Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Education - michael fields agricultural institute's education program focuses on outreach for federal programs, and providing learning opportunities through workshops, events and webinars where learning happens with professionals or in a peer-to-peer setting/model. The education programs at mfai include Wisconsin women in conservation (wiwic), midwest grain resources & immersion training (midwest grit), milwaukee urban ag network (muan), share, and 2501. These programs are actively creating events in the educational space and engaging stakeholders in all of this programming. Our outreach efforts are strengthened by partnerships with other non profits in the ag space, community organizations and our collaborative efforts with the universities across the region.the education department mainly focuses on outreach for federal programs, and providing learning opportunities through workshops, events and webinars where learning happens with professionals or in a peer-to-peer setting/model. The education programs at mfai include Wisconsin women in conservation (wiwic), midwest grain resources & immersion training (midwest grit), milwaukee urban ag network (muan), share, and 2501. These programs are actively creating events in the educational space and engaging stakeholders in all of this programming. Our outreach efforts are strengthened by partnerships with other nonprofits in the ag space, community organizations and our collaborative efforts with the universities in the midwest. Wiwic programming (funded by usda-nrcs) includes in-person events where women are connected with resources, both in the knowledge and financial realm, and other virtual webinars where learning happens to be better stewards of the land. Conservation and soil health are two very important topics that are discussed at these outreach events, along with conservation practices like rotational grazing, forest management, managing invasive species, planting natives, pollinators and prairie habitats. Field days are avenues for the stakeholders to see in person the implementation of conservation practices while getting guidance on how they can implement those practices on their own farms. Demonstrations on soil health are an important part of these events which are conducted in different parts of Wisconsin in partnership with other nonprofits. Our programming also involves conservation educators, and they are provided with the opportunity to connect every year through in-person events in different parts of the state, and virtual meets. Through the wiwic program, more than 3000 women were served through events and monthly newsletters. Providing technical assistance is the most important service offered to our stakeholders through this program. Women utilized this service with such interest and ease, and the program was able to help write more than 100 conservation plans for women landowners, 25% of whom applied for a federal cost share program (eqip).milwaukee urban ag network programming helps urban gardeners and farmers in milwaukee understand and learn about urban gardening, soil health, grain farming, community building organizations, federal agencies like nrcs and fsa (usda) that can provide cost share for conservation practices, education and professional networking. Regenerative ag practices that are beneficial to soil health are also highlighted through stakeholder engagement and sharing. Share farmer stakeholders also are provided similar learning opportunities. A three-part series on grain farming on a small scale, a workshop on extending the growing season, a series on soil health and another on land access were some of the workshops offered. A seed swap event was organized in april and is our way of connecting with the community in east troy promoting nutritious and healthy food. Midwest grit (grains resource immersive training), an mfai education program is a peer-to-peer learning model that is grant-funded by usda beginning farmer and rancher development

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 82.6%; rating input score 83
• Program expense ratio: 84%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $166.7 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 87.5%; rating input score 88; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.2%; rating input score 99; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 2.9%; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.42; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.14; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4%; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 12.8% per year; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.6% per year; rating input score 100; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.5% per year; rating input score 100; 22nd percentile among comparable filings