Oklahoma Humanities

Oklahoma Humanities operates as a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and serves as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Established in 1971, it was originally named the Oklahoma Humanities Task Force. This occurred after Oklahoma became one of the first five states to join a pilot program developed by the NEH to create state-level humanities councils. The organization's founding mission was to delegate some of the NEH's grant-making activities to the local level, initially focusing on public policy issues through grants and projects centered on "Citizen Values in Community Decisions."

The organization's financial model relies on a combination of federal funding from the NEH and private support, including individual donations, corporate underwriting, and foundation grants. These funds are used to support its mission of strengthening communities by helping Oklahomans explore the human experience, understand diverse perspectives, and engage in civic life. Annually, Oklahoma Humanities awards an average of $200,000 in grants, which reportedly leverages seven dollars in local support for every federal dollar granted. Over its history, the organization has managed the distribution of more than $42 million in federal funds across all 77 Oklahoma counties.

The core of Oklahoma Humanities' operations involves providing grants and developing programs that make disciplines like history, literature, ethics, and philosophy accessible to the public. Key services include funding for public humanities projects, preservation and access initiatives, and educational programs. Among its signature programs are "Let's Talk About It," a reading and discussion series active since 1985 that reaches approximately 3,000 readers annually, and "Museum on Main Street," a collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution to bring traveling exhibits to rural communities. The organization also publishes the award-winning *Oklahoma Humanities* magazine, which features scholarly articles for a general audience and is distributed for free.

The organization serves a broad range of clients, including libraries, prisons, community centers, cultural and educational organizations, and the general public across Oklahoma. Its grant programs support projects aimed at diverse audiences, from K-12 students to specific communities like tribal nations, seniors, and veterans. Leadership is provided by Executive Director Caroline Lowery, whose work centers on enhancing the accessibility of the humanities statewide. Her background includes a Master of Arts from the University of Oklahoma, with research focused on the evaluation of public humanities in American life.

Keywords: Oklahoma Humanities, nonprofit, National Endowment for the Humanities, state humanities council, public humanities, cultural grants, community programs, civic engagement, Let's Talk About It, Museum on Main Street, Oklahoma history, literature programs, philosophy discussions, ethics education, cultural heritage, grant funding, Caroline Lowery, humanities education, rural outreach, cultural nonprofit