Human Family Educational and Cultural Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOUNDED IN 1974 TO ENCOURAGE THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY TO USE ITS REACH TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF VIEWING AUDIENCES, HUMAN FAMILY EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTE (DBA HUMANITAS) HONORS AND EMPOWERS WRITERS WHOSE FILM AND TELEVISION WORK EXPLORES THE HUMAN CONDITION IN A NUANCED, MEANINGFUL WAY. WE CELEBRATE THE STORIES THAT EXPLORE THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THE ACT OF ACKNOWLEDGING OUR COMMON HUMANITY IS TRANSFORMATIONAL. WE WORK TOWARD OUR MISSION AND VISION THROUGH OUR NETWORK OF SIGNATURE EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND CHARITABLE PROGRAMS: THE HUMANITAS PRIZES, THE NEW VOICES FELLOWSHIP, THE COLLEGE SCREENWRITING AWARDS, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS, AND DIRECT AID PROJECTS, INCLUDING INDUSTRY 101, THE WRITERS ROOM, AND GROCERIES FOR WRITERS.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $908,016
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 60.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 48%
- Employees
- 6
- Highest pay
- $217,848, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 60.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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)
- $569,604 spent. THE FIRST CHANNEL OF ACTION IS THE HUMANITAS PRIZES, WHICH WERE FIRST AWARDED TO SUNSHINE, THE LAW, AND LARRY AND SINCE AWARDED TO PROJECTS RANGING FROM PACHINKO AND THE WEST WING TO BLACK-ISH AND ENCANTO. THE HUMANITAS PRIZES HONOR PROFESSIONAL FILM AND TELEVISION WRITERS WHOSE WORK EXEMPLIFIES THE ART OF SCREENWRITING WHILE EXPLORING THE HUMAN CONDITION IN A NUANCED, MEANINGFUL WAY. THEY ARE PRESENTED AT AN ANNUAL FALL EVENT AND INCLUDE A TROPHY AND CASH PRIZE."
- $78,850 spent. THE SECOND PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENT IS THE NEW VOICES & COLLEGE SCREENWRITING AWARDS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OPERATES TWO PROGRAMS FOR EMERGING WRITERS. THE NEW VOICES FELLOWSHIP IS A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX-MONTHS, THAT PAIRS FIVE EMERGING WRITERS EACH YEAR WITH A PROFESSIONAL WRITER WHO ACTS AS THEIR MENTOR, AND FURTHER SUPPORTS THEM WITH ACCESS TO NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS, AND A SUITE OF OTHER BENEFITS. THE COLLEGE SCREENWRITING AWARDS, MEANWHILE, RECOGNIZE SCREENWRITERS WHOSE WORK ADVANCES THE HUMANITAS MISSION AND WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY PROGRAM. HUMANITAS ANNUALLY AWARDS TWO PRIZES WHICH RECOGNIZE EXCELLENT STUDENT SCREEN AND TELEVISION WRITING: THE DAVID AND LYNN ANGELL COLLEGE COMEDY AWARD AND THE CAROL MENDELSOHN COLLEGE DRAMA AWARD. THE AWARDEES RECEIVE A CASH PRIZE, A PROFESSIONAL NOTES SESSION, AND A SUITE OF OTHER BENEFITS. THE SECOND PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENT IS THE NEW VOICES & COLLEGE SCREENWRITING AWARDS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OPERATES TWO PROGRAMS FOR EMERGING WRITERS. THE NEW VOICES FELLOWSHIP IS A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX-MONTHS, THAT PAIRS FIVE EMERGING WRITERS EACH YEAR WITH A PROFESSIONAL WRITER WHO ACTS AS THEIR MENTOR, AND FURTHER SUPPORTS THEM WITH ACCESS TO NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS, AND A SUITE OF OTHER BENEFITS. THE COLLEGE SCREENWRITING AWARDS, MEANWHILE, RECOGNIZE SCREENWRITERS WHOSE WORK ADVANCES THE HUMANITAS MISSION AND WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY PROGRAM. HUMANITAS ANNUALLY AWARDS TWO PRIZES WHICH RECOGNIZE EXCELLENT STUDENT SCREEN AND TELEVISION WRITING: THE DAVID AND LYNN ANGELL COLLEGE COMEDY AWARD AND THE CAROL MENDELSOHN COLLEGE DRAMA AWARD. THE AWARDEES RECEIVE A CASH PRIZE, A PROFESSIONAL NOTES SESSION, AND A SUITE OF OTHER BENEFITS.
- $109,161 spent. THE THIRD CHANNEL OF ACTION COMES IN THE FORM OF THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND DIRECT AID PROJECTS HUMANITAS PRESENTS:INDUSTRY 101, THE WRITERS ROOM, AND GROCERIES FOR WRITERS. IN 2022, THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED INDUSTRY 101, A FREE AND PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE SERIES OF PANEL CONVERSATIONS COVERING THE ARC OF A SCREENWRITER'S CAREER. IN 2023, A 10 TO 12 WEEK TV WRITING INTENSIVE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, A PROGRAM REFERRED TO AS THE WRITERS ROOM, WILL BE ADDED TO THE HUMANITAS SUITE OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS. THESE EVENTS, WHICH FEATURE A MIX OF WRITERS, EXECUTIVES, AND EDUCATORS, CARRY ON A TRADITION OF WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES THE ORGANIZATION HAS HELD THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1999.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.