Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Milwaukee, WI EIN: 61-1618708

Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc. (M-WERC) is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based public charity focused on innovation and development in the energy, power, and controls sector. Its 2019 filing describes work connecting industry, research, and academic organizations through technology innovation, advanced research, market development, workforce development, and strategic collaboration.

Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc at a glance

In short: Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc gave $309K across 11 grants in 2020 (avg $28K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2020)
$309,223
+20.4% vs 2019
Grants made (2020)
11
+10.0% vs 2019
Average grant
$28,111
+9.5% vs 2019
Median grant
$22,500
Total assets
$2,074,471
+87.7% vs 2019
Primary geography
Wisconsin (72% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2020 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2020; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc

Contact

Mailing address: 4201 N 27Th St 2Nd Floor, Milwaukee, WI 53216-1807
Phone: (474) 444-8208

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2020

Marquette University: $54KMarquette University$54KUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison: $48KUniversity ofWisconsin-Madison$48KUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: $40KUniversity ofWisconsin-Milwaukee$40KAgricycle Global Inc: $30KAgricycle Global Inc$30KMesodyne Inc: $25KMesodyne Inc$25KAccelerate Wind LLC: $23KAccelerate Wind LLC$23KClocworks Inc: $20KClocworks Inc$20KElektrifi Technologies Inc: $20KElektrifi Technologies Inc$20KOmega Grid LLC: $20KOmega Grid LLC$20KSTEAM Energy Labs Inc: $20KSTEAM Energy Labs Inc$20K

The largest 2020 recipient was Marquette University ($54K). Together the top 10 received $299K.

Grant Size Distribution

21 grants across all recorded years

20<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 21 (95%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The organization’s filing describes its work as centered in the greater Wisconsin/Midwest region. In 2020, 72% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin; other recipient states were Massachusetts (8%), Missouri (7%), Illinois (6%), and Nevada (6%).

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.

Cities

MilwaukeeMadisonCedarburgChicagoFriscoRenoSaint LouisSomervilleWaterfordWhitefish BayWhitewaterWoodridge

How Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc gives

  • 27% of 2020 grantees were also funded in 2019. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020). 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

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K10 grants2019 11 grants2020

From 2019 to 2020, annual grant giving ranged from $257K (2019) to $309K (2020). In 2020 it made 11 grants totaling $309K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Marquette University Milwaukee, WIResearch Assistance$53,600
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WIResearch Assistance$48,098
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WIResearch Assistance$40,025
Agricycle Global Inc Cedarburg, WIResearch Assistance$30,000
Mesodyne Inc Somerville, MAResearch Assistance$25,000
Accelerate Wind LLC Saint Louis, MOResearch Assistance$22,500
Clocworks Inc Madison, WIResearch Assistance$20,000
Elektrifi Technologies Inc Madison, WIResearch Assistance$20,000
Omega Grid LLC Chicago, ILResearch Assistance$20,000
STEAM Energy Labs Inc Reno, NVResearch Assistance$20,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2020$2,074,471$1,456,728$1,405,582$309,22311$39,779
2019$1,105,038$1,178,118$1,197,615$256,73110$29,770

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

M-WERC’s stated mission is to drive innovation in the energy, power, and controls sector by bringing together market insights, technology innovation, and talent and start-up development to support economic development and growth.

Its 2019 filing describes a regional consortium of companies, educational and research institutions, and other industry stakeholders. Grants reported for 2020 were all designated for “research assistance.” Recipients included universities and companies. Marquette University describes its mission as seeking and sharing knowledge, fostering excellence, and developing leadership through service. The UWM Foundation says its mission is to support the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s educational, literary, and scientific work by managing and distributing gifts.

Grantmaking

In 2020, M-WERC reported 11 grants totaling $309,223. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $53,600, with a median of $22,500. Its largest awards were $53,600 to Marquette University, $48,098 to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, $40,025 to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and $30,000 to Agricyle Global Inc.; each was for research assistance.

The filing states that grants are awarded upon completion of set criteria. Awardees are required to report financial and organizational information to M-WERC for three years after receiving a grant.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2020 filing listed Ayman El-Rafaie as chairman; Dan Ebert as executive director; Adam Krug as secretary; and Alan Perlstein, Brett Peters, Chris Eichman, Dan Tarrence, Dan Thoma, Deb Erwin, and Don Albinger as directors.

Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc is led by Dan Ebert, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 24 officers listed in 2020 is compensated.

Officers on the 2020 filing

  • Dan Ebert

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $96K (2019) → $147K (2020)

  • Ayman El-Rafaie

    Chairman

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alan Perlstein

    Director

    Chief Executive Officer → Director, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $39K (2019) → $0 (2020)

  • Brett Peters

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chris Eichman

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dan Tarrence

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dan Thoma

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Don Wingate

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Howard Snyder

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Marino

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mark Felsheim

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Patrick O'Brien

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paul Gogan

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Que El-Amin

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Vincent Rice

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • William Weber

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Deb Erwin

    Director

    New on the 2020 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Don Albinger

    Director

    New on the 2020 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rebekah Kowalski

    Director

    New on the 2020 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Willie Smith

    Director

    New on the 2020 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Adam Krug

    Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Hal Karas

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marvin Klowak

    Chairman Emeritus

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steve Memory

    Vice Chairman

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2020. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2020 IRS filing

Dan Ebert — Executive Director: $147KDan EbertExecutive Director$147K

The highest reported compensation on the 2020 filing was $147K, to Dan Ebert (Executive Director).

Frequently asked questions about Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc

How much does Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc give each year?

Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc gave $309K across 11 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990. In 2019 it gave $257K across 10 grants.

What is Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc's typical grant size?

Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc's median grant in 2020 was $22,500, and its average grant was $28,111, across 11 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990.

Where does Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc give grants?

Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (8%) and Missouri (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (3 grants) and Madison, WI (3 grants).

Does Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2020: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc's 2020 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research Assistance" (11 grants).

Who are Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc's largest grantees?

Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc's largest 2020 grantees include Marquette University ($53,600), University of Wisconsin-Madison ($48,098) and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ($40,025), according to its 2020 IRS Form 990. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2020 grant dollars.

How large is Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc?

Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2020 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.

What does Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc fund?

M-WERC’s stated mission is to drive innovation in the energy, power, and controls sector by bringing together market insights, technology innovation, and talent and start-up development to support economic development and growth. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc?

Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc's EIN?

Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1618708. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2020.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(3)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 22, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 25, 2021)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2020

Live grants for the work Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc funds

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Midwest Energy Research Consortium Inc'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.

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