Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc logo

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Independence, WI EIN: 39-1076993 Website

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council, inc. Was established in 1966, under the economic opportunity act to help disadvantaged individuals in buffalo, eau Claire, Jackson, and Trempealeau counties located in west central Wisconsin. The agency's mission is to alleviate poverty related conditions and provide opportunities which enable people to advance economically and socially.the agency works with individuals as well as community organizations to improve the quality of life for all. The agency is governed by a 24 member board of directors representing a cross section of the community. Eight members are local elected officials, eight are representatives of the low-income population, and eight are representatives of community groups and organizations.community action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each

Key facts about Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc

In short: Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc gave $1.1M across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $280K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

EIN
39-1076993
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,118,184
Grants made (2024)
4
Average grant
$279,546
Median grant
$17,754
Total assets
$15,555,336
Primary geography
Wisconsin (100% 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

$15.6M

+9.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.1M

+25.5% YoY

Grant Count

4

+33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$280K

-5.9% YoY

How Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc

Based on IRS filings

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Independence, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $15.6M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $75K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

States

Cities

Eau ClaireLa CrosseEau Claire WI

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M3 grants2020 3 grants2021 3 grants2022 3 grants2023 4 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $858K (2020) to $1.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $1.1M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

Eau Claire Area School District: $1.1MEau Claire Area SchoolDistrict$1.1MBolton Refuge House: $19KBolton Refuge House$19KFamily Promise of the Chippewa Valley Inc: $16KFamily Promise of the ChippewaValley Inc$16KCatholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse Inc: $14KCatholic Charities of theDiocese of La Crosse Inc$14K

The largest 2024 recipient was Eau Claire Area School District ($1.1M). Together the top 4 received $1.1M.

Grant Size Distribution

16 grants across all recorded years

6<$50K2$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K4$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 16 (38%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Eau Claire Area School District Eau Claire WI, WIProvide Headstart Activities to Children/Families$1,068,735
Bolton Refuge House Eau Claire, WIProvide Supportive Housing Activities to Individuals and Families$19,299
Family Promise of the Chippewa Valley Inc Eau Claire, WIProvide Supportive Housing Activities to Individuals and Families$16,209
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse Inc La Crosse, WIProvide Supportive Housing Activities to Individuals and Families$13,941

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$15,555,336$14,163,834$14,240,722
Revenue$20,655,375$18,332,590$18,239,883
Expenses$19,687,613$17,907,852$17,860,882
Net Investment Income$75,485$53,364$3,845

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 15, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 26, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 6, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 29, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc is led by Anna Cardarella, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; 3 of 28 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Anna Cardarella

    Chief Executive Officer

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $115K (2020) → $141K (2024)

  • Richard Schaumberg

    President

    Secretary → President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thanh Bui-Duquette

    Director of Head Start

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $105K (2024)

  • Bill Baxa

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Charles Smith

    Director

    President → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gentry Jesse

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jenny Ebert

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jim Ziegeweld

    Director

    Vice President → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kristy Kreibich

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lou Anne Roby

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michelle Gunther

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paul Savides

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sheila Kersten

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tom Marum

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alton Staff

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bridgette Turner

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dennis Bork

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kelly Christianson

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Anne McMillan-Urell

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thomas Vue

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nick Smiar

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dary Boe

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dwight Ruff

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Theresa Olson

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marie Pehler Gernes

    Chief Financial Officer

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $98K (2023) → $104K (2024)

  • Craig Thompson

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michelle Greendeer-Rave

    Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeanne Nutter

    Vice President

    Director → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (11)
  • Former: Mem-Gween Hernandez (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Nancy Coffey (2022–2023) — Director
  • Former: Carol McDonough (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Connie Russell (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Curtis Skoyen (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Danielle Stanley (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Douglas Winters (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Judy Gatlin (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Steven Nelson (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Ashley Simpson (2020–2021) — Director · Filing note: Thru nov 2021
  • Former: Grady Gutknecht (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

Anna Cardarella — Chief Executive Officer: $141KAnna CardarellaChief Executive Officer$141KThanh BUI-Duquette — Director of Head Start: $105KThanh BUI-DuquetteDirector of Head Start$105KMarie Pehler Gernes — Chief Financial Officer: $104KMarie Pehler GernesChief Financial Officer$104K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $141K, to Anna Cardarella (Chief Executive Officer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc

How much does Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc give each year?

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc gave $1.1M across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $891K across 3 grants.

What is Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc's typical grant size?

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc's median grant in 2024 was $17,754, and its average grant was $279,546, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Where does Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc give grants?

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Eau Claire, WI (2 grants).

Does Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.

How large is Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc?

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc reported $15.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.7M.

What is Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc?

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Independence, WI. It holds $15.6M in total assets as of 2024.

What is Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc's EIN?

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1076993. 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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