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Oregon Council for the Humanities

EIN 93-0716419 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OREGON HUMANITIES IS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 1978. OREGON HUMANITIES CONNECTS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH CONVERSATION, STORYTELLING, AND PARTICIPATORY PROGRAMS TO INSPIRE UNDERSTANDING AND COLLABORATIVE CHANGE. (CONTINUED ON SCH. O) THE IMPACT OF THIS WORK IS PROFOUND: PARTICIPANTS LISTEN, QUESTION, RETHINK, AND CONSIDER MORE DEEPLY AND, AS A RESULT, ACT FROM A PLACE OF KNOWLEDGE, COMPASSION, CONNECTEDNESS, AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. OREGON HUMANITIES IS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 1978. OREGON HUMANITIES IS AN INDEPENDENT AFFILIATE OF THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES (NEH) AND IS SUPPORTED BY GRANTS FROM NEH AND GIFTS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND FOUNDATIONS THROUGHOUT OREGON.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 60%
Employees
16
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$167,255, 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: 77 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $574,717 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:THE CONVERSATION PROJECT: THE CONVERSATION PROJECT BRINGS OREGONIANS TOGETHER TO TALK -- ACROSS DIFFERENCES, BELIEFS, AND BACKGROUNDS -- ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES AND IDEAS. NONPROFITS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND BUSINESSES APPLY TO HOST PROGRAMS ON THE TOPICS RELEVANT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. CONVERSATIONS ARE LED BY FACILITATORS WHO ARE TRAINED TO CONNECT THE TOPIC TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND TO CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS TO THINK IN NEW WAYS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)PUBLIC PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:CONSIDER THIS: CONSIDER THIS IS A SERIES OF ON-STAGE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPEN IN PORTLAND AND IN CITIES AROUND THE STATE. THE SERIES BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THEATERS, PUBS, CAFES, AND OTHER VENUES AROUND OREGON.SO MUCH TOGETHER: SO MUCH TOGETHER IS A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS CELEBRATING THE ABUNDANCE OF COLLABORATIVE AND IMAGINATIVE WORK HAPPINING IN OREGON AND THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THESE WORKSHOPS BLEND PRESENTATION, CONVERSATION, AND ACTIVITIES TO BUILD UNDERSTANDING OF HOW GREAT WORK IS SHAPING LIVES AND THE LAND IN OUR REGION. FACILITATION TRAINING: OREGON HUMANITIES TRAINS GROUPS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE AND THE NATION TO LEAD CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND WORKPLACES.SPECIAL PROJECTS: IN ADDITION TO ONGOING REGULAR PROGRAMMING, OREGON HUMANITIES COLLABORATES WITH AND LEARNS FROM GROUPS AND ORGANIZATION DOING MEANINGFUL WORK ACROSS THE STATE.
  2. $527,300 spent. PUBLICATIONS: OREGON HUMANITIES MAGAZINE IS DEVOTED TO EXPLORING IMPORTANT AND TIMELY IDEAS FROM A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES -- ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IGNORED, GENERALIZED, OR OPPRESSED -- AND TO STIMULATING REFLECTION AND PUBLIC CONVERSATION. THE MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED THREE TIMES A YEAR AND REACHES NEARLY 14,000 SUBSCRIBERS WITH ITS ONLINE CONTENT REACHING THOUSANDS MORE. CURRICULUM BASED ON MAGAZINE STORIES IS PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED TO OREGON HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS.
  3. $827,152 spent. GRANTS -- INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:OREGON HUMANITIES FUNDS PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT GET PEOPLE TOGETHER TO THINK AND TALK ABOUT CHALLENGING ISSUES AND IDEAS. OREGON HUMANITIES OFFERS PUBLIC PROGRAM GRANTS BETWEEN $1,000 AND $10,000, ONCE A YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, OREGON HUMANITIES DISTRIBUTES MINI GRANTS TO RURAL LIBRARIES TO CREATE AND HOST EVENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
  4. $15,866 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS -- INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: HUMANITY IN PERSPECTIVE IS A FREE COLLEGE HUMANITIES COURSE FOR ADULTS WHO DO NOT HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE AND WHO FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE COURSE IS OFFERED AS A TWO-SEMESTER COLLEGE-CREDIT COURSE IN PORTLAND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BARD COLLEGE AND PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY. OREGON HUMANITIES ALSO PARTNERS WITH OTHER NONPROFITS TO OFFER READING, WRITING, AND DISCUSSION PROGRAMS TO HUMANITY IN PERSPECTIVE GRADUATES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

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 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 October 1978.

    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.