Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
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.
Key facts about Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
In short: Michael Fields Agricultural Institute gave $534K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $59K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 39-1449246
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $534,373
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- Average grant
- $59,375
- Median grant
- $41,769
- Total assets
- $3,483,758
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (55% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
+6.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$534K
-10.4% YoY
Grant Count
9
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
+19.5% YoY
About Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
Based on IRS filings
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute is a nonprofit organization 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
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 9 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $534K (2024) to $596K (2023). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $534K.
Grant Insights
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
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 21 (62%).
Giving History
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 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,483,758 | $3,282,725 | $3,085,215 |
| Revenue | $2,533,841 | $2,016,151 | $722,656 |
| Expenses | $2,461,248 | $2,103,511 | $1,520,305 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $49,904 | $32,042 | $-493,267 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute 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
How much does Michael Fields Agricultural Institute give each year?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute gave $534K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $596K across 12 grants.
What is Michael Fields Agricultural Institute's typical grant size?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute's median grant in 2024 was $41,769, and its average grant was $59,375, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
Where does Michael Fields Agricultural Institute give grants?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute gives mostly in Wisconsin: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing 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 give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Michael Fields Agricultural Institute's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
Who are Michael Fields Agricultural Institute's largest grantees?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute'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 filing. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Michael Fields Agricultural Institute?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $2.5M.
What is Michael Fields Agricultural Institute?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute is a nonprofit organization 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's EIN?
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute'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.
Here's the math on researching Michael Fields Agricultural Institute by hand.
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