Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

West Virginia Humanities Council Inc

EIN 55-0553594 · Charleston, WV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WEST VIRGINIA HUMANITIES COUNCIL AWARDS GRANTS TO OTHERS, DIRECTLY FUNDS CERTAIN PROJECTS, E-WV AN ONLINE INTERACTIVE PROGRAM, AND CONDUCTS SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
11.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 77%
Employees
9
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$150,463, executive director

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: 76 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (3)
  1. $391,385 spent. GRANTS PROGRAM - COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE VARIOUS STATE HUMANITIES PROJECTS. THE COUNCIL'S GRANT PROGRAM OFFERS FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO NON-PROFITS STATEWIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC HUMANITIES PROGRAMMING. GRANT CATEGORIES INCLUDE MAJOR GRANTS, MINIGRANTS, TEACHER INSTITUES, PUBLICATION AND MEDIA GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND TAP GRANTS. THE COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING PROJECTS THAT STIMULATE MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE WITH SCHOLARS, ATTRACT DIVERSE AUDIENCES, AND ENCOURAGE DISCOVERY OF THE HUMANITIES.
  2. $100,957 spent. WV ENCYCLOPEDIA/E - WV - THE WEST VIRGINIA ENCYCLOPEDIA ONLINE (E-WV) IS AN INTERACTIVE WEBSITE ENHANCED WITH AUDIO AND VIDEO CLIPS, HUNDREDS OF ILLUSTRATIONS, MAPS, TIMELINES, AND OTHER FEATURES. E-WV BUILDS UPON THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED PRINT WEST VIRGINIA ENCYCLOPEDIA WHILE PROVIDING A VEHICLE FOR THE CONTINUAL UPDATING OF CONTENT. IN KEEPING WITH THE HUMANITIES COUNCIL MISSION OF SERVICE, ACCESS TO E-WV IS FREE TO THE USER AND AVAILABLE TO ANYONE.
  3. $735,407 spent. WEST VIRGINIA FOLKLIFE PROGRAM AND DIRECT HUMANITIES PROJECTS - THE WEST VIRGINIA FOLKLORE PROGRAM WORKS TO DOCUMENT, SUSTAIN, PRESENT AND SUPPORT WEST VIRGINIA'S VIBRANT CULTURAL HERITAGE AND LIVING TRADITIONS. DIRECT HUMANITIES PROJECTS CHANGE FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR. EXAMPLES INCLUDE HISTORY ALIVE PRESENTATIONS, PEOPLE & MOUNTAINS PUBLICATION, THE WEST VIRGINIA BOOK FESTIVAL, THE ANNUAL MCCREIGHT LECTURE, AND THE HISTORICAL MACFARLAND-HUBBARD HOUSE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending October 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1976.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.