Vermont Humanities Council
Vermont Humanities Council is a statewide nonprofit organization founded in 1974, headquartered in Montpelier, Vermont. As a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the organization promotes literacy, connects communities, and inspires lifelong learning through humanities-based programs and lecture series. The organization employs 18 staff members and operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.2M
-3.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$208K
-48.0% YoY
Grant Count
19
-40.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-12.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Vermont Humanities Council strives to make Vermont a state in which every individual reads, participates in public affairs, and continues to learn throughout life. The organization believes that engagement with the world of ideas, in interaction with others, contributes uniquely to richer lives, stronger communities, a more humane society, and a better world.
Primary program areas include:
Community Grants: Competitive grant rounds support humanities projects throughout Vermont. Applications are evaluated by a board committee, with grant opportunities available several times per year.
Humanities-Based Literacy Programs: Programs include "Vermont Reads" (a one-book annual statewide reading program), early literacy workshops for childcare providers, family literacy trainings for parents, week-long summer humanities camps to strengthen literacy skills, and "Connections," which works on literacy with persons in and emerging from the correctional system.
Lecture and Discussion Programs: Including "First Wednesdays," these programs bring humanities presentations, discussions, and conferences to individuals across the state. Speakers make more than 150 appearances annually at local libraries, schools, historical societies, senior centers, and other community spaces.
Grantmaking
Vermont Humanities Council is an active grantmaker with the following characteristics:
Grant Types
How to Apply
**: The organization accepts applications. Community grants are evaluated by a board committee.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Vermont Humanities Council operates statewide throughout Vermont. The organization sponsors more than 1,200 programs annually that occur in more than 160 Vermont towns, including communities in every county.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $3.3 million (2023)
Annual Revenue: $1.99 million (2023)
Annual Expenses: $2.35 million (2023)
Total Liabilities: $208,000 (2023)
Giving Rate: Approximately 12.1% of assets
Rating: The organization holds a Four-Star rating with a 96% score, reflecting strong accountability and financial management.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,178,214 | $3,301,935 | $3,356,321 |
| Revenue | $2,227,967 | $1,994,159 | $1,880,483 |
| Expenses | $2,289,751 | $2,347,925 | $1,801,947 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $60,844 | $2,777 | $699 |
| 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
124 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Vermont Humanities Council
Partnership Grants
VERMONT HUMANITIES COUNCIL
Amount
Up to $30,000 over 3 years
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Project Grants
VERMONT HUMANITIES COUNCIL
Amount
$1,000 - $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Rapid Response Grant
VERMONT HUMANITIES COUNCIL
Amount
Up to US $1,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup serves as Executive Director. The organization also includes Elizabeth Malone among its officers.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVEN STETTLER | CO-CHAIR | 2 | — |
| YASMINE ZIESLER | CO-CHAIR | 2 | — |
| T ELIJAH HAWKES | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| KIAH MORRIS | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| DOTTIE MORRIS | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| PATRICIA MENDUNI | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| ADRIENNE MAJOR | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| LIZZY LYONS | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| JINNY HUH | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| LUIS VIVANCO | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| JUDITH CHALMER | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| DENISE BAILEY | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| ELLEN BETHEA | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | $600 |
| PATRICIA SEARS | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| VERA LONGTOE SHEEHAN | SECRETARY | 2 | $930 |
| RON MILLER | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| GIZELLE GUYETTE | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER KAUFMAN ILSTRUP | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $132,336 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Emergency Funding from Mellon Foundation (2025)**: The Mellon Foundation announced $15 million in emergency funding for state humanities councils in response to federal cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities. Vermont Humanities received immediate funding of $200,000, with an additional $50,000 available through matching grants. This came after Vermont Humanities received notice on April 2, 2025, that all its grant funding through NEH had been cancelled effective immediately, representing a loss of $728,523.
The Walter Cerf Community Fund at the ... - Common Good Vermont**COVID-19 Relief Partnership (2020)**: Vermont Humanities partnered with the Vermont Arts Council to administer the COVID-19 Cultural Relief Grant Program, seeded with more than $700,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities through the CARES Act. Grant awards were based on organization size, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
The Walter Cerf Community Fund at the ... - Common Good Vermont**Flood Recovery Grants (2023)**: Vermont Humanities received $200,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to assist recovery from flood damage.
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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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