Ohio Humanities Council
Ohio Humanities Council is a public charity based in Columbus, Ohio, formed in 1972. It awards grants and hosts programs that support public humanities work and storytellers across the state, including projects involving museums, journalists, and documentary filmmakers.
Ohio Humanities Council at a glance
In short: Ohio Humanities Council gave $213K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), mostly in Ohio. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $212,500
- -37.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- -30.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $15,179
- -11.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $1,636,628
- -15.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (7 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ohio Humanities Council
- Contact
Mailing address: 541 W Rich St, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 461-7802
Website: https://ohiohumanities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Ohio Humanities Council
America 250-Ohio Grants
Ohio Humanities Council
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Holocaust & Genocide Commission Grants
Ohio Humanities Council
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ignite Grant
Ohio Humanities Council
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Ohio Humanities Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Voyageur Media Group ($18K). Together the top 10 received $160K.
Grant Size Distribution
231 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 231 grants of 231 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Ohio Humanities describes serving communities throughout Ohio and says it strives to ensure access to the humanities in all counties. Its 2024 reported grant dollars all went to Ohio recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ohio Humanities Council open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 14 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 14% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $213K (2024) to $1.1M (2021, 14 months). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $213K.
*2021: Covers 14 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Voyageur Media Group Cincinnati, OH | To Support Humanities in the State of Ohio | $17,500 |
| Southern Ohio Folklife Portsmouth, OH | To Support Humanities in the State of Ohio | $17,500 |
| Canton Museum of Art Canton, OH | To Support Humanities in the State of Ohio | $17,500 |
| National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Cincinnati, OH | To Support Humanities in the State of Ohio | $17,500 |
| Corporation for Findlay Market Cincinnati, OH | To Support Humanities in the State of Ohio | $15,000 |
| Columbus Metropolitan Library Columbus, OH | To Support Humanities in the State of Ohio | $15,000 |
| Toledo Opera Association Toledo, OH | To Support Humanities in the State of Ohio | $15,000 |
| Robert O'Neal Multicultural Arts Center Cincinnati, OH | To Support Humanities in the State of Ohio | $15,000 |
| Greater Cleveland Urban Film Foundation Cleveland, OH | To Support Humanities in the State of Ohio | $15,000 |
| Mandel Jewish Community Center Beachwood, OH | To Support Humanities in the State of Ohio | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,636,628 | $2,018,825 | $1,914,858 | $212,500 | 14 | $23,259 |
| 2023 | $1,935,259 | $2,107,716 | $1,997,926 | $341,160 | 20 | $15,032 |
| 2022 | $1,682,367 | $2,183,463 | $2,112,090 | $612,287 | 52 | $41,810 |
| 2021* | $1,788,273 | $2,285,734 | $2,295,941 | $1,117,044 | 71 | $1,025 |
| 2020 | $1,250,769 | $2,004,481 | $1,998,077 | $815,195 | 74 | $15,931 |
| 2019 | $1,137,273 | $1,380,981 | $1,338,740 | $252,475 | 33 | $18,583 |
*2021: Covers 14 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to encourage Ohioans to use history, literature, philosophy, and other humanities disciplines to gain new insights, explore ideas, and develop respect for new perspectives. Its purpose is to help people better understand others and engage thoughtfully with the world.
Grant-supported activities described by the organization include lectures, workshops, conferences, museum exhibits, and professional development for teachers. Its guidance describes the humanities as including fields such as history, literature, languages, philosophy, archaeology, ethics, jurisprudence, comparative religion, and world cultures.
Examples of 2024 recipients show support for varied cultural organizations. The Canton Museum of Art describes its work as engaging and educating visitors through exhibitions, programs, and its collection. The Corporation for Findlay Market says it works to honor the market’s history, expand access to fresh food, and support small businesses. The Robert O’Neal Multicultural Arts Center describes its mission as serving as a hub for African and African American culture and arts in Cincinnati. Toledo Opera says it creates opera experiences through storytelling and music in theaters, classrooms, and the community.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Ohio Humanities reported 14 grants totaling $212,500. Awards ranged from $10,000 to $17,500, with a median of $15,000. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio. The stated purpose for the listed awards was to support humanities in the state of Ohio.
Among the recipients were Voyageur Media Group, Southern Ohio Folklife, the Canton Museum of Art, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, each awarded $17,500. The Corporation for Findlay Market, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Toledo Opera Association, Robert O’Neal Multicultural Arts Center, Greater Cleveland Urban Film Foundation, Mandel Jewish Community Center, Urban Appalachian Community Coalition, and Decorative Arts Center of Ohio each received $15,000.
Ohio Humanities describes its grantmaking as competitive. A board-appointed panel reviews applications and makes funding recommendations, which the full board votes on or ratifies. Awarded organizations sign a grant contract; they may request up to 75% of the award, with the remaining 25% payable after submission of a written report on project activities, outcomes, and expenditures. The organization’s application guidance says applicants should provide information about their organization, programming, intended audience, and scholars involved.
The website says Spark Grant applications are postponed until further notice because of federal funding cuts. A funding update says the organization is working with recipients of open FY2024 grants and expects to offer some support for humanities festivals and make a small investment in planning grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists the following members: Susan F. Smith, Tony Sanfilippo, Mary Jane Pajk, Dan Moder, Marylin Sanders Mobley, Kevin Scott Miller, Stacia Kuceyeski, Vladimir Kogan, Ivy Freeman, and Lance Grahn.
Ohio Humanities Council is led by Rebecca Brown Asmo, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 17 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rebecca Brown Asmo
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$60K (2021) → $154K (2024)
Sarah M. Sisser
Chair
Member → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brodi Conover JD
Member
Personnel Committee Chair → Member, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Descutner PhD
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deena Epstein
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lance Grahn PhD
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tony Sanfilippo
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stacia Kuceyeski
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Moder
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Fell PhD
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Scott Miller EdD
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Jane Pajk
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan F. Smith
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vladimir Kogan PhD
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Annie Bezbatchenko PhD
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ivy Freeman
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marylin Sanders Mobley PhD
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: Harold Niehaus PhD (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Carey Snyder PhD (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Kevin Rose (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Emily Prieto (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Jeremy Taylor PhD (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Marilyn Sanders Mobley PhD (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Thomas Way (2021–2022) — Member
- Former: Jane E. Gerhardt JD (2019–2021) — Member
- Former: Andrew Hershberger PhD (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: Angela O'Neal (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: George Kalbouss PhD (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: Jay Giles (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: Kay Shames JD (2019–2020) — Chair
- Former: Kenneth Ledford PhD (2019–2020) — Development Committee Chai
- Former: Patricia N. Williamsen (2019–2020) — Executive Director
- Former: Paul W. Imhoff (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: Susmita Sadana PhD (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: Thom Way (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: William Loudermilk (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: Ali Minai PhD (2019) — Treasurer
- Former: Bill Schiffman (2019) — Nominating Committee Chair
- Former: Jon B. Schwantes (2019) — Member
- Former: K. Paul St German Dmin (2019) — Member
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $154K, to Rebecca Brown Asmo (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Ohio Humanities Council
How much does Ohio Humanities Council give each year?
Ohio Humanities Council gave $213K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $341K across 20 grants.
What is Ohio Humanities Council's typical grant size?
Ohio Humanities Council's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $15,179, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ohio Humanities Council that year got $15K on average.
Where does Ohio Humanities Council give grants?
Ohio Humanities Council gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (5 grants) and Cleveland, OH (2 grants).
Does Ohio Humanities Council give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Ohio Humanities Council's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Humanities in the State of Ohio" (14 grants).
Who are Ohio Humanities Council's largest grantees?
Ohio Humanities Council's largest 2024 grantees include Voyageur Media Group ($17,500), Southern Ohio Folklife ($17,500) and Canton Museum of Art ($17,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ohio Humanities Council?
Ohio Humanities Council reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.
What does Ohio Humanities Council fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to encourage Ohioans to use history, literature, philosophy, and other humanities disciplines to gain new insights, explore ideas, and develop respect for new perspectives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ohio Humanities Council?
Ohio Humanities Council has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ohiohumanities.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Ohio Humanities Council's EIN?
Ohio Humanities Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-0901572. 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ohio Humanities Council's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ohio Humanities Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ohio-humanities-council-morg_c7eba41dd21c4034a26b27e54fe18013
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_310901572_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ohio Humanities Council funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ohio-humanities-council-morg_c7eba41dd21c4034a26b27e54fe18013},
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 Ohio 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.
Ohio Humanities Council down — hundreds of funders to go?