Wyoming Humanities Council
Wyoming Humanities Council is a public charity based in Laramie, Wyoming. It supports public humanities programs that explore Wyoming’s history, stories, and issues and foster connections among communities.
Wyoming Humanities Council at a glance
In short: Wyoming Humanities Council gave $191K across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Wyoming. 37% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $190,937
- -26.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +3.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,365
- -28.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,537
- Total assets
- $1,303,389
- +28.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (11 of 30, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wyoming (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Wyoming Humanities Council
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 400, Laramie, WY 82073
Phone: (307) 721-9243
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Wyoming Humanities Council
Community Culture Grant
Wyoming Humanities Council
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Event Sponsorship Grant
Wyoming Humanities Council
Amount
Up to US $2,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Indian Education for All Stipends & Travel Grant
Wyoming Humanities Council
Amount
Up to US $550
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Wyoming Humanities Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Central Wyoming College Foundation ($15K). Together the top 10 received $110K.
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 151 grants of 151 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The council describes its work as statewide and says it strives to serve all 23 Wyoming counties. Its 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wyoming.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Wyoming Humanities Council open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 30 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $7K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $96K (2023) to $538K (2022). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $191K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Central Wyoming College Foundation Jackson, WY | For public humanities programs | $15,000 |
| Uprising Sheridan, WY | For public humanities programs | $12,000 |
| Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum Jackson, WY | For public humanities programs | $12,000 |
| Alliance for Historic Wyoming Laramie, WY | For public humanities programs | $10,870 |
| TVGals Inc Laramie, WY | For public humanities programs | $10,000 |
| Native Memory Project Dubois, WY | For public humanities programs | $10,000 |
| Jackson Hole Book Festival Wilson, WY | For public humanities programs | $10,000 |
| Crossing The Threshold LLC Lander, WY | For public humanities programs | $10,000 |
| Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum Cheyenne, WY | For public humanities programs | $10,000 |
| Wyoming Writers Inc Cheyenne, WY | For public humanities programs | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Wyoming Humanities Council?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,303,389 | $1,272,024 | $1,004,049 | $190,937 | 30 | $9,440 |
| 2024 | $1,017,171 | $1,221,388 | $1,273,176 | $258,960 | 29 | $9,648 |
| 2023 | $926,458 | $1,263,709 | $1,250,092 | $95,655 | 10 | $17,790 |
| 2022 | $884,648 | $1,555,899 | $1,694,092 | $538,339 | 38 | $22,020 |
| 2021 | $1,143,450 | $1,363,713 | $1,121,576 | $185,447 | 44 | $22,737 |
| 2020 | $704,492 | $1,324,174 | $1,406,288 | $466,058 | 42 | $10,631 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s mission is “Inviting Wyoming to explore the ideas and stories that shape us.” Its grants support publicly accessible, humanities-centered programs, including initiatives involving community histories, lived experiences, and ideas. The organization also describes programming such as presentations, exhibits, podcasts, documentaries, publications, reading and discussion groups, workshops, and lecture series.
Its 2025 grants went to a range of Wyoming organizations. For example, the Jackson Hole Book Festival says it celebrates books, authors, and readers to inspire conversation and strengthen community connections. The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation says it memorializes and educates the public about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center. The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum says its mission is to preserve and share the heritage of the American West as experienced through Cheyenne Frontier Day.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the council reported 30 grants totaling $190,937. Awards ranged from $1,333 to $15,000, with a median grant of $5,536. The filing lists public humanities programs as the purpose for the largest awards. These included $15,000 to Central Wyoming College Foundation; $12,000 each to Uprising and Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum; and $10,870 to Alliance for Historic Wyoming. Other recipients included TVGals Inc, Native Memory Project, Jackson Hole Book Festival, Crossing The Threshold LLC, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, and Wyoming Writers Inc., each receiving $10,000.
The council’s website describes Community Culture Grants as supporting public programs, digital media, oral histories, exhibitions, publications, and preservation projects. Its published program materials invite local governments, public education, and nonprofit organizations to request up to $10,000. The materials emphasize community stories and partnerships, and say projects should be informed by humanities materials and scholars or experts, reflect diverse community perspectives, and use cultural and historical resources. The materials prohibit using funds to promote a particular political, religious, or ideological point of view.
The council also lists a Culture Grows Grant for 2026, offering up to $10,000 in general operating support to eligible humanities-based organizations, with ten awards described across five Wyoming regions. Its published eligible-cost categories include humanities programming, capacity building, sustaining operations, and strategic planning.
The council’s grant requirements state that projects must be humanities-centered and publicly accessible, and that applicants must be recognized nonprofits or state agencies; fiscal sponsors may be considered. A humanities professional must have a central role, and grant funds must be matched 1:1 with non-Federal dollars.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Stacy Stebner as Chair, Sheila Bush as Vice Chair, Kristi Wallen as Secretary, and Robert Mason as Treasurer. It also lists Cystal C'Bearing, Chad Banks, Kari Cooper, Liisa Anselmi-Dalton, Lisa Steele, and Scotty Ratliff as board members.
Wyoming Humanities Council is led by Shawn Reese, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Shawn Reese
Executive Director
Executive Director - CEO → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$75K (2020) → $99K (2025)
Chloe Flagg
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$68K (2025)
Stacy Stebner
Chair
Board Member → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maggi Maier Murdock
Board Member
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Milward Simpson
Board Member
Chair-Elect → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Liisa Anselmi-Dalton
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chad Banks
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cystal C'Bearing
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Wills
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diana Enzi
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kari Cooper
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Steele
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Mason
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scotty Ratliff
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheila Bush
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristi Wallen
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terri Lesley
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Scott Henkel (2020–2024) — Executive Officio
- Former: Jeremy Johnston (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Wendy Martinez (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Frederick Schmechel (2023–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Isabel Zumel (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Sandra Caldwell (2020–2023) — Executive Officio
- Former: Willie Le Clair (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Michael Von Flatern (2022–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Fred Schmechel (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Sarah Jo Sinclair (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Warren Murphy (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Bernadine Craft (2020–2021) — Chair
- Former: Mary B. Guthrie (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Carol Seeger (2020) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Shannon Smith (2020) — Executive Director - Emeritus
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 $99K, to Shawn Reese (Executive Director (Thru Sep 2025)). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Wyoming Humanities Council
How much does Wyoming Humanities Council give each year?
Wyoming Humanities Council gave $191K across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $259K across 29 grants.
What is Wyoming Humanities Council's typical grant size?
Wyoming Humanities Council's median grant in 2025 was $5,537, and its average grant was $6,365, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wyoming Humanities Council that year got $6K on average.
Where does Wyoming Humanities Council give grants?
Wyoming Humanities Council gives mostly in Wyoming: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cheyenne, WY (5 grants), Laramie, WY (5 grants), Jackson, WY (4 grants) and Casper, WY (4 grants).
Does Wyoming Humanities Council give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on Wyoming Humanities Council's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "For public humanities programs" (30 grants).
Who are Wyoming Humanities Council's largest grantees?
Wyoming Humanities Council's largest 2025 grantees include Central Wyoming College Foundation ($15,000), Uprising ($12,000) and Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum ($12,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wyoming Humanities Council?
Wyoming Humanities Council reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.3M.
What does Wyoming Humanities Council fund?
The organization’s mission is “Inviting Wyoming to explore the ideas and stories that shape us.” Its grants support publicly accessible, humanities-centered programs, including initiatives involving community histories, lived experiences, and ideas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wyoming Humanities Council?
Wyoming Humanities Council has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Wyoming Humanities Council's EIN?
Wyoming Humanities Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-0219852. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 29, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wyoming Humanities Council's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Wyoming Community Foundation
Laramie, WY
Wyoming Community Foundation funds charitable programs addressing community needs and building organizational capacity in areas such as arts, education, health, environment, and civic life, with grants in every Wyoming county. Most competitive-cycle awards are $1,000–$10,000, though larger amounts are considered. It accepts electronic applications through two competitive grant cycles each year.
Assets
$230.8M
Grants
401
Total Given
$15.6M
Community Foundation of Jackson Hole
Jackson, WY
The Community Foundation of Jackson Hole funds local nonprofits addressing community needs, including human services, health, arts, youth, conservation, and public safety, as well as student scholarships. Its Competitive Grants typically offer $3,000–$30,000, and its grant programs focus on Teton County, Wyoming. It accepts unsolicited requests through its grant programs.
Assets
$170.9M
Grants
374
Total Given
$39.6M
First Interstate BancSystem Foundation
Billings, MT
The First Interstate BancSystem Foundation funds poverty reduction, youth development, financial education, and community development, as well as civic, arts, education, health, human services, and sustainability efforts in communities served by First Interstate Bank across 10 states. Its 2025 grants had a median award of $2,500, though amounts varied widely; the stated minimum grant is $2,500. Organizations can submit grant requests online, which are traditionally reviewed monthly, but grants must be recommended by a local First Interstate branch.
Assets
$19.2M
Grants
767
Total Given
$5.0M
Homer A Scott & Mildred S Scott Foundation
Sheridan, WY
The foundation supports tax-exempt organizations working in areas including youth, education, character-building, economic opportunity, the environment, arts, and humanities, with grants shown for community organizations in Sheridan and surrounding areas. Its 2026 grants ranged from $250 to $68,200, with a median of $4,000. It encourages prospective applicants to discuss projects with its office before submitting a proposal; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$24.4M
Grants
63
Total Given
$736K
Hughes Charitable Foundation
Jackson, WY
The foundation supports organizations addressing basic needs and community wellbeing, including food insecurity, housing and homelessness, domestic violence, health, and services for children, veterans, and people with disabilities. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $1 million, with a median of $22,500; giving was primarily in Wyoming, with some support in Hawaii. Applications are by invitation only, and it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.9M
Grants
36
Total Given
$3.9M
The John P Ellbogen Foundation
Laramie, WY
The John P. Ellbogen Foundation supports education—especially teacher quality and K–12 and post-secondary learning—as well as basic needs, family well-being, science, and community initiatives benefiting Wyoming residents, prioritizing statewide or large-region work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $335,000, with a median of $15,000. It states that it does not accept unsolicited requests; organizations may submit an LOI, and full proposals require an invitation.
Assets
$61.2M
Grants
69
Total Given
$3.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Wyoming
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wyoming Humanities Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wyoming-humanities-council-morg_590b977f668a4864b5cdedfa352ffe26
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_830219852_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wyoming Humanities Council funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wyoming-humanities-council-morg_590b977f668a4864b5cdedfa352ffe26},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Wyoming Humanities Council'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.
Wyoming Humanities Council down — hundreds of funders to go?