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National Humanities Center

EIN 59-1735367 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NATIONAL HUMANITIES CENTER IS THE WORLD'S ONLY INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO ADVANCED STUDY IN ALL AREAS OF THE HUMANITIES. THROUGH ITS RESIDENTIAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, THE CENTER PROVIDES SCHOLARS WITH THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO GENERATE NEW KNOWLEDGE AND TO FURTHER UNDERSTAND ALL FORMS OF CULTURAL EXPRESSION, SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND HUMAN THOUGHT. THROUGH ITS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE CENTER STRENGTHENS TEACHING ON THE COLLEGIATE AND PRE-COLLEGIATE LEVELS. MODEL PROGRAMS DEVELOPED AT THE CENTER PROVIDE TEACHERS AND FACULTY WITH NEW MATERIALS AND INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES TO MAKE THEM MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE CLASSROOM AND REKINDLE THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR THE SUBJECTS THEY TEACH. THROUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, IN THE FORM OF COMMUNITY LECTURES, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, SYMPOSIA, AND A RICH MULTI-MEDIA LIBRARY, THE CENTER PROMOTES UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMANITIES AND ADVOCATES FOR THEIR FOUNDATIONAL ROLE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.

Income
$9.6 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 77%
Employees
37
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$597,775, director and president (thru june 2024)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 30 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 June 30, 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. $3.7 million spent. SCHOLARLY PROGRAMS - EACH YEAR, THE CENTER SELECTS 35 TO 40 FELLOWS (MID-CAREER, SENIOR, AND PROMISING EARLY-CAREER SCHOLARS) FROM HUNDREDS OF APPLICANTS WORLDWIDE. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES THESE SCHOLARS WITH TIME, FUNDING (STIPENDS & TRAVEL SUPPORT), RESOURCES (LIBRARY) AND A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT TO PURSUE ADVANCED RESEARCH AND WRITING IN THE HUMANITIES. SCHOLARS WORK PRIMARILY ON INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECTS WHILE PARTICIPATING IN SEMINARS, DISCUSSIONS, AND INTELLECTUAL EXCHANGE WITH OTHER FELLOWS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1978, THE PROGRAM HAS RESULTED IN THOUSANDS OF BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND OTHER SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS.
  2. $782,445 spent. EDUCATION THE EDUCATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN HUMANITIES TEACHING AND LEARNING BY CONNECTING SCHOLARLY RESEARCH WITH CLASSROOM PRACTICE. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TEACHING RESOURCES, AND COLLABORATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS AT THE K12 AND COLLEGIATE LEVELS. THROUGH WEBINARS, ONLINE COURSES, INSTITUTES, AND DIGITAL RESOURCES, THE CENTER HELPS TEACHERS DEEPEN THEIR SUBJECT KNOWLEDGE AND ADOPT INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES. THESE PROGRAMS OFTEN FEATURE LEADING HUMANITIES SCHOLARS AND ENCOURAGE EDUCATORS TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH NEW RESEARCH AND PRIMARY SOURCES.
  3. $1.2 million spent. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT - THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM CONNECTS HUMANITIES SCHOLARSHIP WITH BROADER PUBLIC AUDIENCES. ITS GOAL IS TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE HUMANITIES BY SHARING THE WORK AND IDEAS OF LEADING SCHOLARS BEYOND THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH PUBLIC LECTURES, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, CONFERENCES, PODCASTS, DIGITAL MEDIA, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, AS WELL AS INITIATIVES SUCH AS HUMANITIES MOMENTS AND THE BEING HUMAN FESTIVAL. THESE ACTIVITIES INVITE AUDIENCES TO EXPLORE IMPORTANT CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, AND SOCIAL ISSUES THROUGH A HUMANITIES LENS AND TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH SCHOLARS AND THEIR RESEARCH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 July 1977.

    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.