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Humanities Iowa

EIN 23-7374180 · Ames, IA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF HUMANITIES IOWA IS TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, CULTURE, AND STORIES OF IMPORTANCE TO IOWA AND THE NATION. HUMANITIES IOWA (HI) IS COMMITTED TO BRINGING THE HUMANITIES TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH GRANT MAKING, PUBLICATIONS, INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS. FOUNDED IN 1971. WE PROVIDE GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS TO OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT FURTHER THE HUMANITIES IN THE STATE, AND WE CONDUCT OUR OWN PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE HUMANITIES ACROSS IOWA. EACH YEAR WE SERVE OVER 250,000 IOWANS WITH PROGRAMMING AND PROJECTS LIKE OUR SPEAKERS BUREAU. WE HAVE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO SHARING AND SUPPORTING THE HUMANITIES WITH ALL IOWANS, AND TO BRINGING THE HUMANITIES TO LIFE.

Income
$114,597
Spending
$357,078
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$105,824, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 212% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $50,000 spent. HUMANITIES IOWA SPONSORED OVER 210 PUBLIC HISTORY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE IN 2023-PROGRAMS THAT SHOWCASED IOWA'S WEALTH OF HOME GROWN KNOWLEDGE AND TALENT TO OVER 250,000 PEOPLE. PROGRAMS INCLUDED PRESENTATIONS ON THE LIFEWORK OF "FIRST LADY OF THE FARM" RUTH BUXTON SAYRE AND HOT TAMALE LOUIE, THE STORY OF ZARIF KHAN. HUMANITIES IOWA REMAINS COMMITTED TO MAKING EXTRAORDINARY PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE TO ALL IOWANS. DURING 2023 WE: - AWARDED OVER 56,000 IN GRANTS TO 32 IOWA NON-PROFITS; - FUNDED PUBLIC PROGRAMS AT UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA, DRAKE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY, AND OTHER HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE STATE; - SUPPORTED EXHIBITS IN SIOUX CITY, DES MOINES, AND CEDAR RAPIDS; - PARTNERED WITH SIOUXLAND PUBLIC MEDIA, POMEROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, DUBUQUE ARTS COUNCIL, PATHFINDERS RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT AND NUMEROUS HISTORICAL SOCIETIES; - PARTNERED WITH THE IOWA STUDENT POET AMBASSADOR (ISPA) PROGRAM IN 2023 TO SUPPORT INCOMING AMBASSADOR LOLA NAKASHIMA-BROOKE DURING HER YEAR OF SERVICE. HUMANITIES IOWA SPONSORED OVER 210 PUBLIC HISTORY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE IN 2023-PROGRAMS THAT SHOWCASED IOWA'S WEALTH OF HOME GROWN KNOWLEDGE AND TALENT TO OVER 250,000 PEOPLE. PROGRAMS INCLUDED PRESENTATIONS ON THE LIFEWORK OF "FIRST LADY OF THE FARM" RUTH BUXTON SAYRE AND HOT TAMALE LOUIE, THE STORY OF ZARIF KHAN. HUMANITIES IOWA REMAINS COMMITTED TO MAKING EXTRAORDINARY PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE TO ALL IOWANS. DURING 2023 WE: - AWARDED OVER 56,000 IN GRANTS TO 32 IOWA NON-PROFITS; - FUNDED PUBLIC PROGRAMS AT UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA, DRAKE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY, AND OTHER HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE STATE; - SUPPORTED EXHIBITS IN SIOUX CITY, DES MOINES, AND CEDAR RAPIDS; - PARTNERED WITH SIOUXLAND PUBLIC MEDIA, POMEROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, DUBUQUE ARTS COUNCIL, PATHFINDERS RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT AND NUMEROUS HISTORICAL SOCIETIES; - PARTNERED WITH THE IOWA STUDENT POET AMBASSADOR (ISPA) PROGRAM IN 2023 TO SUPPORT INCOMING AMBASSADOR LOLA NAKASHIMA-BROOKE DURING HER YEAR OF SERVICE.
  2. $243,825 spent. HUMANITIES IOWA SPONSORED OVER 200 PUBLIC HISTORY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE IN 2021 - PROGRAMS THAT SHOWCASED IOWA'S WEALTH OF HOME GROWN KNOWLEDGE AND TALENT TO THOUSANDS OF IOWANS AND BEYOND.
  3. HUMANITIES IOWA SPONSORED OVER 200 PUBLIC HISTORY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE IN 2021 - PROGRAMS THAT SHOWCASED IOWA'S WEALTH OF HOME GROWN KNOWLEDGE AND TALENT TO THOUSANDS OF IOWANS AND BEYOND.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending October 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1976.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.