Ohio Humanities Council
Ohio Humanities Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Columbus, Ohio (541 West Rich Street). Established in 1976, the organization is dedicated to sharing stories and sparking conversations that inspire ideas across Ohio. The council hosts programs and awards grants that support storytellers statewide, including museums, journalists, and documentary filmmakers.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.6M
-15.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$213K
-37.7% YoY
Grant Count
14
-30.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
-11.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Ohio Humanities is a nonprofit organization that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas. The organization hosts programs and award grants that support storytellers statewide, from museums to journalists to documentary filmmakers.
Purpose: The humanities tell the stories of our shared human experience, strengthen communities, and help bridge divides. Ohio Humanities seeks to connect Ohioans in ways that help them better understand each other and more thoughtfully engage with the world around them.
Vision: An Ohio where people's unique stories are heard, the past is linked to the present, and a better future is realized together.
Core Values: Integrity, Partnership, and Curiosity
Primary Focus Areas:
- Grants supporting humanities programs that increase public awareness of the humanities' contribution to understanding public policy issues
- Lifelong learning programs for out-of-school adults, including lectures, workshops, conferences, and museum exhibits
- Professional development for teachers
- Historical awareness and racial justice initiatives (including the Lincoln School Project supporting awareness of the Lincoln School marchers of Hillsboro, Ohio)
- Documentary filmmaking and film fellowships
- LGBTQIA history research and documentation
Grantmaking
Ohio Humanities awards grants using a portion of its annual appropriation from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support Ohio nonprofit organizations.
How to Apply
** The organization maintains a grants application portal on its website at ohiohumanities.org.
Ready to take the next step with Ohio Humanities Council?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Ohio Humanities serves all 88 counties in Ohio, with headquarters in Columbus.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Revenues: $2,018,825
- Total Expenses: $1,914,858
- Total Assets: $1,636,628
- Total Liabilities: $789,000 (2023 data)
2023 Financial Data:
- Revenue: $2.11M
- Expenses: $2M
- Total Assets: $1.94M
Staffing: The organization has 8 employees as of 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,636,628 | $1,935,259 | $1,682,367 |
| Revenue | $2,018,825 | $2,107,716 | $2,183,463 |
| Expenses | $1,914,858 | $1,997,926 | $2,112,090 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $23,259 | $15,032 | $41,810 |
| 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
184 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Ohio Humanities Council
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Voyageur Media Group ($17,500), Southern Ohio Folklife ($17,500), Canton Museum of Art ($17,500).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN F SMITH | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TONY SANFILIPPO | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARY JANE PAJK | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DAN MODER | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARYLIN SANDERS MOBLEY PHD | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KEVIN SCOTT MILLER EDD | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| STACIA KUCEYESKI | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| VLADIMIR KOGAN PHD | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| IVY FREEMAN | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LANCE GRAHN PHD | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE FELL PHD | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DEENA EPSTEIN | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DAVID DESCUTNER PHD | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BRODI CONOVER JD | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ANNIE BEZBATCHENKO PHD | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SARAH M SISSER | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| REBECCA BROWN ASMO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $154,380 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**U.S. Senate Funding Restoration:** The U.S. Senate voted to fully restore Humanities Councils funding in a bill awaiting the President's signature.
U.S. Senate Votes to Fully Restore Humanities Councils Funding in Bill That\**Mellon Foundation Emergency Support:** The Mellon Foundation announced $15 million in emergency funding for humanities councils nationwide, with up to $250,000 designated for Ohio Humanities in response to federal funding cuts.
U.S. Senate Votes to Fully Restore Humanities Councils Funding in Bill That\**Film Fellowship:** Ohio Humanities and the Wexner Center for the Arts announced the Ohio Humanities Film Fellow for 2025-2026.
U.S. Senate Votes to Fully Restore Humanities Councils Funding in Bill That\**Toni Morrison Celebration:** Ohio launched a yearlong celebration of Toni Morrison with a February 18 kickoff event.
**Staff Hiring:** Ohio Humanities is recruiting a Membership and Partnerships Manager.
Contact Information
- Phone: 614-461-7802
- Email: ohc@ohiohumanities.org
- Mailing Address: 541 West Rich Street, Columbus, OH 43215
- Website: ohiohumanities.org
- EIN: 31-0901572
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ohio Humanities Council fund?
**Mission:** Ohio Humanities is a nonprofit organization that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas. The organization hosts programs and award grants that support storytellers statewide, from museums to journalists to documentary filmmakers. **Purpose:** The humanities tell the stories of our shared human experience, strengthen communities, and help bridge divides. Ohio Humanities seeks to connect Ohioans in ways that help them better understand each other and more thoughtfull…
How do I apply for a grant from Ohio Humanities Council?
Ohio Humanities awards grants using a portion of its annual appropriation from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support Ohio nonprofit organizations. **Recent Grant Activity:** • Southern Ohio Folklife received $17,500 in December 2024 to support humanities in the state of Ohio • Nearly $400,000 in America 250-Ohio Grants were awarded to Ohio communities and organizations in 2024 • Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission awarded $75,000 in grants for Holocaust …
Where does Ohio Humanities Council make grants?
Ohio Humanities serves all 88 counties in Ohio, with headquarters in Columbus.
What size grants does Ohio Humanities Council award?
In 2024, Ohio Humanities Council awarded 14 grants totaling $213K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ohio 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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