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Indiana Humanities Council Inc

EIN 35-1344382 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INDIANA HUMANITIES WAS FORMED IN 1972, WHEN THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES (NEH) ASKED A GROUP OF FIVE ENERGETIC INDIANA CITIZENS TO FORM A STATEWIDE GRANT-MAKING AGENCY. THE GROUP WAS COMPRISED OF DR. MARVIN E. HARTIG, MRS. EDMUND F. (VIRGINIA) BALL, DR. ROBERT E. BURNS, MR. EDWARD N. HOWARD AND DR. ROBERT W. RICHEY. THEIR GOAL WAS TO FOCUS FEDERAL DOLLARS ON MORE LOCAL, GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES. THE INDIANA COMMITTEE FOR THE HUMANITIES, AS IT WAS KNOWN THEN, BEGAN ITS OPERATIONS ON SEPTEMBER 1 OF THAT YEAR.THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, THREE THEMES HAVE BEEN THE HALLMARK OF OUR WORK: SUPPORTIVE GRANT-MAKING, PUBLIC DIALOGUE AND AMBITIOUS PROJECTS.TODAY, INDIANA HUMANITIES IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE HUMANITIES. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING GRANTS, CONVENING DISCUSSIONS, UPLIFTING HUMANITIES PRACTITIONERS, SPOTLIGHTING HUMANITIES ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES, AND CREATING OUR OWN PROGRAMS.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
24
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$251,406, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 60% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 231% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 28 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 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)
  1. $1.3 million spent. IH SUPPORTS HUMANITIES PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT INDIANA. THE ACTIVITIES OF IH ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN THE HUMANITIES USING LITERATURE, HISTORY, CIVICS AND INDIANA'S CULTURAL HERITAGE. THIS WORK STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES AND ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND QUALITY OF PLACE FOR ALL HOOSIERS.
  2. $642,790 spent. INDIANA HUMANITIES CONTINUES SIGNIFICANT GRANT-MAKING ACTIVITIES TO OTHER TAX-EXEMPT GROUPS ACROSS THE STATE OF INDIANA TO SUPPORT THEIR HUMANITIES PROGRAMMING. DURING 2024, GRANTS WERE MADE ACROSS ALL GRANT-MAKING PROGRAMS TO MORE THAN 125 ORGANIZATIONS.
  3. $214,264 spent. THE EUGENE AND MARILYN GLICK INDIANA AUTHORS AWARDS, NEWLY EXPANDED AND POWERED BY INDIANA HUMANITIES, CELEBRATE INDIANA AUTHORS AND THEIR RECENT WORKS. THEY ALSO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE STATE'S LITERARY COMMUNITY AND DEEPEN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN INDIANA'S WRITERS AND READERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, 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 May 1984.

    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.