Mississippi Humanities Council Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSISSIPPI HUMANITIES COUNCIL (MHC) SEEKS TO CREATE AND FOSTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI TO UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES AND OTHERS AND TO PLACE THEIR LIVES IN THE LARGER CONTEXT OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. IN THE BELIEF THAT LEARNING ABOUT THE PAST AND INTERPRETING THE PRESENT WILL ALLOW OUR SOCIETY TO PROVIDE A BETTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE. THE MHC WILL USE THE PROCESSES AND DISCIPLINES OF THE HUMANITIES TO FOCUS ON FOUR AREAS: BOOKS AND READING, MISSISSIPPI HISTORY AND CULTURE, CIVIL DISCOURSE, AND CAPACITY BUILDING.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 3.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 82%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $149,052, 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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 46% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 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, 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)
- $869,548 spent. THE MISSISSIPPI HUMANITIES COUNCIL (MHC) OFFERS GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT FREE, PUBLIC HUMANITIES PROGRAMS. WE TYPICALLY OFFER REGULAR GRANTS (UP TO $10,000) TWO TIMES A YEAR, AND AWARD MINIGRANTS (UP TO $2500) ON A ROLLING BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2023, WE CREATED A NEW GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT DOCUMENTARY FILMS ON HUMANITIES THEMES RELATED TO MISSISSIPPI.
- $448,523 spent. PRISON EDUCATION INITIATIVE - THE MHC SUPPORTS HUMANITIES-BASED PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING BOOK DISCUSSION PROGRAMS AT 12 DIFFERENT FACILITIES. WE ALSO SUPPORT FOR CREDIT COURSES BEING TAUGHT BY COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITIES IN SEVERAL MISSISSIPPI PRISONS. WE ALSO ESTABLISHED AND SUPPORT THE MISSISSIPPI CONSORTIUM OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISONS. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM SIGNIFICANTLY IN RECENT YEARS DUE TO MAJOR SUPPORT FROM THE MELLON FOUNDATION.
- $73,071 spent. MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM TRAIL - SINCE 2022, THE MHC HAS PARTNERED WITH VISIT MISSISSIPPI TO EXPAND THE MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM TRAIL, THE STATE'S HISTORICAL MARKER TRAIL HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANT PLACES, EVENTS, AND PEOPLE OF THE MISSISSIPPI CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. UNDER THE MHC'S LEADERSHIP, THE TRAIL HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN SIZE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1979.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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