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Humanities Council of Washington Dc Inc

EIN 52-1166432 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE, FOSTER INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION, AND PROMOTE CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF LOCAL HISTORY AND CULTURE IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE DISTRICT THROUGH HUMANITIES PROGRAMS AND GRANTS.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 88%
Employees
13
Volunteers
85
Highest pay
$166,628, executive director

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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $2.1 million spent. EACH YEAR, HUMANITIES COUNCIL OF WASHINGTON D.C. (HUMANITIESDC) REACHES THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, ACROSS ALL AGES AND A VARIETY OF DEMOGRAPHICS, THROUGH ORIGINAL PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY GRANTMAKING THAT SUPPORTS OVER 70 PUBLIC HUMANITIES ORGANIZATIONS, PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ACROSS WASHINGTON, DC. THESE PUBLIC HUMANITIES OFFERINGS ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS IN DISCUSSIONS ON COMMUNITY HISTORY, SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES, LITERATURE, ART HISTORY AND CRITICISM, AND MANY MORE TOPICS CONNECTED TO LIFE AND CULTURE IN THE CITY. THROUGH ITS WORK, HUMANITIESDC REACHES OUT TO ALL EIGHT WARDS.

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 April 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.