Minnesota Humanities Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To spark positive change by increasing collective understanding of ourselves, our communities, and our histories through shared experiences.
- Income
- $30.7 million
- Spending
- $14.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 4.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 93%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $257,170, 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: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 52% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 373% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 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 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 (2)
- $13.1 million spent. Minnesota Humanities Center Educational Programs: The humanities help us understand ourselves, our communities, and our histories. By increasing collective understanding, we can spark positive change and create a more just society.MHC curates stories, co-creates engagement opportunities, increases knowledge, and produces resources in the areas of education, civic renewal, immersive experiences, and public programming to catalyze ideas. Their grantmaking enables them to strengthen the bonds between us, celebrate our past and traditions, tap into the best within ourselves, and educate the next generation of leaders. For fiscal year 2025, MHC curated over 145 programs with over 17,000 attendees. MHC provides programming across the state, including the Sketches of Minnesota program, as well as educational programs with local schools. In addition, we observed our history and how intertwined it is with our present with programs around Juneteenth and Bdote. We also celebrated the people that make up Minnesota, sharing stories from our veterans, women, and the cultures that make up Minnesota and its history. In addition, our organization granted over 16 million dollars over the biennium.
- $342,242 spent. Event Center: In addition to its Educational programming, MHC operates a full-service event center, as created by the State Legislature in 1996. In addition to housing programs of MHC, this restored architectural landmark serves educators, social service providers, other nonprofits, state colleges and universities, and state agencies and community groups seeking to improve both their individual work and the quality of life for all Minnesotans, by providing high quality, cost effective meeting and event space for educational and public programs, and staff education and development. MHC held over 270 events at the event center with over 10,000 people in the facility, with around 80% of those events related to the organization's mission.
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
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 October 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 July 1979.
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.