North Carolina Humanities Council
The North Carolina Humanities Council is a nonprofit organization based in Charlotte, North Carolina, dedicated to promoting free public programs in the humanities across the state. As an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the organization serves to connect North Carolinians with cultural experiences that spur dialogue, deepen human connections, and inspire community engagement.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.6M
+15.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$374K
+17.2% YoY
Grant Count
20
+17.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-0.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The North Carolina Humanities Council is dedicated to promoting free public programs in the humanities across North Carolina, and to advocate lifelong learning and thoughtful dialogue about all facets of human life.
The organization's primary work includes:
Grants Program: Distributing cultural project grants to nonprofits using the humanities to raise questions, encourage conversation, contextualize experiences, and connect people across differences in their local communities. Projects address different humanities disciplines and use a variety of public humanities formats.
Summer Fellowships: Providing individual humanities researchers with access to funding opportunities in North Carolina's higher education sector.
Heritage Programming: Launching heritage programming initiatives, including "By the People" programming for America's 250th anniversary.
Grantmaking
The organization provides funds to nonprofit groups throughout North Carolina to support humanities-related activities and public programs.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The North Carolina Humanities Council primarily funds projects and programs throughout North Carolina, with some activity noted in Alabama.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023):
- Total Revenue: $1,205,530
- Total Expenses: $1,435,696
- Total Assets: $1,342,049
- Total Liabilities: $425,000
- Program Expense Ratio: 72.36%
Additional Financial Information:
- Total Assets (2024): $1,550,689
- Total Giving (2024): $546,379
- Staff: 6 employees (as of 2023)
Organizational Structure:
- 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization
- Tax-exempt since June 1989
- EIN: 56-1153601
- Independent board structure consisting entirely of independent members
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,550,689 | $1,342,049 | $1,342,645 |
| Revenue | $1,693,701 | $1,205,530 | $1,288,721 |
| Expenses | $1,652,475 | $1,435,696 | $1,314,134 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $885 | $772 | $586 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
146 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from North Carolina Humanities Council
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alliance for Heritage Conservation ($20,000), Bookmarks ($20,000), Comit De Fiestas Patrias Y Tradiciones De Charlotte ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE FOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION CHAPEL HILL, NC | THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF K-12 CURRICULUM ON NC HISTORY AND CULTURE DEVELOPED BY COLLABORATORS FROM UNC CHAPEL HILL AND UNC PEMBROKE. IT ALSO SUPPORTED EDUCATOR WORKSHOPS TO BRING K-12 TEACHERS TO THE MUSEUM OF THE SOUTHEAST AMERICAN INDIAN TO GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH THE CONTENT. | $20,000 |
| BOOKMARKS WINSTONSALEM, NC | THIS GRANT SUPPORTS AUTHOR PANELS AND TALKS AT THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOOKMARK'S FESTIVAL OF BOOKS AND AUTHORS, THE LARGEST ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF THE LITERARY ARTS IN NORTH CAROLINA. | $20,000 |
| CHARLOTTE FILM SOCIETY CHARLOTTE, NC | THIS GRANT SUPPORTS A COMMUNITY IMPACT FILM SERIES WHICH USES FILM AND DISCUSSION TO FACILITATE CONVERSATIONS ON TOPICS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST. | $10,575 |
| COMIT DE FIESTAS PATRIAS Y TRADICIONES DE CHARLOTTE CORNELIUS, NC | THIS GRANT SUPPORTS AN EXHIBITION ON THE HISTORY OF HISPANIC PEOPLES IN NORTH CAROLINA FROM SPANISH EXPLORERS TO THE PRESENT. THE PROJECT WILL CAPTURE ORAL HISTORIES FROM THE COMMUNITY. | $20,000 |
| DAVIDSON COLLEGE DAVIDSON, NC | THIS GRANT SUPPORTS A LECTURE SERIES WITH INDIGENOUS AUTHORS, ARTISTS, SCHOLARS, AND CHEFS. CONTENT IS INSPIRED BY THE ONGOING HERITAGE AGRICULTURE PROJECTS AT THE CATAWBA AND DAVIDSON COLLEGE FARMS. | $20,000 |
| FREEDOM ORG TARBORO, NC | THIS GRANT SUPPORTS STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN THE CREATION OF A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BASKETBALL IN KINSTON, NC A SMALL TOWN WITH A BIG STAT: IT IS THE SINGLE GREATEST PRODUCER OF NBA PLAYERS IN THE WORLD. | $19,750 |
| FRIENDS OF THE CITY OF RALEIGH MUSEUM RALEIGH, NC | THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SEVERAL EVENTS INCLUDING A CIVIL WAR REGIMENTAL REENACTMENT BY THE 35TH USCT, A PROGRAM ON 19TH-CENTURY MEDICAL PRACTICES, AND RECOGNITION OF EMANCIPATION DAY. | $10,000 |
| GASTON COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART & HISTORY DALLAS, NC | THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF A COMMUNITY-CURATED EXHIBITION FEATURING LOCAL ORAL HISTORIES, CURRICULUM FOR K-12 SCHOOLS, AND AN EXHIBITION PUBLICATION. | $19,996 |
| JANE AUSTEN COLLABORATIVE CHAPEL HILL, AL | THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN IMMERSIVE SYMPOSIUM AT TRYON PALACE IN NEW BERN, NC EXPLORING JANE AUSTEN'S 1813SENSE AND SENSIBILITYAND CONNECTIONS TO COLONIAL LIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA. | $20,000 |
| JOHN C CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL BRASSTOWN, NC | THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF A SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF AND INFORMATIONAL SIGNAGE FOR THE JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOLS CAMPUS TO BETTER CONTEXTUALIZE THE SCHOOLS HISTORICAL SITES, STUDIOS, LANDSCAPE, AND GARDEN FOR PUBLIC AUDIENCES. STARTED IN 1925, THE FOLK SCHOOL IS THE OLDEST FOLK SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY AND PLAYS A KEY PART OF PRESERVATION OF FAR-WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY. | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Sherry Paula Watkins
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR MIKE WAKEFORD | CHAIR | 1.5 | — |
| BRIAN KAHN | VICE CHAIR | 1.5 | — |
| HANNAH DELA CRUZ ABRAMS | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| MARGARET D BAUER | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| KERRY D BIRD | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| NANCY FIELDS | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| KATRINA BROWNLEE | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| JESSICA HARDIN | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| DOUGLAS JACKSON | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| LORNA RICOTTA | PAST CHAIR | 1.5 | — |
| LES HIGH | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| TASSE A LITTLE | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| REBECCA REYES | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| DIANE ROBERTSON | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| C THOMAS STEELE JR | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| CECELIA THOMPSON | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| LILIANA WENDORFF | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| KATHY WHITE | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| TODD WRIGHT | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| SERGIO FERNANDEZ | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| LAURA WILLIAMS | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| RODNEY DAWSON | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| REBECCA GODWIN | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| SARA HAHN | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| SHERRY PAULA WATKINS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $135,422 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The organization received emergency funding from the Mellon Foundation, which made a $15 million emergency grant for humanities councils nationwide, with North Carolina Humanities receiving up to $250,000.
North Carolina Humanities Awards Large Project Grants \u2013 North Carolina\North Carolina Humanities launched "By the People" heritage programming in connection with America's 250th anniversary celebration.
North Carolina Humanities Awards Large Project Grants \u2013 North Carolina\The organization has continued awarding large project grants to nonprofits across the state, including recent grants to organizations such as Cucalorus and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for projects addressing dialogue, cultural literacy, and community engagement around topics including intersectional partnerships, historical experiences, and cultural contributions of marginalized groups in North Carolina.
North Carolina Humanities Awards Large Project Grants \u2013 North Carolina\Frequently Asked Questions
What does North Carolina Humanities Council fund?
**Mission:** The North Carolina Humanities Council is dedicated to promoting free public programs in the humanities across North Carolina, and to advocate lifelong learning and thoughtful dialogue about all facets of human life. The organization's primary work includes: • **Grants Program:** Distributing cultural project grants to nonprofits using the humanities to raise questions, encourage conversation, contextualize experiences, and connect people across differences in their local communitie…
How do I apply for a grant from North Carolina Humanities Council?
The organization provides funds to nonprofit groups throughout North Carolina to support humanities-related activities and public programs. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $5,574–$25,000 • Recent large project grants have been awarded to organizations across the state • Example grant: $5,000 award to Cucalorus **Focus Areas:** • Arts grants for nonprofits • Grants for the arts • Arts access and participation • Creative writing grants • Education and human services initiatives
Where does North Carolina Humanities Council make grants?
The North Carolina Humanities Council primarily funds projects and programs throughout North Carolina, with some activity noted in Alabama.
What size grants does North Carolina Humanities Council award?
In 2024, North Carolina Humanities Council awarded 20 grants totaling $374K — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is North Carolina Humanities Council's EIN?
North Carolina Humanities Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1153601. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in North Carolina Humanities Council's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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