Oregon Council for the Humanities
Oregon Humanities (formerly known as Oregon Council for the Humanities) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1971, it operates as an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and serves as one of five statewide partners of the Oregon Cultural Trust. The organization employs approximately 15-23 staff members and is committed to bringing people together across differences through conversation, storytelling, and participatory programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.3M
+1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$92K
+7.4% YoY
Grant Count
11
-8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+17.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Oregon Humanities connects people and communities through conversation, storytelling, and participatory programs to inspire understanding and collaborative change.
Vision: An Oregon that invites diverse perspectives, explores challenging questions, and strives for just communities.
The organization's primary focus areas include:
The Conversation Project: Brings Oregonians together to discuss important issues and ideas across differences, beliefs, and backgrounds. Nonprofits, community groups, and businesses can apply to host programs on topics relevant to their communities, facilitated by trained discussion leaders.
Consider This: A series of on-stage conversations held in Portland and cities around the state, taking place in theaters, pubs, cafes, and other community venues.
So Much Together: A series of workshops celebrating collaborative and imaginative work happening in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, blending presentation, conversation, and activities.
Facilitation Training: Trains groups of people around the state to lead discussions.
Publishing: Publishes essays, photographs, films, and audio recordings exploring the thoughts, perspectives, and experiences of Oregonians, particularly those who have been ignored, generalized, or oppressed.
Grantmaking
Oregon Humanities awards tens of thousands of dollars in grants annually to organizations that align with its mission of bringing people together and fostering dialogue. The organization has announced grant opportunities through programs such as America 250 Oregon projects, which have included multiple rounds of funding announcements.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Oregon Humanities operates statewide, offering hundreds of public conversations and programs across Oregon annually.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total revenues: $2,552,790
- Total expenses: $2,078,207
- Total assets: $4,278,663
- Staff: 15 employees
Organization Rating: Four-Star charity with a 96% score based on accountability and finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,329,653 | $4,278,663 | $3,768,877 |
| Revenue | $2,339,201 | $2,552,790 | $2,674,106 |
| Expenses | $2,463,786 | $2,078,207 | $2,791,512 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $13,587 | $159 | $155 |
| 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
130 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Adam Davis: Executive Director
- Kerani M: Board Chair (joined October 2025)
- Susan Samek: Board Member
- Ben Waterhouse: Communications Director
- Darsey Landoe: Art Director, Designer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUSTIN CHIN | CHAIR | 0.5 | — |
| JACQUELINE WILLINGHAM | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| RENEE ROMAN NOSE | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| GEORGIA LEE HUSSEY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| PAUL DUDEN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| HANAKO WAKATSUIKI-CHONG | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KERANI MITCHELL | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| TERESA STOVER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| SUSAN SAMEK | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JANET WEBSTER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ALICIA BAY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CM HALL | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CHRISTINA DEVILLIER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| RAYMICIA MCGHEE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ANNA SORTUN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| SANKAR RAMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KIM YOUNG | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DARCI HANNING | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KATIE HARRIS MURPHY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CAROL MATSUZAKI | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ROBERT ARELLANO | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DANIEL GRANT | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LEO BIALIS-WHITE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| TIFFANI PENSON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CAM PREUS | DIRECTOR (THROUGH 05/2024) | 0.5 | — |
| ADAM DAVIS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $148,760 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Oregon Humanities has been actively engaged in legal advocacy regarding federal humanities funding. The organization has led efforts challenging federal funding cuts to humanities programs, including litigation against funding clawbacks. The organization continues to announce grant opportunities for community projects, including multiple rounds of America 250 Oregon project grants.
Oregon leads legal fight against Trump's cuts to humanities fundingRelated Funders
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—
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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