Pennsylvania Humanities Council
Philadelphia, PA · EIN 23-2007911. Reported 183 grants totalling $4,164,205 to 133 organizations across tax years 2020-2024, on Form 990 Schedule I.
Does this grantmaker accept applications?
Its tax return does not say, and we will not guess. Private foundations file Form 990-PF, which asks outright whether they fund only organizations they select themselves -- 78% say yes, and that one answer is what lets the rest of this site tell you which foundations are worth approaching. Grantmaking charities like this one file a regular Form 990 instead, and the IRS never puts the question to them. Anyone claiming to know the answer from the filing is inventing it.
Three things in the filing do bear on it:
- What kind of organization it is. For Pennsylvania Humanities Council, the IRS classifies it under arts & culture rather than as a grantmaker (NTEE A700) -- it is an operating charity that also makes grants.
- How spread out its giving is. 133 distinct organizations, with 3% of the dollars going to the largest single recipient. That is genuinely spread out -- the mark of a funder making many independent decisions rather than underwriting one institution.
- How much its list changes. 42% of one year's grantees are funded again the next, across 4 year-to-year transitions. That is below the 56% median for grantmaking charities, and well below the 67% median for private foundations. It describes the organizations it already funds, not whether it would consider a new one.
How big are its grants?
The median reported grant is $16,000. Half of what it reported fell between $12,500 and $25,000; the smallest was $5,220 and the largest $55,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong organization.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by the EIN the filer reported, not by name, so an organization that was typed differently in two years appears once rather than twice.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Dots Downtown | State College, PA | $116,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Adams County Arts Council | Gettysburg, PA | $116,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Community Partnerships Resource Conservation and Development Counc | Lewistown, PA | $116,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Community Theater Project Corporation | Pittsburgh, PA | $116,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library Incorporated | Shamokin, PA | $116,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Twelve Gates Arts | Philadelphia, PA | $116,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| World Affairs Council of Harrisburg | Harrisburg, PA | $116,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Wyoming County Cultural Center Inc | Tunkhannock, PA | $116,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Rainbow Serpent Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $105,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Ujamaa Collective | Pittsburgh, PA | $105,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Crawford County Historical Society | Meadville, PA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Culturetrust Greater Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $100,000 | 4 | 2 | 2023 |
| Jefferson County Historical and Genealogical Society Incorporated | Brookville, PA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Keystones Oral Histories | New Cumberlnd, PA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Knoxville Library Association | Knoxville, PA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Susquehanna Valley Mediation Inc | Selinsgrove, PA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Cooperage Project | Honesdale, PA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Legacy Arts Project Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The National Road Heritage Corridor | Washington, PA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Washington County Historical Society | Washington, PA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Indigenous Peoples Day Philly Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $66,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Chester Cultural Arts and Technology Center | Chester, PA | $65,993 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Chester Cultural Arts and Technology Center | Chester, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Tidioute Borough | Tidioute, PA | $36,250 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Mansfield Borough | Mansfield, PA | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Port Allegany Borough | Port Allegany, PA | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Free Library of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $32,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Borough of Youngsville | Youngsville, PA | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| City of Carbondale | Carbondale, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Commissioners of Wyoming County | Tunkhannock, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Venango Area Chamber of Commerce | Oil City, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Warren Library Association | Warren, PA | $24,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Borough of Etna | Pittsburgh, PA | $22,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wayne County Community Foundation | Honesdale, PA | $22,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Andrew Carnegie Free Library | Carnegie, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Artwell Collaborative Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Assemble Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| B F Jones Memorial Library | Aliquippa, PA | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Barnstone Art for Kids | Phoenixville, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Beyond the Bars Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Blair County Historical Society | Altoona, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bottle Works-Ethnic Arts Center | Johnstown, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bradbury-Sullivan Lgbt Community Center | Allentown, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Brandywine Workshop and Archives Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cambria Library Assn | Johnstown, PA | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Carnegie Free Library | Beaver Falls, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Catholic Social Services | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania | York, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Asylum Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cliveden of the National Trust | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| College of Physicians of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cosacosa Art at Large Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Da Vinci Art Alliance | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dreamwrights Youth & Family Theatre | York, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Erie Art Museum | Erie, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Erie Center for Arts and Technology Inc | Erie, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Forbes Avenue Foundation | Pittsburgh, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Frick Art & Historical Center Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greensburg Hempfield Area Library | Greensburg, PA | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Historic Germantown Preserved | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| International Visitors Council of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jefferson Educational Society of Erie | Erie, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Johnstown Area Heritage Association | Johnstown, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Just Act Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Knox Public Library | Knox, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kulu Mele African American Dance Ensemble Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Landis Valley Associates | Lancaster, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lemoyne Community Center | Washington, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Library Company of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Literacy Council of Norristown Inc | Norristown, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Literacy Council of Southwestern Pa | Washington, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Liveconnections Org | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mighty Writers | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania Educational Television Association | Pittston, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Nueva Esperanza | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Painted Bride Art Center Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pennsbury Society | Morrisville, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pennsylvania Western University - Pennwest Clarion | Clarion, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Philadelphia Jewish Film and Media | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rock to the Future | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rodef Shalom Congregation | Pittsburgh, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Samuel S Fleisher Art Memorial Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka | Pittsburgh, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Marys Public Library | Saint Marys, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sunrise of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Taller Puertorriqueno Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Mattress Factory | Pittsburgh, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity | Nazareth, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The National Society of Colonial Dames of America in Pa | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Scribe Video Center Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Theatre Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Three Aksha | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Upper Darby Township & Sellers Memorial Free Public Library | Upper Darby, PA | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wilma Theater Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| York County Library System | York, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Zelienople Area Public Library | Zelienople, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe, PA | $15,987 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Gettysburg Foundation | Gettysburg, PA | $15,767 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bradford Area Public Library | Bradford, PA | $15,500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Monongahela Area Library Inc | Monongahela, PA | $15,485 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Oil Region Library Association | Oil City, PA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Whitemarsh Community Art Center | Conshohocken, PA | $14,787 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $14,400 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Images of the Motherland Interactive Theater | Philadelphia, PA | $14,240 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pennsylvania Humanities Council | Philadelphia, PA | $14,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Sayre Public Library | Sayre, PA | $14,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| USA 250 | Philadelphia, PA | $13,947 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lower Merion Library System | Ardmore, PA | $13,840 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries Inc | Doylestown, PA | $13,560 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $13,220 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Tredyffrin Township Library Foundation | Strafford, PA | $13,040 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Borough of Ambridge | Ambridge, PA | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wyck Association | Philadelphia, PA | $12,033 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Awbury Arboretum Association Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Centro Nueva Creacion-New Creation | Philadelphia, PA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Journey Arts | Philadelphia, PA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fidget | Philadelphia, PA | $11,016 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Johnsonburg Borough | Johnsonburg, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Little Lake Theatre Company | Canonsburg, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Reading Public Library Foundation | Reading, PA | $9,600 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| North Wales Area Library | North Wales, PA | $8,480 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Community Arts Center | Wallingford, PA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Farm Arts Collective Inc | Damascus, PA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hollidaysburg Area Public Library | Hollidaysburg, PA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Laughlin Memorial Free Library | Ambridge, PA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Muhlenberg Community Library Assn | Laureldale, PA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Priestley Forsyth Memorial Library | Northumberlnd, PA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hamlin Memorial Library | Smethport, PA | $6,560 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
38 of 133 (29%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold. Remember the $5,000 floor: an organization funded every year at $3,000 shows up here as never funded at all.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose column of its filings, largest first. This is the closest thing to a statement of what it funds, in its own words.
- City of Carbondale
PA COMMUNITY HEART & SOUL
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 85 of 133 recipients we could match to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's, not ours -- Schedule I reports the recipient's EIN, so this is a lookup rather than a name match.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants reported | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 19 | $211,000 | $8,000 |
| 2021 | 107 | $1,505,705 | $16,000 |
| 2022 | 27 | $1,162,500 | $50,000 |
| 2023 | 28 | $1,252,500 | $50,000 |
| 2024 | 2 | $32,500 | $16,250 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- Form 990 arrives about a year after the year it covers, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a grantmaker winding down.
Where its money goes
Get funders for your state and cause by email
We email you funders that gave to organizations in your state and cause, up to five at a time each week and never the same one twice, from their own IRS filings. Free. The weekly email has not started yet.
Unsubscribe in one click from any email. We never sell or share your address. To match on your organization and typical grant size too, keep a private profile.
Funders that support the same organizations
These grantmakers and private foundations gave to organizations this one also funded. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this grantmaker
- Look for a published programme first. Unlike most private foundations, organizations of this kind often do run open, deadlined grant cycles with written guidelines. Its own website is the authority on that; this page is the authority on who it has actually paid.
- Check you are its size. The median reported grant is $16,000 -- and because grants under $5,000 need not be reported, it very likely writes smaller cheques than this page can see.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving concentrates in Pennsylvania.
- Read the recipient list for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer and a cheap one to get.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Pennsylvania Humanities Council's own Form 990 Schedule I filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Recipient classifications, the concentration and retention figures and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations from them, described in how we build this.
On its most recent return it told the IRS it made grants to 1 section 501(c)(3) organizations and 1 other organizations. That is the filer's own count for one year; the totals above cover every year we hold.
Address of record on the latest return: 230 South Broad Street Suite 403, Philadelphia, PA, 19102.
EIN 23-2007911 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your organization? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.