Discovery World Ltd
Discovery World educates, motivates,mobilizes and inspires the innovators and entrepreneurs of the 21st century. We connect innovation, science, and technology with exploration, environment, and our Great Lakes freshwater resources through interactive exhibits and experimental learning programs.
Discovery World Ltd at a glance
In short: Discovery World Ltd gave $50K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $50K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $50,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- Average grant
- $50,000
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $55,440,237
- +14.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Discovery World Ltd funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Milwaukee Community Sailing Center Inc ($50K).
Grant Size Distribution
1 grant across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 1 grant of 1 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $50K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Community Sailing Center Inc Milwaukee, WI | Operational Support | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,440,237 | $15,677,245 | $8,781,127 | $50,000 | 1 | $676,548 |
| 2024 | $48,248,410 | $7,692,362 | $8,985,856 | — | — | $457,745 |
| 2023 | $50,429,159 | $7,505,313 | $8,620,464 | — | — | $231,979 |
| 2022 | $51,410,712 | $5,434,169 | $7,738,075 | — | — | $-1,129,982 |
| 2021 | $54,832,813 | $7,226,516 | $5,984,386 | — | — | $148,618 |
| 2020 | $53,614,713 | $5,004,309 | $7,625,967 | — | — | $19,046 |
| 2019 | $57,678,160 | $8,804,978 | $9,396,122 | — | — | $15,475 |
About Discovery World Ltd
Based on IRS filings
Discovery World Ltd is a public charity focused on Education, based in Milwaukee, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $55.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $50K. Net investment income was $677K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Discovery World Ltd is led by John Emmerich, CEO & President since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 3 of 46 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John Emmerich
CEO & President
Vice President Exhibits & Audience Engagement → CEO & President, 2024
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$127K (2019) → $227K (2025)
Bruce Keyes
Chair
Secretary → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin Wagner
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Milne
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chad Cundiff
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dirk Debbink
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Gimbel
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karl Gouverneur
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Jo Layden
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mustafa Emir
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ruth Harper
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Michalski
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sherry Husa
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terence McMahon
Director
Board Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ward Komorowski
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adonica Randall
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amit Nanavati
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Goller
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Dettmer
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Neil Riegelman
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phillip Stollenwerk
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roger Smith
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Kage
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Bellmer
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hussien Talb
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joel Phillips
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Molly Schweiger
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tessa Myers
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Lamacchia
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mitul Rustagi
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stan Dillon
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tere Sackerson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Scalf
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Mundschau
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Sippel
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa McCord
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Kressin
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Alt
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheryl Hopkins
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carl Schoettel
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$119K (2019) → $152K (2025)
Nicole Bray
Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2025 filing
55 hrs/week
$100K (2025)
Heather Hipke
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori Richards
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chad Melnick
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Bauer
Rotated Officer Board During
Director → Rotated Officer Board During, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kellen Kasper
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (36)
- Former: Bryan Wunar (2019–2024) — CEO & President-
- Former: Katie Muldoon (2019–2024) — Rotated Officer Board During
- Former: Nicole Cook (2019–2024) — Rotated Officer Board During
- Former: Varun Laroyia (2019–2024) — Rotated Officer Board During
- Former: James Karls (2021–2024) — Chief Financial Officer -
- Former: Therese Schneider (2022–2024) — Vice President External Affairs
- Former: Jayne Hladio (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Joe Pfaff (2019–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: John Miller (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Jon Simons (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Jon Spigel (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Kris Baritt (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Mark Metzendorf (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Paul Schultz (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Will Nasgovitz (2019–2023) — Rotated Officer Board During
- Former: Kevin Shafer (2021–2023) — Rotated Officer Board During
- Former: Greg Gomez (2019–2022) — Director - Former
- Former: John Stetzenbach (2019–2022) — Director - Former
- Former: Jon Donahue (2019–2022) — Director - Former
- Former: Kip Richie (2019–2022) — Director - Former
- Former: Meg Boyle (2019–2022) — Director - Former
- Former: Paul Luber (2019–2022) — Director - Former
- Former: Tim Behling (2019–2022) — Director - Former
- Former: Jeff Ticknor (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Sang Kim (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Val Klump (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: James Kanter (2021) — Director
- Former: Jason Kelroy (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jeff Spence (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jim Kanter (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: John Stollenwerk (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Karen Sands (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Tom Marshall (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Dennis Krakau (2019) — Board Chair
- Former: Joel Brennan (2019) — CEO & President
- Former: Kate Halfwassen (2019) — Chief Financial Officer
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $227K, to John Emmerich (CEO and President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Discovery World Ltd
How much does Discovery World Ltd give each year?
Discovery World Ltd gave $50K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.
How large is Discovery World Ltd?
Discovery World Ltd reported $55.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.7M.
What is Discovery World Ltd?
Discovery World Ltd is a public charity focused on Education, based in Milwaukee, WI. It holds $55.4M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Discovery World Ltd operate?
Discovery World Ltd has awarded grants in Wisconsin.
What is Discovery World Ltd's EIN?
Discovery World Ltd's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1691578. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 16, 2026)
Live grants for the work Discovery World Ltd funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Discovery World Ltd's focus areas in our free grants database
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