Oregon Council for the Humanities
Oregon Humanities, formerly Oregon Council for the Humanities, is a public charity based in Portland, Oregon. It supports humanities programs and events that bring people together to connect, reflect, learn, and explore challenging questions.
Oregon Council for the Humanities at a glance
In short: Oregon Council for the Humanities gave $92K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Oregon. 64% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $92,005
- +7.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- -8.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $8,364
- +17.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $8,500
- Total assets
- $4,329,653
- +1.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 64% first-time grantees (7 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (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 Oregon Council for the Humanities
- Contact
Mailing address: 610 Sw Alder St 1111, Portland, OR 97205
Phone: (503) 241-0543
Website: https://oregonhumanities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Oregon Council for the Humanities funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Black Cultural Initiative ($10K). Together the top 10 received $87K.
Grant Size Distribution
144 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 144 grants of 144 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Oregon Humanities describes its grant programs as supporting humanities programs and events across Oregon. Its 2024 grant recipients were all located in Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Oregon Council for the Humanities open to new grantees?
64%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 11 grantees (64%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $8K repeat.
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 $36K (2019) to $773K (2022). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $92K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Black Cultural Initiative Eugene, OR | Public Programming | $10,000 |
| Oregon Remembrance Project Portland, OR | Public Programming | $10,000 |
| Rogue Action Center Portland, OR | Public Programming | $10,000 |
| NEZ Perce Wallowa Homeland Wallowa, OR | Public Programming | $10,000 |
| Natives of One Wind Indigeneous Alliance Ashland, OR | Public Programming | $9,000 |
| Community Alliance of Lane County Eugene, OR | Public Programming | $8,500 |
| Echo Mountain Fire Relief Otis, OR | Public Programming | $8,500 |
| Anima Mundi Productions Phoenix, OR | Public Programming | $7,500 |
| Springfield Public Library Foundation Springfield, OR | Public Programming | $7,000 |
| Rasika Hillsboro, OR | Public Programming | $6,375 |
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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 | $4,329,653 | $2,339,201 | $2,463,786 | $92,005 | 11 | $13,587 |
| 2023 | $4,278,663 | $2,552,790 | $2,078,207 | $85,642 | 12 | $159 |
| 2022 | $3,768,877 | $2,674,106 | $2,791,512 | $772,903 | 64 | $155 |
| 2021 | $3,423,209 | $2,185,928 | $1,826,324 | $71,533 | 10 | $602 |
| 2020 | $2,576,725 | $2,357,647 | $2,210,465 | $398,825 | 47 | $1,122 |
| 2019 | $2,433,646 | $1,874,155 | $1,933,429 | $36,000 | 5 | $4,342 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Oregon Humanities’ mission is to connect people and communities through conversation, storytelling, and participatory programs to inspire understanding and collaborative change. Its vision is an Oregon that invites diverse perspectives, explores challenging questions, and strives for just communities.
Its grant programs support humanities programs and events hosted by nonprofit organizations, federally recognized Native American tribes, and Oregon public libraries. Public Program Grants support programs across Oregon that explore challenging questions and strive for connected communities. Mini Grants for Libraries help eligible Oregon libraries create and host events around an annual theme. In its 2024 grantmaking, the organization supported, among others, Black Cultural Initiative, whose mission is “Empowering Black Excellence. Building Equitable Futures”; Rogue Action Center, which says its mission is to grow organizing power and leaders for a more just and thriving Southern Oregon; and Community Alliance of Lane County, which describes its mission as educating and mobilizing for peace, human dignity, and social, racial, and economic justice.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Oregon Humanities reported 11 grants totaling $92,005. Awards ranged from $5,130 to $10,000, with a median of $8,500. All listed grant dollars went to Oregon recipients, and each grant’s stated purpose was public programming.
The largest awards included $10,000 each to Black Cultural Initiative, Oregon Remembrance Project, Rogue Action Center, and Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland. Other recipients included Natives of One Wind Indigeneous Alliance ($9,000), Community Alliance of Lane County ($8,500), Echo Mountain Fire Relief ($8,500), Anima Mundi Productions ($7,500), Springfield Public Library Foundation ($7,000), Rasika ($6,375), and Chehalem Cultural Center ($5,130).
As of the organization’s 2026 program information, Public Program Grants are paused indefinitely because of cuts to National Endowment for the Humanities funding. The Mini Grants for Libraries page reports that $24,690 was awarded to 11 Oregon libraries for 2026; applications for that grant are currently closed. The library grant typically opens in early November and closes in mid-January. Eligible applicants include public, volunteer, community college, and tribal libraries and library branches located in Oregon. The maximum award per organization in 2026 was $3,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Justin Chin as chair, Jacqueline Willingham as treasurer, and Renee Roman Nose as secretary. Directors listed were Georgia Lee Hussey, Paul Duden, Hanako Wakatsuiki-Chong, Kerani Mitchell, Teresa Stover, Susan Samek, and Janet Webster.
Oregon Council for the Humanities is led by Adam Davis, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 26 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Adam Davis
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$121K (2019) → $149K (2024)
Justin Chin
Chair
Director → Secretary, 2020
Secretary → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cam Preus
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Webster
Director
Chair → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kerani Mitchell
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Duden
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tiffani Penson
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alicia Bay
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anna Sortun
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christina Devillier
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Young
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raymicia McGhee
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Arellano
Director
Vice Chair → Chair, 2021
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cm Hall
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Grant
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leo Bialis-White
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Teresa Stover
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carol Matsuzaki
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darci Hanning
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Georgia Lee Hussey
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hanako Wakatsuiki-Chong
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katie Harris Murphy
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sankar Raman
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Samek
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacqueline Willingham
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Renee Roman Nose
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Emily Karr (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Javier Cervantes (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Parrish Taylor (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Kate Lasky (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Alberto Moreno (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jeff Cronn (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Julie Jones Manning (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Kimberly Howard (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Mitsu Iwasaki (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Bobby Arellano (2019) — Director
- Former: Diane Tomseth (2019) — Secretary
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 $149K, to Adam Davis (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Oregon Council for the Humanities
How much does Oregon Council for the Humanities give each year?
Oregon Council for the Humanities gave $92K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $86K across 12 grants.
What is Oregon Council for the Humanities's typical grant size?
Oregon Council for the Humanities's median grant in 2024 was $8,500, and its average grant was $8,364, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Oregon Council for the Humanities that year got $9K on average.
Where does Oregon Council for the Humanities give grants?
Oregon Council for the Humanities gives mostly in Oregon: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (2 grants) and Eugene, OR (2 grants).
Does Oregon Council for the Humanities give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Oregon Council for the Humanities's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Public Programming" (11 grants).
Who are Oregon Council for the Humanities's largest grantees?
Oregon Council for the Humanities's largest 2024 grantees include Black Cultural Initiative ($10,000), Oregon Remembrance Project ($10,000) and Rogue Action Center ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Oregon Council for the Humanities?
Oregon Council for the Humanities reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.3M.
What does Oregon Council for the Humanities fund?
Oregon Humanities’ mission is to connect people and communities through conversation, storytelling, and participatory programs to inspire understanding and collaborative change. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Oregon Council for the Humanities?
Oregon Council for the Humanities has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check oregonhumanities.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Oregon Council for the Humanities's EIN?
Oregon Council for the Humanities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-0716419. 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
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Oregon Council for the Humanities's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Oregon Council for the Humanities funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/oregon-council-for-the-humanities-morg_f81c116713b94c9394fedbb1bf9427e5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_930716419_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Oregon Council for the Humanities funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/oregon-council-for-the-humanities-morg_f81c116713b94c9394fedbb1bf9427e5},
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 Oregon Council for the Humanities'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.
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