Michigan Education Association
The Michigan Education Association (MEA) is a Form 990 public charity based in East Lansing, Michigan. Founded in 1914, it represents education professionals and supports public education through member representation, training, advocacy, and grants to local associations.
Michigan Education Association at a glance
In short: Michigan Education Association gave $137K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $136,886
- -30.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -18.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,530
- -14.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,200
- Total assets
- $93,523,345
- -12.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Michigan Education Association
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 2573, East Lansing, MI 48826-2573
Phone: (517) 332-6551
Website: https://mea.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Michigan Education Association funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was MSU Apa ($39K). Together the top 10 received $120K.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 38 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 5% to recipients in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
How Michigan Education Association gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2021) to $197K (2024). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $137K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MSU Apa Okemos, MI | 8-h tg disbursement- member engagement, spring 2025 bfcl grant | $39,250 |
| Troy Education Association Larthrup Village, MI | Spring 2025 BFCL Grant | $17,500 |
| MEA 6-E Coordinating Council Clinton TWP, MI | 2024/25 member engagement/training assistance,2024-25 training grant, 2024/25 subsidy grant | $10,678 |
| Kalamazoo County Education Association Kalamazoo, MI | 2024-25 training grant, training grant - 5ab treasurer training, 5ab kcea family fun night, 5ab kcea pie awards, spring 2025 bfcl grant | $8,912 |
| MEA Region 6 Council Troy, MI | Region council subsidy for 2024/25, region coordinating council reimb for 2024-25, region council subsidy 2025-26 | $8,175 |
| MEA Region 2 Plymouth, MI | Region council subsidy 2024-25, region coordinating council reimb for 2024-25, region council subsidy 2025-26 | $7,691 |
| Grosse Pointe-Ea Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | Spring 2025 BFCL Grant | $7,200 |
| Caledonia Ea Caledonia, MN | Spring 2025 BFCL Grant | $7,165 |
| Lakes Area Coordinating Council Commerce TWP, MI | 2024-25 Training Grant | $6,610 |
| MEA Region 7 Council Utica, MI | Region council subsidy for 2024/25, region coordinating council reimb for 2024-25 meetings, region council subsidy 2025-26 | $6,492 |
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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 | $93,523,345 | $58,570,431 | $47,753,369 | $136,886 | 13 | $1,177,825 |
| 2024 | $107,101,710 | $60,016,935 | $46,929,432 | $196,786 | 16 | $1,666,132 |
| 2023 | $95,869,833 | $58,246,198 | $49,645,635 | $60,600 | 7 | $814,821 |
| 2022 | $82,619,828 | $65,282,983 | $35,828,041 | $10,600 | 2 | $6,504,990 |
| 2021 | $91,378,134 | $59,426,267 | $40,798,690 | $7,000 | Total only | $963,602 |
| 2020 | $80,072,631 | $58,995,282 | $46,840,887 | — | — | $484,074 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
MEA states its mission is “to protect, advocate, and advance the rights of all education professionals to promote quality public education for all students.” Its stated priorities include bargaining representation and contract maintenance, protecting member and local-association rights, improving working conditions, and advancing the education profession.
MEA’s website says BFCL grants are available to support local associations’ efforts to recruit members. The 2025 grant purposes also include training, member engagement, regional council subsidies, and local release time. MEA reports that grant recipients must document expenditures for review; recipients of Building Full Capacity Locals funds must also summarize the activity and its results to maintain future funding eligibility.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, MEA reported 13 grants totaling $136,886. The grants ranged from $5,284 to $39,250, with a median grant of $7,200.
Among the largest reported grants were $39,250 to MSU APA for member engagement and a BFCL grant, and $17,500 to Troy Education Association for a BFCL grant. Troy Education Association describes its mission as negotiating a bargaining agreement with the Troy School District, keeping members informed and involved in laws and legislation affecting that agreement, and providing scholarships and donations to a scholarship fund. Other large grants included $10,678 to MEA 6-E Coordinating Council for member engagement, training, and subsidy purposes, and $8,912 to Kalamazoo County Education Association for training and local activities.
MEA’s website reports that it has awarded more than $175,000 in college scholarships to Michigan public school students since 1997. Its awards also recognize members for service to the association, public education, and students.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Aaron Eling as secretary-treasurer and Brett Smith as vice president. Board members listed include Allyson McBride-Culver, Andrea Catalina, Andrew Long, Anna Theune, Anthony Pennock, Barb Schram, Bob Callender, and Aryana Jharia, whose board service ended April 30, 2025.
Michigan Education Association is led by Chandra Madafferi, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 16 of 61 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Chandra Madafferi
President
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$70K (2020) → $194K (2025)
Edoff Erik
Senior Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$113K (2025)
Douglass Pratt
Director of Communications & Public Engagement
On filings since 2024
55 hrs/week
$191K (2024) → $214K (2025)
Kevin Marvin
Eastern Zone Director
On filings since 2024
55 hrs/week
$192K (2024) → $222K (2025)
Arminda Westra
Director of Center for Ldrshp & Learning
New on the 2025 filing
55 hrs/week
$217K (2025)
Shannon Alston
Director of Legal & Finance
New on the 2025 filing
55 hrs/week
$226K (2025)
Brett Smith
Vice President
Secretary & Treasurer → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$152K (2020) → $230K (2025)
Marcia Mackey
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$610 (2025)
Rick Meeth
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$610 (2025)
Stacey Daniels
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$4K (2025)
Kay Walker Telma
Board Member
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$7K (2021) → $8K (2025)
Jennifer Shelito
Board Member
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$848 (2022) → $0 (2025)
Earl Wiman
Former Executive Director-Interim
Interim Executive Director → Former Executive Director-Interim, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$71K (2023) → $260K (2025)
Aaron Eling
Secretary-Treasurer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$31K (2024) → $95K (2025)
Jeffery Kindinger
Controller
On filings since 2024
55 hrs/week
$194K (2024) → $218K (2025)
Aryana Jharia
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
$1K (2025)
Chris Deyonke
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
$5K (2025)
Allyson McBride-Culver
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barb Schram
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Murray
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dawn Pierz
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eva Menefee
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greta Brock
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Fitchpatrick
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffry Wilson
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Brousseau
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Christian
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lance Little
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Gonzales
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Percy Brown
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rich Vander Klok
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roy Freeman
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tyler Frank
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Boze
Board Member
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Ghiggia
Board Member
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Schulz
Board Member
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lee Haselschwerdt
Board Member
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Pennock
Board Member
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Kehres
Board Member
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marci Lavalley
Board Member
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Treppa
Board Member
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Catalina
Board Member
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bob Callender
Board Member
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erik Bye
Board Member
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erin Monk
Board Member
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Genevieve Minor
Board Member
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Posh
Board Member
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Cichowicz
Board Member
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristi Craig
Board Member
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marius Grazulis
Board Member
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Gaines III
Board Member
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Pietrowski
Board Member
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Largen
Board Member
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Long
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anna Theune
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Connie Boylan
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fred McFadden Jr.
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Bopp
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kecia Jones
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roger Rothe
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Conn
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (57)
- Former: Alfonso Salais (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Antonella Piccirilli (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Don Harris (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Eursla Moore-Doyle (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Nowaczok-Miller (2020–2024) — Staff Retirement Plan Administrator
- Former: Lisa Welch (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Marty Leftwich (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Rachel Foreman (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Rebecca Newell (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Robyn O'Keefe (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Wendy Winston (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Abriana White (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Susan Strobel (2024) — Northern Zone Director
- Former: Lisa Harrison (2020–2023) — General Counsel
- Former: Marcia Kamienecki (2020–2023) — Associate Executive Director
- Former: Paula Herbart (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Tracy Stablein (2020–2023) — Director Human Resources
- Former: Chris Furlong (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Blake Mazurek (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Joe Westra (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Kaj Holm (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Matthew Dewolf (2022–2023) — Director of Finance
- Former: Maya Murray (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Bob Hanchek (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Daryl Biallas (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Jones (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: John Heilman (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jonathon Fielbrandt (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Liz Hubert (2020–2022) — Board Member · Filing note: Ended 042222
- Former: Mary Bouwense (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Matt Dufon (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Maurice Telesford (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Michael Shoudy (2020–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Reed Bretz (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Angela Lentz (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Brittany Perreault (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Elizabeth McDermott (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jeff Condon (2020–2021) — Board Member · Filing note: Ended 122020
- Former: Jenifer Almassy (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Julie Brill (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Liza Parkinson (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Macy Taranko (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Maryanne Levine (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Theresa Dudley (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Cheryll Conklin (2021) — Director North-Central Zone
- Former: Kim Abel (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Amanda Miller (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Amy Gish (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Daryl Szymanski (2020) — Board Member
- Former: David Hockaday (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Doug Hill (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Gail Maki-Dalbec (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Kay Walker-Telma (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Ston (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Matt Dewolf (2020) — Director Finance
- Former: Melinda Smith (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Patricia Rayner (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $260K, to Earl Wiman (Former Executive Director-Interim). 16 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Michigan Education Association
How much does Michigan Education Association give each year?
Michigan Education Association gave $137K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $197K across 16 grants.
What is Michigan Education Association's typical grant size?
Michigan Education Association's median grant in 2025 was $7,200, and its average grant was $10,530, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Michigan Education Association give grants?
Michigan Education Association gives mostly in Michigan: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (5%).
Does Michigan Education Association give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Michigan Education Association's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Spring 2025 BFCL Grant" (3 grants).
Who are Michigan Education Association's largest grantees?
Michigan Education Association's largest 2025 grantees include MSU Apa ($39,250), Troy Education Association ($17,500) and MEA 6-E Coordinating Council ($10,678), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Michigan Education Association?
Michigan Education Association reported $93.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $58.6M.
What does Michigan Education Association fund?
MEA states its mission is “to protect, advocate, and advance the rights of all education professionals to promote quality public education for all students.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Michigan Education Association?
Michigan Education Association has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check mea.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Michigan Education Association's EIN?
Michigan Education Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-0827000. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 30, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 26, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 14, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Michigan Education Association funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/michigan-education-association-morg_6006476373a8418d96d12a98c36f71c5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_380827000_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Michigan Education Association funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/michigan-education-association-morg_6006476373a8418d96d12a98c36f71c5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Michigan Education Association'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.
Michigan Education Association down — hundreds of funders to go?