Agricultural Utilization Research Institute logo

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

Public charity · Grantmaker Crookston, MN EIN: 41-1635043 Website

Accelerate the expansion of the agricultural economy by empowering expanded uses and markets of agriculturally derived products.

Key facts about Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

In short: Agricultural Utilization Research Institute reported $5K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
41-1635043
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Grants paid (2025)
$4,700 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
Total assets
$8,815,408

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$8.8M

-0.8% YoY

Grants Paid (reported total)

$5K

-97.7% YoY

Revenue

$6.5M

-8.0% YoY

Net Investment Income

$262K

+3.5% YoY

About Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

Based on IRS filings

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute is a public charity focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in Crookston, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $8.8M in total assets. In 2025, it reported $5K in grants paid as a total on its IRS filing, without an itemized list. Net investment income was $262K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

States

Cities

CrookstonSt. Paul

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K0 grants2019 0 grants2020 0 grants2021 0 grants2022 1 grant2023 1 grant2024 Total only2025

From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2025) to $500K (2023). In 2025 it reported $5K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.

Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Grant Size Distribution

2 grants across all recorded years

<$50K$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 1 grant of 2 (50%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for 2025.

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$8,815,408$8,882,711$6,675,740
Revenue$6,450,690$7,013,347$6,457,680
Expenses$6,467,339$6,353,391$6,243,627
Net Investment Income$262,032$253,152$121,326

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 25, 2024)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 10, 2025)
  3. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute is led by Shannon Schlecht, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 14 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Shannon Schlecht

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $161K (2019) → $209K (2025)

  • Federico Tripodi

    Chair

    Board Memeber - at Large → Secretary & Treasurer, 2020

    Secretary & Treasurer → Chair, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    3 hrs/week

    $965 (2020) → $2K (2025)

  • Adam Stratton

    Senior Director of Operations & Finance

    Senior Director of Operations → Senior Director of Operations & Finance, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $114K (2019) → $125K (2025)

  • Jennifer Wagner-Lahr

    Senior Director of Business Development & Commerciali

    Senior Director of Innovation → Senior Director of Commercialization, 2024

    Senior Director of Commercialization → Senior Director of Business Development & Commerciali, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $110K (2019) → $127K (2025)

  • Jeff Grev

    Director

    Board Member at Large → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    $370 (2024) → $330 (2025)

  • Jason Robinson

    Business Development Director & Food

    Business Development Director → Business Development Director & Food, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $101K (2022) → $113K (2025)

  • Michael Sparby

    Commercialization Director

    Commericialization Director → Commercialization Director, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $101K (2022) → $108K (2025)

  • Joe Serbus

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    3 hrs/week

    $450 (2024) → $480 (2025)

  • Luca Zullo

    Senior Director of Science & Technology

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $143K (2023) → $150K (2025)

  • Mikayla Tabert

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    3 hrs/week

    $580 (2025)

  • Ted Winter

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    3 hrs/week

    $275 (2025)

  • Lauren McNamara

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Representative Samantha Vang

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Senator Aric Putnam

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kent Heins

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Representative Rick Hansen

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carolyn Olson

    Secretary & Treasurer

    Board Member → Director, 2020

    Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    3 hrs/week

    $645 (2019) → $1K (2025)

  • John Schafer

    Vice Chair

    Board Member → Director, 2020

    Director → Vice Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    3 hrs/week

    $736 (2019) → $1K (2025)

  • Jon Veldhouse

    Vice Chair

    Board Member → Director, 2020

    Director → Vice Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    3 hrs/week

    $165 (2022) → $1K (2025)

Former officers (13)
  • Former: Lisa Gjersvik (2024) — Senior Director of Strategy Management
  • Former: Jerry Hasnedl (2019–2023) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Kenneth Asp (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Ron Obermoller (2019–2023) — Former Director
  • Former: Erin Heitkamp (2021–2022) — Former Director
  • Former: Representative Mike Sundin (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Senator Gene Dornink (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Larry Johnson (2019–2021) — Former Director
  • Former: Representative Jeanne Poppe (2019–2021) — Former Director
  • Former: Rodney Larkins (2019–2021) — Senior Director of Science
  • Former: Senator Rich Draheim (2019–2021) — Former Director
  • Former: Jill Zullo (2019) — Former Board Member
  • Former: Representative Debra Kiel (2019) — Former Board Member

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Shannon Schlecht — Executive Director: $209KShannon SchlechtExecutive Director$209KLuca Zullo — Sr. Director of Science & Technology: $150KLuca ZulloSr. Director of Science &…$150KJennifer Wagner-Lahr — Sr. Director of Business Development & Commerciali: $127KJennifer Wagner-LahrSr. Director of Business…$127KAdam Stratton — Sr. Director of Operations & Finance: $125KAdam StrattonSr. Director of Operations &…$125KJason Robinson — Business Development Director, Food: $113KJason RobinsonBusiness Development Director…$113KMichael Sparby — Commercialization Director: $108KMichael SparbyCommercialization Director$108KFederico Tripodi — Chair: $2KFederico TripodiChair$2KJohn Schafer — Vice Chair (Resigned Jan. 2025): $1KJohn SchaferVice Chair (Resigned Jan. 2025)$1KCarolyn Olson — Secretary/Treasurer: $1KCarolyn OlsonSecretary/Treasurer$1KJon Veldhouse — Vice Chair (as of Jan. 2025): $1KJon VeldhouseVice Chair (as of Jan. 2025)$1KMikayla Tabert — Director: $580Mikayla TabertDirector$580Joe Serbus — Director: $480Joe SerbusDirector$480Jeff Grev — Director: $330Jeff GrevDirector$330Ted Winter — Director: $275Ted WinterDirector$275

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $209K, to Shannon Schlecht (Executive Director). 14 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

How much does Agricultural Utilization Research Institute give each year?

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute reported $5K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $200K across 1 grant.

How large is Agricultural Utilization Research Institute?

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute reported $8.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.5M.

What is Agricultural Utilization Research Institute?

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute is a public charity focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in Crookston, MN. It holds $8.8M in total assets as of 2025.

Where does Agricultural Utilization Research Institute operate?

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute has awarded grants in Minnesota.

What is Agricultural Utilization Research Institute's EIN?

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1635043. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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