Pennsylvania Humanities Council
Pennsylvania Humanities Council, based in Philadelphia, is a public charity that champions the humanities to spark civic engagement, build community, educate, inspire, and make long-lasting change. Its programs, partnerships, and grants support community-led humanities work across Pennsylvania, including initiatives that use storytelling, shared history, and conversation to help communities connect and plan for the future.
Pennsylvania Humanities Council at a glance
In short: Pennsylvania Humanities Council gave $33K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $32,500
- -97.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -92.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,250
- -63.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $16,250
- Total assets
- $1,738,091
- +21.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Pennsylvania Humanities Council
- How to Apply
-
The website directs prospective PA Heart & Soul communities to the current guidelines and application; applications are accepted on a rolling basis and depend on available funding.
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Contact
Mailing address: 230 South Broad Street Suite 403, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: (215) 925-1005
Website: https://pahumanities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Pennsylvania Humanities Council
Who Pennsylvania Humanities Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wayne County Community Foundation ($23K). Together the top 2 received $33K.
Grant Size Distribution
183 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 141 grants of 183 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that all grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania. PA Humanities describes PA Heart & Soul as working with small towns across the state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Pennsylvania Humanities Council gives
- Giving fell 98% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $33K (2025) to $1.5M (2022). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $33K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne County Community Foundation Honesdale, PA | PA Heart & Soul | $22,500 |
| Johnsonburg Borough Johnsonburg, PA | PA Heart & Soul | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,738,091 | $2,911,092 | $2,605,741 | $32,500 | 2 | $37,941 |
| 2024 | $1,430,807 | $2,459,094 | $4,081,712 | $1,252,500 | 28 | $74,645 |
| 2023 | $4,398,870 | $5,449,398 | $3,560,713 | $1,162,500 | 27 | — |
| 2022 | $798,092 | $1,996,340 | $3,585,857 | $1,505,705 | 107 | — |
| 2021 | $2,469,195 | $3,466,969 | $2,026,676 | $211,000 | 19 | $378 |
| 2020 | $1,102,145 | $2,789,112 | $2,655,132 | $568,350 | 64 | $1,890 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
PA Humanities’ mission is to champion the humanities to spark civic engagement, build community, educate, inspire, and make long-lasting change. Its stated work includes PA Heart & Soul, Youth-Led Humanities, Rain Poetry, Voices of History, PA Cultural Exchange, and Wingspan. Wingspan supported organizations doing community-based humanities work, with funding for programming, general operating expenses, marketing and communications, staff development, and capacity-building.
The organization’s 2025 filing reports grants for PA Heart & Soul. One recipient, Wayne County Community Foundation, describes its own mission as investing in the community by growing its endowment, encouraging philanthropy and innovation, supporting charitable activities, and assessing and addressing community needs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Pennsylvania Humanities Council reported two grants totaling $32,500. The grants ranged from $10,000 to $22,500, with a median of $16,250. The recipients were Wayne County Community Foundation, which received $22,500 for PA Heart & Soul, and Johnsonburg Borough, which received $10,000 for PA Heart & Soul.
The organization’s website says PA Heart & Soul applications are accepted on a rolling basis, contingent on available funding. The 2025 filing describes grant oversight requirements: grantees submit narrative and financial reports for approval, signed by the project director and, for the financial report, the fiscal officer. Grantees may also receive site visits or check-in calls during the grant term.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Laurie Zierer as executive director; Dawn Frisby Byers as senior director of content and engagement; Kenneth Dinitz as director of development; and Brian Thomas as director of people and operations. Listed board officers are Gwendolyn White, chair; Christina Saler, vice chair; and Kimberly Koller-Jones, treasurer. The filing also lists Bryan Clark and Dina Clark as board members, and Gisele Barreto Fetterman as a board member through March 2025.
Pennsylvania Humanities Council is led by Laurie Zierer, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 4 of 27 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Laurie Zierer
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$127K (2020) → $169K (2025)
Gwendolyn White
Chair
Board Vice Chair → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dawn Frisby Byers
Senior Director of Content & Engagement
Senior Director of Content & Engagement → Senior Director of Content & Engage, 2023
Senior Director of Content & Engage → Senior Director of Content & Engagement, 2024
On filings since 2022
37.5 hrs/week
$106K (2022) → $135K (2025)
Brian Thomas
Director of People & Operations
Director of People Operations → Director of People & Operations, 2025
On filings since 2024
37.5 hrs/week
$100K (2024) → $105K (2025)
Kenneth Dinitz
Director of Development
On filings since 2024
37.5 hrs/week
$96K (2024) → $96K (2025)
Allen Dieterich-Ward
Board Member
Board Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina D. Saler Esq.
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dina Clark
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gisele Barreto Fetterman
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Orr
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Koller-Jones
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leah Spangler
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Wilson Aden
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abbi Peters
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Egusquiza
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Molchany
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maureen McGuigan
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Safronia Perry
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaysha Noor
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Kimbrough
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dominic Dellicarpini PhD
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert J. Thompson
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Clark
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Herzing
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John L. Jackson Jr.
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Sanchez
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shawn Mooring
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Cheryl Matherly (2020–2023) — Chair
- Former: Jane Sheffield (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Persico (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Michael A. Smith (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Seulky McInneshin (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Bonita Allen (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Chanel Cook (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Ivy Barsky (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jj Sheffer (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Melody Keim (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Zabeth Teelucksingh (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Harris Ferris (2020–2021) — Board Treasurer
- Former: John E. Schlimm II (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Omar Woodard (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Paula Gilbert (2020–2021) — Board Vice Chair
- Former: Silas Chamberlin (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Sr Mary Persico Ihm EdD (2021) — Board Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $169K, to Laurie Zierer (Executive Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania Humanities Council
How much does Pennsylvania Humanities Council give each year?
Pennsylvania Humanities Council gave $33K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 28 grants.
How large is Pennsylvania Humanities Council?
Pennsylvania Humanities Council reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.9M.
What does Pennsylvania Humanities Council fund?
PA Humanities’ mission is to champion the humanities to spark civic engagement, build community, educate, inspire, and make long-lasting change. Its stated work includes PA Heart & Soul, Youth-Led Humanities, Rain Poetry, Voices of History, PA Cultural Exchange, and Wingspan. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pennsylvania Humanities Council?
The website directs prospective PA Heart & Soul communities to the current guidelines and application; applications are accepted on a rolling basis and depend on available funding. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Pennsylvania Humanities Council make grants?
The 2025 filing reports that all grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania. PA Humanities describes PA Heart & Soul as working with small towns across the state.
What is Pennsylvania Humanities Council's EIN?
Pennsylvania Humanities Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2007911. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 29, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pennsylvania Humanities Council's focus areas in our free grants database
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Pennsylvania Humanities Council down — hundreds of funders to go?