South Carolina Humanities Council Inc
South Carolina Humanities Council, based in Columbia, South Carolina, is a public charity that supports humanities programs and initiatives in the state. Its website says it is one of 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils receiving funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The organization was established in 1973, while its 2023 filing lists 1985 as the year formed.
Key facts about South Carolina Humanities Council Inc
In short: South Carolina Humanities Council Inc gave $156K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in South Carolina. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 57-0804684
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $155,884
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- Average grant
- $12,990
- Median grant
- $11,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (6 of 12, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,842,752
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The organization is not accepting grant applications at this time. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$1.8M
+19.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$156K
-34.0% YoY
Grant Count
12
-40.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+10.0% YoY
Is South Carolina Humanities Council Inc open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 12 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $17K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of South Carolinians. Its 2023 filing says it pursues this by increasing public understanding of the humanities through grants for high-quality public programs, special initiatives and humanities perspectives on contemporary issues.
Its website describes work across disciplines including history, literature, folklore, philosophy, archaeology, African American studies, Southern studies, anthropology and art theory and criticism. The 2023 filing describes support for exhibits, documentaries, discussion forums, research, planning, workshops, dramatizations, lectures and events. It also reports that, during FY 2024, the organization awarded 79 grants totaling $421,103 to organizations in 41 counties.
The organization’s 2025 grants included universities, museums, gardens, arts and history organizations, a disability-led organization and a city government. Able South Carolina describes its mission as equipping people with disabilities to direct their own lives, educating communities to challenge stereotypes and advocating for access and rights. Brookgreen Gardens says it was formed to collect, preserve and exhibit American sculpture and South Carolina flora and fauna. One Columbia for Arts and History says it works to strengthen and unify Columbia’s arts and history community.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization reported 12 grants totaling $155,884. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $24,800, with a median of $11,500. Its website says it has historically funded projects ranging from documentaries to local genealogies and oral histories, and that it recently awarded approximately $200,000 annually.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from South Carolina Humanities Council Inc
Fast Track Literary Grants
South Carolina Humanities Council Inc
Amount
Up to $2,500
Deadline
Rolling / Open
SC Humanities Festival
South Carolina Humanities Council Inc
Amount
$10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
SC Humanities: Major Grants
South Carolina Humanities Council Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with South Carolina Humanities Council Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s website describes its work as serving South Carolina. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina. Its grant FAQs say organizations from outside the state may apply if their project provides programming that reaches a South Carolina audience.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $126K (2019) to $730K (2021). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $156K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of South Carolina ($25K). Together the top 10 received $144K.
Grant Size Distribution
128 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 128 grants of 128 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina Columbia, SC | Exhibit Oral History | $24,800 |
| Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC | SCHD & Lectures | $20,884 |
| Clemson University Clemson, SC | Reading Program | $19,000 |
| Able South Carolina Columbia, SC | Oral History Project | $15,000 |
| Better World Studios Inc Graniteville, SC | Lectures/Classes | $15,000 |
| Brookgreen Gardens Murrells Inlet, SC | Art History Program | $13,000 |
| Berkeley County Museum Moncks Corner, SC | Digital Exhibit | $10,000 |
| Lancaster County Council of the Art Lancaster, SC | Festival, Lectures | $10,000 |
| Mather Museum & Interpretive Center Beaufort, SC | Walking Tour Project | $9,000 |
| One Columbia for Arts and History Columbia, SC | Poetry Festival | $7,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,842,752 | $1,435,498 | $1,083,008 | $155,884 (12 grants) |
| 2024 | $1,541,819 | $1,316,088 | $1,243,197 | $236,118 (20 grants) |
| 2023 | $1,259,514 | $1,157,661 | $1,091,012 | $203,458 (16 grants) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,842,752 | $1,541,819 | $1,259,514 |
| Revenue | $1,435,498 | $1,316,088 | $1,157,661 |
| Expenses | $1,083,008 | $1,243,197 | $1,091,012 |
| Net Investment Income | $69,230 | $34,649 | $29,396 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 13, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 4, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 13, 2024)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jennifer Gunter as Executive Director, Randy L. Akers as “Ex Dir Thru,” Jennifer Thomas as Chair, Brenton Brown as Vice Chair and Alli Crandell as Secretary. It also lists Brendon M. Barber, Gina G. Bennett, J.W. Nelson Chandler, Bill Comer and Eric Crawford as board members.
South Carolina Humanities Council Inc is led by Randy L. Akers, Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 26 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Randy L. Akers
Executive Director
Executive Di → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$111K (2019) → $121K (2025)
Jennifer Thomas
Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David G. Hodges
Board Member
Board Member → Chair, 2022
Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sc McMeekin Jr.
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashlye V. Wilkerson
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bonnie Hargrove
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Isaiah R. McGee
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dollie Newhouse
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Crawford
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George D. Jebaily
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Crosby
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alli Crandell
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenton Brown
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Gunter
Executive Di
Board Member → Executive Di, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lucas McMillan
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Comer
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles McDonald
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Stone Jr.
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jay Dowd
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jw Nelson Chandler
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Otis W. Pickett Sr.
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Senator Floyd Nicholson
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brendon M. Barber
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Gottshall
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gina G. Bennett
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Walker
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (21)
- Former: Leslie Walker Bickford (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Benjamin T. Zeigler (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Duff Bruce (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: James E. Smith Jr. (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Ellen Fuller (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Tom Mack (2019–2022) — Past Chair
- Former: Lisa Kerr (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Richard Brown (2021–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Beryl Dakers (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jo Angela Edwins (2019–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Walt Griffin (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: William Balk (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Alice Taylor-Colbert (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Daniel Ennis (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: John Busch (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Kim Shealy Jeffcoat (2019–2020) — Past Chair
- Former: Mary Elisabeth Grigg (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Richard Westbrook (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Walter Fiederowicz (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Billy Keyserling (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Marie Boyd (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $121K, to Randy L Akers (Ex DIR Thru).
Contact
Mailing address: Post Office Box 5287, Columbia, SC 29250
Phone: (803) 771-2477
Website: https://schumanities.org
Frequently asked questions about South Carolina Humanities Council Inc
How much does South Carolina Humanities Council Inc give each year?
South Carolina Humanities Council Inc gave $156K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $236K across 20 grants.
What is South Carolina Humanities Council Inc's typical grant size?
South Carolina Humanities Council Inc's median grant in 2025 was $11,500, and its average grant was $12,990, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from South Carolina Humanities Council Inc that year got $9K on average.
Where does South Carolina Humanities Council Inc give grants?
South Carolina Humanities Council Inc gives mostly in South Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Columbia, SC (3 grants).
Does South Carolina Humanities Council Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on South Carolina Humanities Council Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are South Carolina Humanities Council Inc's largest grantees?
South Carolina Humanities Council Inc's largest 2025 grantees include University of South Carolina ($24,800), Coastal Carolina University ($20,884) and Clemson University ($19,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is South Carolina Humanities Council Inc?
South Carolina Humanities Council Inc reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.
What does South Carolina Humanities Council Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of South Carolinians. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from South Carolina Humanities Council Inc?
The organization is not accepting grant applications at this time. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is South Carolina Humanities Council Inc's EIN?
South Carolina Humanities Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-0804684. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching South Carolina Humanities Council Inc by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in South Carolina Humanities Council Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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South Carolina Humanities Council Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?