Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc
Wisconsin humanities strengthens our democracy through educational and cultural programs that build connections and understanding among people of all backgrounds and beliefs throughout the state.
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc at a glance
In short: Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc gave $68K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $67,980
- -68.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -65.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,498
- -10.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,850
- Total assets
- $569,072
- +45.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc
- Next open deadline
- November 1, 2026 (Mini Grants)
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc
CARES Relief Grants
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc
Amount
Up to $548,000 total awarded (82 organizations)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Major Grants
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Expected ~December
Based on past cycles
Mini Grants
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Expected ~November
Based on past cycles
Who Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cap Services Inc ($10K). Together the top 8 received $68K.
Grant Size Distribution
169 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 169 grants of 169 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc gives
- Giving fell 85% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $68K (2025) to $661K (2020). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $68K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cap Services Inc Stevens Point, WI | Grant in Support of Humanities Programming | $10,000 |
| Lynden Inc Milwaukee, WI | Grant in Support of Humanities Programming | $10,000 |
| Museum of Wisconsin Art West Bend, WI | Grant in Support of Humanities Programming | $10,000 |
| True Skool Inc Milwaukee, WI | Grant in Support of Humanities Programming | $10,000 |
| Lussier Community Education Center Madison, WI | Grant in Support of Humanities Programming | $7,700 |
| Marquette University Milwaukee, WI | Grant in Support of Humanities Programming | $7,644 |
| Uw-Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI | Grant in Support of Humanities Programming | $7,436 |
| Village of Waunakee Waunakee, WI | Grant in Support of Humanities Programming | $5,200 |
Ready to take the next step with Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $569,072 | $1,412,074 | $1,043,161 | $67,980 | 8 | $12,891 |
| 2024 | $391,145 | $1,351,964 | $1,536,381 | $217,608 | 23 | $11,774 |
| 2023 | $402,768 | $2,025,439 | $1,862,012 | $500,132 | 49 | $8,155 |
| 2022 | $372,757 | $2,007,119 | $1,735,085 | $460,889 | 50 | $3,854 |
| 2021 | $270,748 | $1,308,242 | $1,278,907 | $395,771 | 39 | $3,378 |
| 2020 | $265,348 | $1,253,753 | $1,535,644 | $660,630 | 75 | $3,800 |
| 2019 | $259,304 | $966,508 | $987,282 | $148,143 | 17 | $3,779 |
About Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc
Based on IRS filings
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Middleton, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $569K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $68K. Net investment income was $13K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc is led by Dena Wortzel, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 20 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dena Wortzel
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenifer Cole
Chair
Director → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Salmons
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Huntoon
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2024
Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Jackson
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Everett Marshburn
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ruth Olson
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carrie Van Hallgren
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kate Rericha
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Y. Hairston Green
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eloisa Gomez
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lara Karpenko
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Damon-Moore
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Schultz
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chong Moua
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jimmy Gutierrez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Frost
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Kean
Associate Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David O'Connor
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim O'Connell
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (35)
- Former: Carole Trone (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Jan Larson (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Kris Adams Wendt (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Esperanza (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Debra Barker (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Sandra Adell (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Janet Bewley (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: N'jameh Russell-Camara (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Nengher Vang (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Mary Lynne Donohue (2019–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Stephen Kercher (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Sergio Gonzalez (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Alton J. Smart (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: John Viste (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Kathy Laakso (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Inga Cushman (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jesus Salas (2020–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Todd Larson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mario Jimenez Chacon (2022) — Director
- Former: Celestine Jeffreys (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Diane Lichtenstein (2019–2021) — Chair
- Former: Joshua Ranger (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Maysee Herr (2021) — Director
- Former: Arnold Chevalier (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jim Marks (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Juan Jimenez (2019–2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: May Vang (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Nicole Brookshire (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Troy Reeves (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Meralis Hood (2020) — Director
- Former: Alex Zacarias (2019) — Director
- Former: Karen Spahn (2019) — Director
- Former: Marie Kohler (2019) — Director
- Former: Mary Knapp (2019) — Director
- Former: Roberta Maguire (2019) — Chair
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.
Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc
How much does Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc give each year?
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc gave $68K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $218K across 23 grants.
What is Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc's typical grant size?
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc's median grant in 2025 was $8,850, and its average grant was $8,498, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc give grants?
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (3 grants).
Does Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant in Support of Humanities Programming" (8 grants).
Who are Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc's largest grantees?
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Cap Services Inc ($10,000), Lynden Inc ($10,000) and Museum of Wisconsin Art ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc?
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc reported $569K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.
What is Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc?
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Middleton, WI. It holds $569K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc's EIN?
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1250290. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Green Bay Packers Foundation
Green Bay, WI
The Green Bay Packers Foundation funds Wisconsin charities working in areas such as families, athletics, children’s safety and education, animal welfare, and other focus areas that vary by year. Its 2026 announcement describes typical awards of $3,000–$8,000, though some grants are larger; it accepts online applications during its stated cycle, February 2–April 1, 2026.
Assets
$57.2M
Grants
530
Total Given
$3.6M
Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation funds nonprofit programs, projects, general operations and capital needs, with priorities including early childhood education, housing, basic needs, health, arts and culture, and scientific research. Its competitive grants primarily serve Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties; in 2024, the median grant was about $27,800, though awards varied widely. It runs competitive grant cycles, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
838
Total Given
$66.8M
Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Herbert H Kohl Charities funds charitable organizations, with its affiliated philanthropy emphasizing education, civic engagement, and community initiatives in Milwaukee and Wisconsin; most 2025 grant dollars went to Wisconsin recipients. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $2 million, with a median of $5,000, and Homegrown Grants offer up to $5,000. It makes contributions only to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.6M
Grants
258
Total Given
$14.2M
Alliant Energy Foundation Inc
Madison, WI
Assets
$28.5M
Grants
929
Total Given
$2.4M
Richard and Ethel Herzfeld
Milwaukee, WI
The foundation funds Wisconsin-based nonprofits in arts and culture, education, and civic improvements, with an emphasis on organizations serving Greater Milwaukee. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $700,000, with a median of $30,000; although a prior filing described preliminary applications, it currently has no open application processes, and remaining 2026 civic improvement and other projects are by invitation only.
Assets
$81.5M
Grants
68
Total Given
$4.2M
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County Inc
Milwaukee, WI
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County funds local human services and community programs focused on housing stability, digital access, employment, teen mental wellness, and community resilience. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to about $2 million, with a median of about $34,000, and most funding went to Wisconsin, especially its four-county region. It requires a Letter of Intent before a full application; the listed 2026–27 Letter of Intent deadline has passed.
Assets
$50.8M
Grants
639
Total Given
$42.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Wisconsin
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc'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.
Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?