Whitetails Unlimited Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker Sturgeon Bay, WI EIN: 39-1415070 Website

Whitetails Unlimited Inc is a national nonprofit conservation organization headquartered in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Founded in 1982, the organization holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (ruling year 1986) and operates as a public charity dedicated to wildlife conservation and the preservation of hunting traditions. The organization maintains a network of approximately 474 chapters across the United States with over 115,000 members, chapter volunteers, and corporate sponsors.

Key facts about Whitetails Unlimited Inc

EIN: 39-1415070
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025): $1,560,205
Grants made (2025): 133
Average grant: $11,731
Median grant: $9,135
New grantees (estimate): 39% first-time grantees (52 of 133, 2025)
Total assets: $22,300,626
Primary geography: Ohio (13% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who Whitetails Unlimited Inc funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Whitetails Unlimited Inc's 133 itemized 2025 grants were Ohio (13%), Michigan (13%) and Iowa (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Wayne, IN (2 grants). None of its 133 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program" (133 grants).

Is Whitetails Unlimited Inc open to new grantees?

39%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 52 of 133 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $13K. How we count

Medians: $8K first-time, $10K repeat.

47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Giving grew 37% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$22.3M

+10.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.6M

-1.1% YoY

Grant Count

133

-1.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$12K

+0.4% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization's mission is to raise funds in support of:

Educational programs related to wildlife conservation
Wildlife habitat enhancement and acquisition
Preservation of the hunting tradition and shooting sports for future generations

Primary Program Areas:

DEER Program (Developing Educational & Environmental Resources) — A top priority focused on introducing youth and their families to outdoor activities. This includes family events, activities, and educational elements that expose participants to conservation issues, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, wildlife management, and environmental education.

Hunter Education & Safety — Whitetails Unlimited provides support to hunter education instructors and shooting instructors, serving as an advocate for hunter safety and hands-on instruction.

Shooting Sports Preservation — The organization supports public archery and firearm ranges to build the next generation of shooting sports enthusiasts.

Grantmaking

Whitetails Unlimited functions as both a grantmaker and grant recipient. The organization has distributed significant grant funding across multiple states:

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Whitetails Unlimited's grantmaking focuses primarily on Michigan, Iowa, and Ohio, though recent grant activity demonstrates funding across multiple states including Mississippi, Illinois, and Minnesota.

Grant Distribution by State

Ohio $207K (13%)

Michigan $197K (13%)

Iowa $177K (11%)

Mississippi $175K (11%)

Wisconsin $130K (8%)

All other $673K (43%)

Share of all 133 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

JacksonWabashDoylestownWilmingtonClearfieldCongervilleDenmarkEagle GroveFairbankFredericksburgHarlanHartfordLewisberryMarshallMilanMonroe CityOxford JunctionRocheportSidneyStarkville

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Financial Data (2024):

Total Revenue: $13,166,135
Total Expenses: $11,735,693
Total Assets: $20,275,515
Total Liabilities: $2,740,000
Number of Employees: 46

Organization Rating: The organization holds a Three-Star rating with an 81% score based on Accountability & Finance metrics.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2025	2024	2023
Total Assets	$22,300,626	$20,275,515	$18,160,533
Revenue	$14,337,122	$13,166,135	$12,852,789
Expenses	$12,750,188	$11,735,693	$11,482,822
Qualifying Distributions	—	—	—
Net Investment Income	$636,812	$3,776	$48,665
Distributable Amount	—	—	—

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 1, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Grant Size Distribution

566 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Catch-a-Dream Foundation ($64,801), Dtd Outdoors ($49,477), Champaign County Outdoor Heritage Chapter Inc ($35,913).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
CATCH-A-DREAM FOUNDATION Starkville, MS	PROGRAM	$64,801
DTD OUTDOORS Aberdeen, MS	PROGRAM	$49,477
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY OUTDOOR HERITAGE CHAPTER INC West Liberty, OH	PROGRAM	$35,913
FARMERS AND HUNTERS FEEDING THE HUNGRY Williamsport, MD	PROGRAM	$35,074
MONROE CITY FRIENDS OF THE OUTDOORS Monroe City, MO	PROGRAM	$32,193
ODNR - DIVISION OF WILDLIFE Columbus, OH	PROGRAM	$25,909
WASHINGTON COUNTY WI CHAPTER West Bend, WI	PROGRAM	$25,581
CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN'S FOUNDATION Washington, DC	PROGRAM	$25,000
PRAIRIE CREEK SPORTS CLUB Van Horne, IA	PROGRAM	$24,394
QUEST MINISTRIES Big Rapids, MI	PROGRAM	$23,676

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Jeffrey Schinkten — Principal Officer
Jonathan Meacham — Vice President, Field Operations

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Peter Gerl	Board Member	5	$47,955
William Gerl Jr	Board Member	5	$47,780
Jeffrey Schinkten	President	15	$61,297
David Hawkey	Executive Director	45	$204,946
Cynthia Tourmo	VP Finance & Treasurer	45	$139,491
Christopher Konop	VP - Field Operations / Secretary	45	$113,057
Russell Austad	VP - Field Operations / Executive VP	45	$132,963
Daniel Vogt	Field Director	45	$165,762
Dennis Malloy	Field Director	45	$136,342
Jason Maraskine	Field Director	45	$127,460
Joel Reynolds	Field Director	45	$173,308
Darel Martin	Field Director	45	$126,535

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2026

Whitetails Unlimited has announced multiple significant grant distributions in 2026:

Whitetails Unlimited Grants More Than $180,000 in Mississippi - The Outdoor

2026

February 2026: Granted more than $180,000 in Mississippi

Whitetails Unlimited Grants More Than $180,000 in Mississippi - The Outdoor

2026

February 2026: Granted more than $120,000 in Minnesota

Whitetails Unlimited Grants More Than $120,000 in Minnesota - The Outdoor

2026

March 2026: Granted more than $300,000 through the HOPE for Wildlife Program

Whitetails Unlimited Grants More Than $300,000 Through HOPE for Wildlife

2026

March 2026: Granted more than $250,000 in Illinois

Whitetails Unlimited Grants More Than $250,000 in Illinois - The Outdoor

The organization has expended more than $94 million on program services and activities to date in support of its conservation mission.

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Environment & Animals

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Whitetails Unlimited Inc fund?

The organization's mission is to raise funds in support of: • Educational programs related to wildlife conservation • Wildlife habitat enhancement and acquisition • Preservation of the hunting tradition and shooting sports for future generations **Primary Program Areas:** **DEER Program (Developing Educational & Environmental Resources)** — A top priority focused on introducing youth and their families to outdoor activities. This includes family events, activities, and educational elements that…

How do I apply for a grant from Whitetails Unlimited Inc?

Whitetails Unlimited functions as both a grantmaker and grant recipient. The organization has distributed significant grant funding across multiple states: **Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $3,247,374 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing) • Typical award range: $5,012–$111,723 • Primary funding focus areas: Wildlife, wildlife health, recreation, and related nonprofit support **Recent Grant Distributions:** • Mississippi: More than $180,000 granted • HOPE for Wildlife Program: More than $300,0…