.
- Contact
Mailing address: 215 Centennial Mall South Ste 330, Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 474-2131
Website: https://humanitiesnebraska.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Nebraska Humanities Council
Who Nebraska Humanities Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities ($516K). Together the top 10 received $633K.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 147 grants of 152 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Council is based in Lincoln, and all reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Nebraska Humanities Council open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 20 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $46K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $9K repeat.
- 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 $181K (2024) to $798K (2022). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $699K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities Lincoln, NE | Humanities Prog Resr | $516,000 |
| University of Nebraska at Lincoln Lincoln, NE | Humanities Prog | $22,005 |
| African Culture Connection Omaha, NE | Humanities Prog | $15,000 |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, NE | Humanities Prog | $15,000 |
| Vision Maker Media Lincoln, NE | Humanities Prog | $13,800 |
| Omaha Performing Arts Omaha, NE | Humanities Prog | $12,400 |
| The Durham Museum Omaha, NE | Humanities Prog | $10,000 |
| Elkhorn Valley Museum Norfolk, NE | Humanities Prog | $10,000 |
| The House of Afros Capes & Curls Inc Omaha, NE | Humanities Prog | $9,700 |
| Nebraska National Guard Museum Seward, NE | Humanities Prog | $8,900 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $387,862 | $2,465,703 | $2,688,484 | $698,540 | 20 | $13,639 |
| 2024 | $638,206 | $2,164,039 | $2,159,160 | $180,528 | 16 | $15,598 |
| 2023 | $699,091 | $2,146,148 | $2,131,473 | $298,598 | 23 | $13,936 |
| 2022 | $542,628 | $2,639,599 | $2,385,176 | $797,850 | 65 | $2,509 |
| 2021 | $300,556 | $1,742,597 | $2,093,953 | $719,257 | 28 | $113 |
| 2020 | $994,651 | $2,655,838 | $2,207,116 | $527,493 | 51 | $1,005 |
| 2019 | $200,363 | $1,612,256 | $1,640,635 | $223,449 | 21 | $2,110 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s mission is to help Nebraskans explore what connects us and makes us human. Its 2024 filing describes public education programs in history and culture delivered through grants, a speakers bureau, traveling exhibits, Chautauqua scholars in residence, youth programs, television and radio programs, and family literacy programs. The filing also describes advocacy for state and federal funding for the Nebraska Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Humanities Nebraska says its program grants support projects related to the public humanities. Applicants must make humanities central to the funded portion of the project, which should encourage interaction, thought, and discussion. Eligible applicants include Nebraska nonprofits with qualifying tax-exempt status and federal, state, county, local, or tribal government entities, including public schools and libraries.
The 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities, which received $516,000, says it works to secure private funding and advocate for public funding for Council programs. Other grantees include African Culture Connection, whose stated mission is to deepen connections with Africa’s cultural legacy; Vision Maker Media, which shares Native stories; and the Willa Cather Foundation, which advances Willa Cather’s legacy through education, preservation, and the arts.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Council reported 20 grants totaling $698,540. Awards ranged from $5,400 to $516,000, with a median of $8,835. All reported grant dollars went to Nebraska recipients. The largest award went to the Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities; other notable awards included $22,005 to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, $15,000 each to African Culture Connection and Nebraska Wesleyan University, and $13,800 to Vision Maker Media.
Humanities Nebraska offers mini grants of $2,000 or less, major grants above $2,000, and media grants for projects such as websites, podcasts, radio programs, and films. The website lists average awards of $1,700 for mini grants and $5,800 for major grants; major awards are typically $10,000 or less, with no stated maximum request. Each grant type requires a cash or in-kind match equal to or greater than the request. Applications are submitted online. Applicants should provide a project budget using the applicable budget form; major and media applications have additional questions. A past-due HN grant report can make an otherwise eligible government applicant ineligible.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Christopher Sommerich as executive director and these directors: Effie Athanassopoulos, Don Deitemeyer, Cesar Garcia, Chris Hochstetler, Jeannette Eileen Jones, Cecil Hicks Jr., Kristin Krueger, Matthew Low, and M. Timothy Nolting.
Nebraska Humanities Council is led by David Vail, Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 19 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Vail
Chair
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
Director → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Sandeen
Director
Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jaclyn Wilson
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth Whited
Director
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cecil Hicks Jr.
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeannette Eileen Jones
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ana Lopez Shalla
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Low
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Crystal Sandberg
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Don Deitemeyer
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Effie Athanassopoulos
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Krueger
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
M. Timothy Nolting
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Snell
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Osberg
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sunshine Thomas-Bear
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cesar Garcia
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Hochstetler
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Sommerich
Executive Di
Executive Director → Executive Di, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$97K (2019) → $146K (2025)
Former officers (23)
- Former: Graciela Caneiro-Livingston (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Barb Schlothauer (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Connie Duncan (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Don Arp Jr. (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Dori Wanitscheke (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Lynette Krieger (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Mike Linder (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Paulette Stefka (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Edgar Hicks (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Valerie Cuppens (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Effie Athanassapolous (2023) — Director
- Former: Michael Evans (2023) — Treasurer
- Former: David Nesheim (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Sarah Rowe (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Laura Capp (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Steve Elliott (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Barbara Hewins-Maroney (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Hal France (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Mark Ellis (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Carol Gendler (2019) — Director
- Former: Chris Cornelius (2019) — Director
- Former: John Schleicher (2019) — Director
- Former: Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado (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 $146K, to Christopher Sommerich (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Nebraska Humanities Council
How much does Nebraska Humanities Council give each year?
Nebraska Humanities Council gave $699K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $181K across 16 grants.
What is Nebraska Humanities Council's typical grant size?
Nebraska Humanities Council's median grant in 2025 was $8,835, and its average grant was $34,927, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Nebraska Humanities Council that year got $10K on average.
Where does Nebraska Humanities Council give grants?
Nebraska Humanities Council gives mostly in Nebraska: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (10 grants) and Lincoln, NE (5 grants).
Does Nebraska Humanities Council give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Nebraska Humanities Council's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Humanities Prog" (19 grants).
Who are Nebraska Humanities Council's largest grantees?
Nebraska Humanities Council's largest 2025 grantees include Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities ($516,000), University of Nebraska at Lincoln ($22,005) and African Culture Connection ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Nebraska Humanities Council?
Nebraska Humanities Council reported $388K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.5M.
What does Nebraska Humanities Council fund?
The organization’s mission is to help Nebraskans explore what connects us and makes us human. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nebraska Humanities Council?
Submit an application through the online grants system. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Nebraska Humanities Council's EIN?
Nebraska Humanities Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7359778. 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 15, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 18, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Nebraska Humanities Council's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Nebraska Humanities Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/nebraska-humanities-council-morg_d0c7d9ef7a9846ce9b72bad800742c06
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237359778_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Nebraska Humanities Council funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/nebraska-humanities-council-morg_d0c7d9ef7a9846ce9b72bad800742c06},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Nebraska 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.
Nebraska Humanities Council down — hundreds of funders to go?