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Fed of State Humanities Councils

EIN 35-1409894 · Arlington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FEDERATION ADVOCATES FOR INCREASED INVESTMENT IN AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF HUMANITIES COUNCILS. WE SUPPORT, CONNECT, AND AMPLIFY THE WORK AND VOICES OF OUR MEMBERS, DEMONSTRATING COUNCILS' VALUE FOR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR COLLECTIVE IMPACT ON CIVIC HEALTH AND CULTURAL VIBRANCY.

Income
$17.9 million
Spending
$15.4 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
7
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$196,514, president

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

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 870% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 December 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. $520,876 spent. INFORMATION EXCHANGE - THE FEDERATION HOSTS SEVERAL INTERNAL LISTSERVS FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP. ADDITIONALLY, THE FEDERATION SENDS WEEKLY ADVOCACY UPDATES VIA A MEMBER AS WELL AS A NON-MEMBER LISTSERV. MONTHLY DEDICATED E-NEWSLETTERS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT COUNCIL AND FEDERATION ACTIVITIES, ONGOING ADVOCACY EFFORTS, AS WELL AS PARTNER ACTIVITIES IN THE WIDER HUMANITIES COMMUNITY GO TO 1) MEMBERS AND 2) THE GENERAL PUBLIC.HUMANITIES ON THE HILL (HOH) - THE FEDERATION'S ANNUAL ADVOCACY EVENT, WHICH BRINGS HUMANITIES COUNCIL ADVOCATES TOGETHER FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING FOR NEH AND THE NEH FEDERAL/STATE PARTNERSHIP, IS A TWO-DAY EVENT THAT INCLUDES A MEMBER BRIEFING. THE EVENT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FEDERATION MEMBERS TO MEET WITH THEIR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES, SHARE ADVOCACY BEST PRACTICES, AND PRESENT A UNITED MESSAGE ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE HUMANITIES. OFTEN, CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES AND STAFFERS SHARE REMARKS AT THE BRIEFING AND CONGRESSIONAL RECEPTION (LAST HELD IN 2024).
  2. $248,586 spent. NATIONAL HUMANITIES CONFERENCE - ESTABLISHED IN 1978 BY THE FEDERATION, THE NATIONAL HUMANITIES CONFERENCE (NHC) WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED AS A RESOURCE TO BRING TOGETHER THE NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF THE STATE AND JURISDICTIONAL HUMANITIES COUNCILS AND THOSE INTERESTED IN ADVANCING THE WORK OF THE PUBLIC HUMANITIES. IN 2015, THE FEDERATION AND THE NATIONAL HUMANITIES ALLIANCE (NHA) PARTNERED TO MAKE THE CONFERENCE AVAILABLE TO BOTH PUBLIC AND ACADEMIC HUMANITIES PRACTITIONERS TO ADDRESS LOCAL AND NATIONAL CHALLENGES THROUGH THE LENS OF THE HUMANITIES AND TO SPARK INNOVATIVE COLLABORATIONS, CONVERSATIONS, AND RESEARCH WHILE BROADENING THE IMPACT AND RELEVANCE OF THE HUMANITIES IN EVERYDAY AMERICAN LIFE. DUE TO THE TERMINATION OF MEMBER HUMANITIES COUNCILS' OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTS IN APRIL 2025 THAT LEFT MEMBERS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE, THE FEDERATION CANCELLED THE 2025 NHC IN DETROIT.
  3. $14.0 million spent. SPECIAL PROJECTS AND OTHER PROGRAMS - THESE PROGRAMS PROMOTE WORKING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC HUMANITIES AND RELATE TO DISCRETE PROJECTS, WHICH ARE CARRIED OUT WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME. IN 2025, THE FEDERATION CONDUCTED BY THE PEOPLE: CONVERSATIONS BEYOND 250, A SERIES OF COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROGRAMS CREATED BY 51 STATE AND JURISDICTIONAL HUMANITIES COUNCILS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL PARTNERS. TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS EXPLORE 250 YEARS OF THE NATION'S CULTURAL LIFE AND IMAGINE ITS SHARED FUTURE. THE INITIATIVE WAS DEVELOPED BY THE FEDERATION AND THE SMITHSONIAN CENTER FOR FOLKLIFE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. ALSO IN 2025, FOLLOWING THE SUDDEN CANCELLATION OF HUMANITIES COUNCIL FEDERAL OPERATING GRANTS IN APRIL 2025, THE FEDERATION RECEIVED $15 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY FUNDING TO STABILIZE ALL 56 STATE AND JURISDICTIONAL HUMANITIES COUNCILS. THROUGH THE FEDERATION, EACH HUMANITIES COUNCIL RECEIVED SUPPORT FOR OPERATING EXPENSES IN THE WAKE OF THE NEH ABRUPTLY TERMINATING ALL FEDERAL GRANTS FOR THE COUNCILS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 June 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.