The West Virginia Humanities Council
The West Virginia Humanities Council is a nonprofit organization based in Charleston, West Virginia, serving as a statewide arts council and humanities organization. Founded on June 25, 1974, at the encouragement of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the organization was originally incorporated as the Committee for Humanities and Public Policy. The Council operates from the 1836 MacFarland-Hubbard House, a landmark property listed on the National Register of Historic Places and one of Charleston's seven antebellum houses, which the organization purchased in 1999.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.8M
+5.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$204K
-12.3% YoY
Grant Count
16
+14.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-23.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The West Virginia Humanities Council's mission is to promote a vigorous program in the humanities statewide in West Virginia. The organization awards grants to others, directly funds certain projects, operates e-WV (an online interactive program), and conducts seminars and conferences throughout the state.
The Council's work encompasses three primary program areas:
Grants Program — The Council's cornerstone offering provides competitive financial support to nonprofits statewide for the development and implementation of public humanities programming. The organization is committed to supporting projects that stimulate meaningful dialogue with scholars, attract diverse audiences, and encourage discovery of the humanities.
West Virginia Folklife Program and Direct Humanities Projects — The folklife program works to document, sustain, present, and support West Virginia's vibrant cultural heritage and living traditions. Direct humanities projects include History Alive! presentations, the People & Mountains publication, the West Virginia Book Festival, the annual McCright Lecture, and management of the MacFarland-Hubbard House.
e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia — An online resource providing access to West Virginia history and culture.
Grantmaking
The Council offers multiple grant categories to support humanities projects across the state:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The West Virginia Humanities Council funds projects and programs statewide throughout West Virginia. The organization serves West Virginians in their schools, libraries, museums, and other locations across the state.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets — $2,752,547 (as of 2024)
Annual Revenue — $1,776,214 (2024)
Annual Expenses — $1,776,999 (2024)
Staff — 9 employees
Tax Status — 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; tax-exempt since November 1976
Funding Sources — The organization is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the West Virginia Department of Tourism, corporations, foundations, and individual donors.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,752,547 | $2,615,255 | $1,963,412 |
| Revenue | $1,776,214 | $2,329,342 | $1,384,887 |
| Expenses | $1,776,999 | $1,678,061 | $1,380,155 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $67,783 | $10,269 | $5,224 |
| 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
143 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from The West Virginia Humanities Council
WV Humanities Fellowship Grant
THE WEST VIRGINIA HUMANITIES COUNCIL
Amount
US $3,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
WV Humanities Publication Grant
THE WEST VIRGINIA HUMANITIES COUNCIL
Amount
Up to US $20,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
WV Humanities Teachers Institutes Grant
THE WEST VIRGINIA HUMANITIES COUNCIL
Amount
Up to US $20,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include West Virginia University Research Corporation ($28,675), Shepherd University Foundation ($25,227), West Virginia Symphony Orchestra ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALCHEMY THEATRE TROUPE INC HUNTINGTON, WV | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS | $18,000 |
| CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN THEATRE FESTIVAL SHEPERDSTOWN, WV | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS | $8,000 |
| MARSHALL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORP HUNTINGTON, WV | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS | $5,052 |
| SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS | $25,227 |
| WV MINE WARS MUSEUM MATEWAN, WV | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS | $5,403 |
| WV MUSIC HALL OF FAME CHARLESTON, WV | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS | $18,000 |
| WV PUBLIC BROADCASTING FOUNDATION CHARLESTON, WV | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS | $11,516 |
| WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION MORGANTOWN, WV | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS | $28,675 |
| MARSHALL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORP HUNTINGTON, WV | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS | $13,041 |
| STEP BY STEP INC CHARLESTON, WV | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS | $8,685 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Address — 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E, Charleston, WV 25301
Phone — 304.346.8500
Fax — 304.346.8504
Email — stringer@wvhumanities.org
Hours — Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and maintains experienced staff in grantmaking, program development, and historic property management.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEORGE GIB BROWN | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| PAUL PAPADOPOULOS | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| J DAN MCCARTHY | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| LESLIE BAKER | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| MATTHEW BOND | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| RITA HEDRICK-HELMICK | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| GREGORY COBLE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LAURIE ERICKSON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ANN FARR | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CHARLES LEDBETTER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| PATRICK FELTON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CICERO FAIN III | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MEGAN TARBETT | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MICHELE MOURE-REEVES | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LYDIA WARREN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KATRENA RAMSEY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LISA ROSE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| PAM TARR | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| TOM SOPHER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JOHN UNGER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| BRYSON VANNOSTRAND | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ERIC WAGGONER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $109,151 |
| HEATHER CAMPBELL | FISCAL OFFICER | 40 | $67,275 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The West Virginia Humanities Council announced grant recipients in March 2025. Subsequently, the organization announced a suspension of grant funding in April 2025.
West Virginia Humanities Council 'Pauses' Grant Funding at DOGE's ...The Council continues to operate direct programs including the West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship program, which celebrates and supports traditional artists in passing on cultural knowledge, stories, and techniques to apprentices. The organization released its 2025 Annual Report and the Winter 2025-26 issue of People & Mountains magazine.
West Virginia Humanities Council 'Pauses' Grant Funding at DOGE's ...Leadership & Contact
Address — 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E, Charleston, WV 25301
Phone — 304.346.8500
Fax — 304.346.8504
Email — stringer@wvhumanities.org
Hours — Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and maintains experienced staff in grantmaking, program development, and historic property management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The West Virginia Humanities Council fund?
The West Virginia Humanities Council's mission is to promote a vigorous program in the humanities statewide in West Virginia. The organization awards grants to others, directly funds certain projects, operates e-WV (an online interactive program), and conducts seminars and conferences throughout the state. The Council's work encompasses three primary program areas: **Grants Program** — The Council's cornerstone offering provides competitive financial support to nonprofits statewide for the deve…
How do I apply for a grant from The West Virginia Humanities Council?
The Council offers multiple grant categories to support humanities projects across the state: • Major Grants • Minigrants • Teacher Institutes • Publication and Media Grants • Fellowships • Travel Assistance Grants (TAP Grants) **Grant Amounts** — Typical awards range from $5,052 to $29,644. **Total Giving** — The organization distributed $290,146 in grants according to the most recent IRS Form 990 filing. **Recent Activity** — The Council announced grant recipients in March 2025. However, the …
Where does The West Virginia Humanities Council make grants?
The West Virginia Humanities Council funds projects and programs statewide throughout West Virginia. The organization serves West Virginians in their schools, libraries, museums, and other locations across the state.
What size grants does The West Virginia Humanities Council award?
In 2024, The West Virginia Humanities Council awarded 16 grants totaling $204K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The West Virginia Humanities Council's EIN?
The West Virginia Humanities Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0553594. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The West Virginia 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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