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Oklahoma Humanities Council Inc

EIN 73-0951965 · Edmond, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 47% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

The mission of Oklahoma Humanities (OH) is to strengthen communities by helping Oklahomans learn about the human experience, understand new perspectives, and participate knowledgeably in civic life.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
47%
Reserves
12.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 68%
Employees
7
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$148,003, 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    47% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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 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 (5)
  1. $350,136 spent. Support for various programs and free public events produced by the Council. (Some expenses in this category may apply to other listed programs, but the expenses are not directly attributable based on cost center like salary or office rent.)
  2. $148,496 spent. Oklahoma Humanities grants encourage cultural programming on the local level across the state. Eligible projects must support the Councils mission to strengthen communities by helping Oklahomans learn about the human experience, understand new perspectives, and participate knowledgeably in civic life. Through special initiatives, Oklahoma Humanities also provided funding for national projects like United We Stand, National History Day, and continued scholarly research on the humanities.
  3. $61,899 spent. Since 1985, Oklahomans have started new chapters and new conversations with OHs dynamic book club program, Lets Talk About It (LTAI). Hosted by libraries and other organizations, each LTAI series uses four or five books to explore a specific theme developed by a humanities scholar. Combined with presentations from literary experts, LTAI catalyzes meaningful conversation and encourages readers to reflect on their experiences, share thoughts and ideas, consider diverse perspectives, and gain new insight.
  4. $9,140 spent. Free of advocacy and advertising and supported by donors, the award-winning Oklahoma Humanities magazine is distributed in print and online as free educational programming. From public policy issues to cultural heritage, it provides an engaging forum for new ideas and productive civil discoursea rich mix of humanities scholarship, insightful narratives, and informed opinions for a read that is smart, balanced, educational, and entertaining. It reaches all 77 counties and has a circulation of 12,000 with additional public distribution through classrooms and selected events. Previous authors include N. Scott Momaday, Walter Isaacson, Krista Tippett, Bryan Stevenson, Michael Sandel, Naomi Shihab Nye, and more.
  5. $4,838 spent. Since 1994, the Smithsonian Institutions Museum on Main Street (MoMS) has worked with State Humanities Councils to empower more than 1,800 rural communities through specifically designed exhibitions and public programming. Hosted by libraries, museums, and other community centers, each explores elements of rural history, encourages discussion and participation, and helps establish local agency. In 2021, Crossroads: Change in Rural America arrived in Oklahoma and traveled to Tishomingo, Fort Gibson, Nowata, Woodward, Pawnee, and Boley. Small towns might seem static and quiet, but they are complex intersections where people and ideas converge and evolve. Through the themes of identity, land, community, persistence, and managing change, the exhibition examined this history and asked visitors to consider how and why their specific communities have changed and what the future might bring.

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 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 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 January 1978.

    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.