Covantage Credit Union
CoVantage Credit Union is based in Antigo, Wisconsin. Its stated mission is to encourage thrift among members, provide credit at fair and reasonable cost, and help members improve their economic and social conditions. It also makes grants, with 2024 grants primarily going to Wisconsin recipients.
Covantage Credit Union at a glance
In short: Covantage Credit Union gave $465K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $42K), mostly in Wisconsin. 45% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $465,050
- +99.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +22.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $42,277
- +63.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $3,725,346,803
- +5.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (5 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Covantage Credit Union
- How to Apply
-
Submit the CoVantage Cares grant application for review by the foundation’s board. The application materials state that applications are reviewed quarterly.
- Review Cycle
- The guidelines set submission deadlines at 5 p.m. on the first working day of March, June, September, or December. Reviews are scheduled for January, April, July, and October, with feedback provided within five working days of the quarterly review.
- Deadline
- The guidelines set submission deadlines at 5 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: 723 6Th Avenue PO Box 107, Antigo, WI 54409-0107
Phone: (715) 627-4336
Website: https://covantagecu.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Covantage Credit Union funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Covantage Cares Foundation Inc ($350K). Together the top 10 received $459K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 55 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s guidelines focus grantmaking on communities served by CoVantage Credit Union, especially areas near its offices. In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to Wisconsin recipients and 2% to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Covantage Credit Union open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 11 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $69K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $14K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $233K (2023) to $787K (2021). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $465K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Covantage Cares Foundation Inc Antigo, WI | General Support | $350,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley Inc Neenah, WI | General Support | $25,000 |
| Make-a-Wish Wisconsin Appleton, WI | General Support | $15,300 |
| Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Appleton, WI | General Support | $15,000 |
| Wausau Events Wausau, WI | General Support | $12,500 |
| St Mary Catholic Schools Neenah, WI | General Support | $10,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area Inc Wausau, WI | General Support | $10,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association Washington, DC | General Support | $8,000 |
| Shannon Marie and Louis Porter Smith Foundation Inc Oregon, WI | General Support | $6,750 |
| Women's Fund for the Fox Valley Region Appleton, WI | General Support | $6,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Covantage Credit Union?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,725,346,803 | $234,381,029 | $210,138,925 | $465,050 | 11 | $52,772,006 |
| 2023 | $3,537,015,111 | $190,206,603 | $170,991,216 | $233,250 | 9 | $32,806,664 |
| 2022 | $2,963,887,227 | $121,730,079 | $98,996,617 | $498,500 | 7 | $16,347,801 |
| 2021 | $2,634,029,543 | $105,078,652 | $71,718,273 | $786,500 | 6 | $4,163,123 |
| 2020 | $2,308,873,736 | $100,317,089 | $75,643,212 | $457,225 | 22 | $3,812,641 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The credit union’s filing-stated mission centers on thrift, affordable credit, and members’ economic and social conditions. Its filing describes services and programs including small-dollar loans, credit-score tracking, homeownership assistance, free credit counseling, community education events, and financial-literacy activities for students.
The CoVantage Cares Foundation’s guidelines describe its grantmaking mission as supporting nonprofit organizations that assist individuals, especially people experiencing significant financial challenges, and organizations working to improve quality of life in communities served by the credit union. The guidelines identify basic needs, financial literacy and education, and community enhancement as areas of support. They prioritize lasting impact, organizational capacity and credibility, geographic focus in areas served by CoVantage, and community collaboration and buy-in.
Examples of supported grantees include CoVantage Cares Foundation, whose stated mission is to provide financial assistance to individuals experiencing significant financial challenges and to organizations enhancing quality of life in CoVantage communities; Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau, whose mission is to enrich and transform young people’s lives, especially those who need the organization most; and Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region, whose mission is to advance women and girls toward equality in power and opportunity.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the credit union reported 11 grants totaling $465,050. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $350,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest award was $350,000 to CoVantage Cares Foundation for general support. Other notable awards included $25,000 to Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley, $15,300 to Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, and $15,000 to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, each for general support.
The foundation’s application materials ask applicants to describe the project, need, measurable goals, beneficiaries, community served, project budget, other funding requests, timeline, and primary area of community impact. Applicants are asked to provide purchase documentation for the amount requested. The guidelines exclude requests primarily benefiting an individual or directly benefiting CoVantage Credit Union, religious organizations solely for religious purposes, trips or travel, and requests outside the foundation’s mission. For events and sports or club-related requests, the guidelines suggest contacting a local credit union branch.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dennis Haltinner as chair, Michael Windberg as vice chair, Willis Qualheim as treasurer, and Lee Siler as secretary. Directors listed are Julie Berndt, Angie Close, Susan Gitzlaff, Matt Kolling, Paul Payant, and Eugene Shawano.
Covantage Credit Union is led by Charles Zanayed, President on every filing since 2020; all 21 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Charles Zanayed
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$529K (2020) → $796K (2024)
Dennis Haltinner
Chair
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Eugene Shawano
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Matt Kolling
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Paul Payant
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Susan Gitzlaff
Director
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Julie Berndt
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$8K (2022) → $12K (2024)
Angie Close
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$8K (2023) → $12K (2024)
Brett Lee
Executive Vice President Chief Retail Officer
Chief Retail Officer → Executive Vice President Chief Retail Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$256K (2020) → $374K (2024)
Joan Farrell
Senior Vice President Chief Risk Str Pa Officer
Chief Risk Officer → Senior Vice President Chief Risk Str Pa Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$251K (2020) → $310K (2024)
Lee Siler
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Michael Windberg
Vice Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Sean Van Handel
Senior Vice President Chief Information Officer
Chief Information Officer → Senior Vice President Chief Information Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$197K (2020) → $296K (2024)
Sherry Aulik
Special Projects Officer
Chief Impact Officer → Special Projects Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$259K (2020) → $548K (2024)
Stacy Bouche
Chief Mortgage Lending Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$176K (2020) → $258K (2024)
Willis Qualheim
Treasurer
Chair → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Patrick Curran
Vice President Digital Services
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$192K (2022) → $219K (2024)
Mary Prunty
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$223K (2023) → $274K (2024)
Bryan Emerling
Senior Vice President Buildings & Markets
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$197K (2024)
Cheryl Fanning
Senior Vice President Retail Sales Srv Ops
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$201K (2024)
Janel Thoune
Senior Vice President of Marketing & Mission
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$194K (2024)
Former officers (5)
- Former: Charles Dallas (2022–2023) — Tier Cr Committee Member
- Former: Karen Novak (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Schwan Hardi (2020–2022) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Michele Brettingen (2020–2021) — Mortgage Loan Originator
- Former: Tonni Larson (2020) — Commercial Loan Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $796K, to Charles Zanayed (President). 21 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Covantage Credit Union
How much does Covantage Credit Union give each year?
Covantage Credit Union gave $465K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $233K across 9 grants.
What is Covantage Credit Union's typical grant size?
Covantage Credit Union's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $42,277, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Covantage Credit Union that year got $10K on average.
Where does Covantage Credit Union give grants?
Covantage Credit Union gives mostly in Wisconsin: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Appleton, WI (3 grants), Neenah, WI (2 grants) and Wausau, WI (2 grants).
Does Covantage Credit Union give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Covantage Credit Union's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Covantage Credit Union's largest grantees?
Covantage Credit Union's largest 2024 grantees include Covantage Cares Foundation Inc ($350,000), Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley Inc ($25,000) and Make-a-Wish Wisconsin ($15,300), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Covantage Credit Union?
Covantage Credit Union reported $3.7B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $234.4M.
What does Covantage Credit Union fund?
The credit union’s filing-stated mission centers on thrift, affordable credit, and members’ economic and social conditions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Covantage Credit Union?
Submit the CoVantage Cares grant application for review by the foundation’s board. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Covantage Credit Union's EIN?
Covantage Credit Union's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-0945701. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Wausau Marathon County Impact Grants (Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin) $1,000 to $100,000 depending on the scope of the project · Due October 27, 2026
- Barry Community Foundation - Wilson H. Craig, Jr. Grant Due October 31, 2026
- Clark County Community Foundation Grants Due November 15, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Covantage Credit Union's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Covantage Cares Foundation Inc
Antigo, WI
CoVantage Cares Foundation supports nonprofits addressing basic needs, financial literacy and education, and community enhancement, especially for people facing financial hardship. It focuses on communities served by CoVantage Credit Union in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois; 2024 grants ranged from $7,500 to $118,378, with a median of $44,622. It accepts applications for quarterly board review, with deadlines on the first working day of March, June, September, and December.
Assets
$57K
Grants
13
Total Given
$573K
Myra M and Robert L Vandehey Foundation Ltd
Appleton, WI
The fund supports nonprofits serving residents of the Fox Cities or Keshena, with priorities including parochial education, family harmony, and children’s health; recent grants also supported food, housing, health, and community services. In 2021, grants ranged from $7,500 to $60,000, with a median of $16,250. Its 2020 filing describes a competitive grant process, but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
—
Grants
14
Total Given
$4.7M
Listle Family Private Foundation
Deerbrook, WI
Assets
$177K
Grants
15
Total Given
$8K
Ba & Esther Greenheck Foundation
Wausau, WI
The foundation funds arts, education, health, economic development, and social development projects in North Central/Central Wisconsin. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $334,000, with a median of $15,000; it offers online applications for both smaller and larger grants, so it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$72.7M
Grants
77
Total Given
$2.2M
Abbybank Foundation Inc
Abbotsford, WI
AbbyBank Foundation supports school projects outside regular budgets, nonprofit equipment or building projects, and civic construction or renovation with public access, generally within 50 miles of its listed Wisconsin communities. Recent grants ranged from $250 to $15,000, with a median of $2,000; it accepts unsolicited written requests or applications, considered twice a year.
Assets
$700K
Grants
23
Total Given
$67K
Dudley Foundation Inc
Wausau, WI
The Dudley Foundation supports community development and programs that enrich lives, including arts and culture, education, youth, and community services, prioritizing Wausau, then Marathon County and Wisconsin; it says it does not fund requests outside Wisconsin. Its application guidance describes grants of $1,000–$25,000, with a 2025 median award of $5,000, and it accepts applications from eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits through its website on quarterly deadlines; applicants seeking $10,000 or more should contact the foundation before applying.
Assets
$10.4M
Grants
37
Total Given
$362K
More similar funders
More Funders in Wisconsin
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Covantage Credit Union funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/covantage-credit-union-morg_56e092185cc54477881aa2841794c05e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_390945701_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Covantage Credit Union funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/covantage-credit-union-morg_56e092185cc54477881aa2841794c05e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Covantage Credit Union's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Covantage Credit Union down — hundreds of funders to go?