Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute's mission is to help rural and urban farms and agricultural communities in Wisconsin and beyond be healthy environmentally, economically, and socially.
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc at a glance
In short: Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc gave $534K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $59K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $534,373
- -10.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $59,375
- +19.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $41,769
- Total assets
- $3,483,758
- +6.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (55% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc
Who Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation ($108K). Together the top 9 received $534K.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 34 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $278K (2022) to $596K (2023). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $534K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation Chippewa Falls, WI | General Support | $107,629 |
| Renewing the Countryside Hammond, MN | General Support | $104,143 |
| Board of Regents of University of Wisconsin System Madison, WI | General Support | $100,586 |
| Global Philanthrophy Partnership Chicago, IL | General Support | $91,390 |
| Marbleseed Spring Valley, WI | General Support | $41,769 |
| Neighborhood Food Solutions Fitchburg, WI | General Support | $35,480 |
| Motherland Gardens Community Project Springfield, IL | General Support | $27,346 |
| Regents of University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN | General Support | $16,815 |
| Groundswell Conservancy Inc Madison, WI | General Support | $9,215 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,483,758 | $2,533,841 | $2,461,248 | $534,373 | 9 | $49,904 |
| 2023 | $3,282,725 | $2,016,151 | $2,103,511 | $596,467 | 12 | $32,042 |
| 2022 | $3,085,215 | $722,656 | $1,520,305 | $278,030 | 13 | $-493,267 |
| 2021 | $3,705,477 | $1,047,953 | $1,293,619 | — | — | $83,602 |
| 2020 | $4,206,459 | $771,922 | $962,782 | — | — | $3,494 |
About Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc
Based on IRS filings
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc is a public charity focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in East Troy, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $534K. Net investment income was $50K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc is led by Ryan Martin, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ryan Martin
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$16K (2023) → $95K (2024)
Gregg Sanford
President
Vice President → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Una Vanduval
President
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Hall
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jose Franco
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josh Mechaelsen
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alyssa Hartman
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aidan Benkowski
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: James Syburg (2020–2023) — Vice President & Treasurer
- Former: Perry Brown (2020–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Halee Wepking (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jamshed Patel (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: John Wepking (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mia Lombardi (2022) — Director
- Former: Nicolas Johnson (2022) — Director
- Former: Anders Gurda (2020) — President
- Former: Brian Wickert (2020) — Director
- Former: Gene Gollogly (2020) — Director
- Former: George Reistad (2020) — Director
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 $95K, to Ryan Martin (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc
How much does Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc give each year?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc gave $534K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $596K across 12 grants.
What is Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc's typical grant size?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc's median grant in 2024 was $41,769, and its average grant was $59,375, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc give grants?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Minnesota (23%) and Illinois (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Madison, WI (2 grants).
Does Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc's largest grantees?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation ($107,629), Renewing the Countryside ($104,143) and Board of Regents of University of Wisconsin System ($100,586), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.5M.
What is Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc is a public charity focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in East Troy, WI. It holds $3.5M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc's EIN?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1449246. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc funds
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?