Organizing Empowerment Project Inc logo

Organizing Empowerment Project Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker McFarland, WI EIN: 84-2852380 Website

Organizing Empowerment Project (OEP) is organized to increase civic engagement through activities focused on expanding the electorate and public participation in issue advocacy to build power in diverse communities that translates to improved quality of life.

Key facts about Organizing Empowerment Project Inc

In short: Organizing Empowerment Project Inc gave $1.2M across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $165K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

EIN
84-2852380
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,157,000
Grants made (2024)
7
Average grant
$165,286
Median grant
$50,000
Total assets
$5,467,163
Primary geography
District of Columbia (66% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$5.5M

+131.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.2M

-5.6% YoY

Grant Count

7

+600.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$165K

-86.5% YoY

About Organizing Empowerment Project Inc

Based on IRS filings

Organizing Empowerment Project Inc is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in McFarland, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $5.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $1.2M. Net investment income was $44K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.

Cities

McFarlandPhoenixWashingtonMadison HeightsMilwaukeeMissoula

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5MTotal only2020 Total only2021 1 grant2022 1 grant2023 7 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2021) to $1.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $1.2M.

Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 7 recipients in 2024

Retire Career Politicians: $750KRetire Career Politicians$750KMichigan Civic Action Fund: $200KMichigan Civic Action Fund$200KA Better Big Sky: $100KA Better Big Sky$100KWorker Power Institute: $50KWorker Power Institute$50KArizona Student's Association: $27KArizona Student's Association$27KPower to the Polls Inc: $15KPower to the Polls Inc$15KWisdom Action Network Inc: $15KWisdom Action Network Inc$15K

The largest 2024 recipient was Retire Career Politicians ($750K). Together the top 7 received $1.2M.

Grant Size Distribution

9 grants across all recorded years

3<$50K1$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K1$500K–1M2$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 9 (33%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Retire Career Politicians Washington, DCGeneral Support$750,000
Michigan Civic Action Fund Madison Heights, MIGeneral Support$200,000
A Better Big Sky Missoula, MTGeneral Support$100,000
Worker Power Institute Phoenix, AZGeneral Support$50,000
Arizona Student's Association Phoenix, AZGeneral Support$27,000
Power to the Polls Inc Washington, DCGeneral Support$15,000
Wisdom Action Network Inc Milwaukee, WIGeneral Support$15,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$15M$20M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$5,467,163$2,363,189$1,983,362
Revenue$15,185,564$4,104,639$4,950,760
Expenses$12,107,739$3,796,596$5,210,204
Net Investment Income$44,287$15,826$5,761

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 19, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 23, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Organizing Empowerment Project Inc is led by Michael L. Pfohl, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Michael L. Pfohl

    President

    CEO → Executive Director, 2022

    Executive Director → President, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    20 hrs/week

    $76K (2021) → $125K (2024)

  • Amanda Brink

    Executive Director

    COO & CFO → Executive Director, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    20 hrs/week

    $67K (2021) → $123K (2024)

  • Mandela Barnes

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.3 hrs/week

    $7K (2024)

  • David Slifka

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Toby Miceli-Gwiazdowski

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Natalie Verette

    Secretary

    Director → President, 2022

    President → Secretary, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (3)
  • Former: Nadia Belkin (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Nathan Houdek (2020–2021) — President
  • Former: Nathan Verette (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

Michael Pfohl — President: $125KMichael PfohlPresident$125KAmanda Brink — Executive Director: $123KAmanda BrinkExecutive Director$123KMandela Barnes — Director: $7KMandela BarnesDirector$7K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $125K, to Michael Pfohl (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Organizing Empowerment Project Inc

How much does Organizing Empowerment Project Inc give each year?

Organizing Empowerment Project Inc gave $1.2M across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 1 grant.

What is Organizing Empowerment Project Inc's typical grant size?

Organizing Empowerment Project Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $165,286, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Where does Organizing Empowerment Project Inc give grants?

Organizing Empowerment Project Inc gives mostly in District of Columbia: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Michigan (17%) and Montana (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (2 grants) and Phoenix, AZ (2 grants).

Does Organizing Empowerment Project Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Organizing Empowerment Project Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Who are Organizing Empowerment Project Inc's largest grantees?

Organizing Empowerment Project Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Retire Career Politicians ($750,000), Michigan Civic Action Fund ($200,000) and A Better Big Sky ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Organizing Empowerment Project Inc?

Organizing Empowerment Project Inc reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.2M.

What is Organizing Empowerment Project Inc?

Organizing Empowerment Project Inc is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in McFarland, WI. It holds $5.5M in total assets as of 2024.

What is Organizing Empowerment Project Inc's EIN?

Organizing Empowerment Project Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-2852380. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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