Midwest Region Organizing Committee
The Midwest Region Organizing Committee is a public charity based in Springfield, Illinois, formed in 1998. Its filing describes a mission of aiding labor unions in organizing employers and employees, with programs that assist affiliate local unions and district councils.
Midwest Region Organizing Committee at a glance
In short: Midwest Region Organizing Committee gave $1.2M across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $89K), mostly in Illinois. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,249,078
- -2.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +7.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $89,220
- -9.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $61,896
- Total assets
- $13,776,715
- +14.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (5 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Midwest Region Organizing Committee
- Contact
Mailing address: 1 N Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield, IL 62701
Phone: (217) 789-6996
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Midwest Region Organizing Committee funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Great Plains Laborers District Council ($300K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
52 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 52 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois (51%), Missouri (21%), California (17%), Texas (9%), and Arkansas (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Midwest Region Organizing Committee open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 14 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $123K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $70K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $735K (2022) to $1.3M (2024). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Great Plains Laborers District Council Peoria, IL | Organizing Grants | $300,000 |
| Missouri and Kansas Laborers District Council Wentzville, MO | Organizing Grants | $266,906 |
| Laborers Pacific Southwest Roc Covina, CA | 2024 Liuna Racing Sponsorship | $200,000 |
| Laborers Local 1095 Austin, TX | Organizing Grants | $78,000 |
| Downstate Illinois Laborers District Council Swansea, IL | Organizing Grants | $70,000 |
| Laborers Economic Development Council Springfield, IL | Steadfast City & Economic Committee | $70,000 |
| Midwest Region Foundation for Fair Contracting Springfield, IL | Organizing Grants | $68,819 |
| Midwest Region Laborers Veterans Committee Springfield, IL | Donation | $54,973 |
| Midwest Region Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust Springfield, IL | Organizing Grants | $48,097 |
| Laborers Local 154 Arlington, TX | Organizing Grants | $36,000 |
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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 | $13,776,715 | $11,145,916 | $9,591,574 | $1,249,078 | 14 | $494,768 |
| 2024 | $11,989,397 | $10,794,656 | $9,049,138 | $1,281,824 | 13 | $609,684 |
| 2023 | $10,222,242 | $9,836,943 | $7,836,216 | $885,829 | 13 | $446,815 |
| 2022 | $8,011,041 | $8,432,945 | $7,779,470 | $735,094 | 7 | $129,461 |
| 2021 | $7,978,753 | $8,430,391 | $7,681,091 | $765,270 | 5 | $235,930 |
| 2020 | $7,255,581 | $8,265,572 | $7,965,075 | $1,100,662 | 8 | $101,105 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to “aid labor unions in organizing employers and employees.” Its program description says it organizes employers and employees by aiding affiliate local unions and district councils.
Its 2025 grants included awards designated for organizing, as well as sponsorships, a donation, and other specified purposes. The Great Plains Laborers’ District Council describes its mission as assisting member locals with union-related activities. Downstate Illinois Laborers District Council says it works to organize workers and negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions for construction craft laborers. Laborers Local Union 1095 and Laborers Local 154 describe their missions as collective bargaining on behalf of members to provide jobs and better working conditions. The Midwest Region Laborers Veterans organization says it supports former or current U.S. uniformed-service members, while the Midwest Region Laborers’-Employers’ Cooperation & Education Trust says it addresses labor-management needs in the Midwest Region.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Committee reported 14 grants totaling $1,249,078. Grants ranged from $7,111 to $300,000, with a median of $61,896.
The largest listed awards were $300,000 to Great Plains Laborers District Council for organizing grants, $266,906 to Missouri and Kansas Laborers District Council for organizing grants, and $200,000 to Laborers Pacific Southwest ROC for a 2024 LIUNA racing sponsorship. Other listed awards included $78,000 to Laborers Local 1095 for organizing grants, $70,000 to Downstate Illinois Laborers District Council for organizing grants, and $68,819 to Midwest Region Foundation for Fair Contracting for organizing grants.
The filing says recipients of employees’ wage and benefit payments must submit monthly activity, payroll, benefit, and expense reports. For funds designated for other purposes, recipients must submit quarterly reports for review; the filing states that no further payments are sent until the required documents are received and reviewed. It also says the organization donates to various organizations and that no ongoing monitoring is necessary.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David Frye as chairman, Brandon Flinn as vice chairman, and Anthony Penn as secretary/treasurer. Jeffrey Penn is listed as director. Trustees listed are Matt Smith, Brian Short, Dustin Ramage, and Cassie Hammond. The filing also lists Glyn Ramage as vice chairman—past and Reno Hammond as trustee—past.
Midwest Region Organizing Committee is led by David Frye, Chairman since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 6 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Frye
Chairman
Trustee → Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Penn
Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$110K (2020) → $136K (2025)
Sean Stott
Legislative Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$172K (2020) → $199K (2025)
Kurt Forness
Director of Communications
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$74K (2025)
Matt Smith
Trustee
District Council Representative → Deputy Trustee, 2022
Deputy Trustee → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Short
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cassie Hammond
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dustin Ramage
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Utter
Midwest Region Health & Safety Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Williams
Lead Oranizer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$115K (2020) → $130K (2025)
Glyn Ramage
Vice Chairman - Past
Trustee → Vice Chairman, 2022
Vice Chairman → Vice Chairman - Past, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$26K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Melanie Mathewson
Comptroller
On filings since 2023
8 hrs/week
$127K (2025)
Anthony Penn
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Flinn
Vice Chairman
Trustee → Vice Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Reno Hammond
Trustee - Past
Trustee → Trustee - Past, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Tim Roseberry (2024) — Director of Communications
- Former: Melissa Hendricker (2020–2023) — Administrator
- Former: Michael Todd (2022–2023) — Lead Organizer
- Former: John Penn - Past (2023) — Chairman
- Former: Clint Taylor (2020–2022) — Researcher
- Former: John Penn (2020–2022) — Chairman
- Former: Gary Speegle (2022) — Lead Oranizer
- Former: Ellen Schanzle-Haskins (2020–2021) — General Council
- Former: Clint Taylor- Past (2021) — Trustee
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 $199K, to Sean Stott (Legislative Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Midwest Region Organizing Committee
How much does Midwest Region Organizing Committee give each year?
Midwest Region Organizing Committee gave $1.2M across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 13 grants.
What is Midwest Region Organizing Committee's typical grant size?
Midwest Region Organizing Committee's median grant in 2025 was $61,896, and its average grant was $89,220, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Midwest Region Organizing Committee that year got $29K on average.
Where does Midwest Region Organizing Committee give grants?
Midwest Region Organizing Committee gives mostly in Illinois: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Missouri (21%) and California (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Springfield, IL (5 grants).
Does Midwest Region Organizing Committee give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Midwest Region Organizing Committee's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Organizing Grants" (8 grants).
Who are Midwest Region Organizing Committee's largest grantees?
Midwest Region Organizing Committee's largest 2025 grantees include Great Plains Laborers District Council ($300,000), Missouri and Kansas Laborers District Council ($266,906) and Laborers Pacific Southwest Roc ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Midwest Region Organizing Committee?
Midwest Region Organizing Committee reported $13.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.1M.
What does Midwest Region Organizing Committee fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to “aid labor unions in organizing employers and employees.” Its program description says it organizes employers and employees by aiding affiliate local unions and district councils. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Midwest Region Organizing Committee?
Midwest Region Organizing Committee has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Midwest Region Organizing Committee's EIN?
Midwest Region Organizing Committee's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-1371059. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Midwest Region Organizing Committee funds
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Funders that support many of the same organizations
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Midwest Region Organizing Committee funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/midwest-region-organizing-committee-morg_a719781555d0460db6ff27ea06af2c5d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_371371059_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Midwest Region Organizing Committee funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/midwest-region-organizing-committee-morg_a719781555d0460db6ff27ea06af2c5d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Midwest Region Organizing Committee'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.
Midwest Region Organizing Committee down — hundreds of funders to go?