Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation
Wisconsin Farmers Union is a member-driven organization established in 1930 that serves family farmers, rural communities, and all people through educational opportunities, cooperative endeavors, and civic engagement. With approximately 2,200 member families across 28 state chapters, the organization operates on three core principles: education, cooperation, and legislation. The Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation provides grant opportunities for non-profit organizations, individuals, and chapters serving Wisconsin with proposals that enhance life in rural Wisconsin, supporting initiatives that foster family farming, enhance rural quality of life, and encourage cooperative economic development. Headquartered in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, the organization engages in policy advocacy through member-created grassroots processes and operates educational programs including youth leadership development at WFU Kamp Kenwood and various conservation and community development projects.
Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation at a glance
In short: Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation gave $658K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $165K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $658,070
- +40.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $164,518
- +75.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $31,880
- Total assets
- $2,803,363
- +21.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Farmers Educational & Coop Union of ($588K). Together the top 4 received $658K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 16 (69%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+15%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $163K (2020) to $658K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $658K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Farmers Educational & Coop Union of Chippewa Falls, WI | Educational Support | $588,344 |
| Whole Farm Strategies Minneapolis, MN | — | $37,193 |
| Wisconsin Farmers Union Service Ass Chippewa Falls, WI | — | $26,567 |
| Carlson Farm Partnership New Richmond, WI | Educational Purposes | $5,966 |
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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 | $2,803,363 | $882,423 | $819,446 | $658,070 | 4 | $10,515 |
| 2024 | $2,301,074 | $1,328,592 | $573,420 | $468,017 | 5 | $28,546 |
| 2023 | $1,618,311 | $411,604 | $565,391 | $499,446 | 3 | $36,740 |
| 2022 | $2,065,774 | $724,819 | $644,792 | $572,252 | 3 | $1,676 |
| 2021 | $1,706,076 | $984,839 | $521,539 | $520,339 | 1 | $987 |
| 2020 | $1,174,278 | $815,907 | $163,533 | $163,457 | 1 | $1,976 |
| 2019 | $561,682 | $315,286 | $220,255 | $220,231 | 1 | $3,671 |
About Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Chippewa Falls, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $658K. Net investment income was $11K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation is led by Darin Von Ruden, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Darin Von Ruden
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Miller
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Nelson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Peck
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Gorell
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Keown-Bomar
Executive Di
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Ceylor
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tina Hinchely
Vice President
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Endvick
Executive Di
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Paul Dietmann (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Bill Schroeder (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Tom Quinn (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Rick Adamski (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Chris Holman (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Craig Myhre (2019) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation
How much does Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation give each year?
Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation gave $658K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $468K across 5 grants.
What is Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation's typical grant size?
Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $31,880, and its average grant was $164,518, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation give grants?
Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chippewa Falls, WI (2 grants).
How large is Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation?
Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $882K.
What is Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation?
Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Chippewa Falls, WI. It holds $2.8M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation's EIN?
Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1854577. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 30, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 30, 2026)
Live grants for the work Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?