Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Kentucky Humanities Council Inc University of Kentucky

EIN 31-0981031 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE KENTUCKY HUMANITIES COUNCIL IS DEDICATED TO TELLING KENTUCKY'S STORY THROUGH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT CREATE A LEGACY OF PRIDE IN THE WEALTH OF KENTUCKY'S CULTURE, BUILDING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND SUPPORTING LOCAL HUMANITIES PROGRAMS AND EVENTS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
50.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 66%
Employees
8
Highest pay
$138,564, executive dir.

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: 82 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 50.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $456,316 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS: THE COUNCIL BRINGS TOGETHER SCHOLARS AND NON-SCHOLARS TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS WHICH EXPLORE AND APPLY THE HUMANITIES TO ISSUES OF CURRENT PUBLIC INTEREST. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SEVERAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING A BIANNUAL MAGAZINE, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND SMALL REGRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS IN FURTHERING HUMANITIES. WE DISTRIBUTED 50,000 COPIES OF OUR SIGNATURE PUBLICATION "KENTUCKY HUMANITIES" MAGAZINE. SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDED KENTUCKY READS: "DEAR ANN" PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS, YOUTH INNOVATION IN RURAL AMERICA MEDIA PROGRAMS, SMITHSONIAN VOICES AND VOTES TRAVELING EXHIBITION, AND MINI-GRANTS TO FUND GRASSROOTS PROGRAMS. THE COUNCIL CONTINUED WITH THE MEDIA PROGRAM "THINK HUMANITIES", PRODUCING APPROX. 50 PODCASTS AND 1,000 THINK HISTORY. THROUGH SPECIAL PROGRAMMING WE REACHED OVER 850,000 PEOPLE.
  2. $375,125 spent. THE KENTUCKY BOOK FAIR (KBF): AN ANNUAL TWO-DAY EVENT, FURTHERS THE COUNCIL'S MISSION BY INTRODUCING KENTUCKY READERS OF ALL AGES TO AUTHORS AND BOOKS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THE COMMONWEALTH AND GENERATING DISCUSSIONS OF HUMANITIES TOPICS. THE COUNCIL RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE PULITZER PRIZE CENTENNIAL CAMPFIRES INITIATIVE ALLOWING FOR THE ENHANCEMENT, EXPANSION AND ELEVATION OF THE KBF, OUR STATE'S PREMIER LITERARY EVENT. INCLUDING STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC THERE WERE OVER 7,000 ATTENDEES AT THE KENTUCKY BOOK FAIR AND KBF SCHOOL DAYS.
  3. $192,033 spent. CHAUTAUQUA AND SPEAKER'S BUREAU PROGRAM: THIS ONGOING PROGRAM DEVELOPS HISTORICAL CHARACTERS WHO HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON KENTUCKY'S HISTORY. THE CHARACTERS TRAVEL TO ALL 120 KENTUCKY COUNTIES TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT KENTUCKY'S HISTORY AND CULTURE. THE CHARACTERS PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND/OR COMMUNITIES TO FURTHER AWARENESS OF THE HUMANITIES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR THE COUNCIL PROVIDED OVER 300 PRESENTATIONS, SERVING APPROX. 20,000 ATTENDEES.
  4. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: PRIME TIME FAMILY READING TIME: THIS ONGOING PROGRAM ADDRESSES INTER-GENERATIONAL ILLITERACY AND TARGETS AT-RISK CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS. EACH PROGRAM LASTS 6 WEEKS AND USES AWARD-WINNING HUMANITIES BASED CHILDREN?S BOOKS TO HELP FAMILIES BECOME LIFE-LONG READERS AND LEARN TO TALK ABOUT LIFE-CHANGING ISSUES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, WE SERVED OVER 2,000 AT RISK CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending October 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.