Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
391076993
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2020
Location
Independence, WI, USA
Phone
7159852391
Rating
89
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Standard
Sector
Rural Economic Development

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$20,655,375
Expenses
$19,687,613
Assets
$15,555,336
Liabilities
$8,549,372

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

28 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • RICHARD SCHAUMBERG (PRESIDENT)
  • JEANNE NUTTER (VICE PRESIDENT)
  • ANNA CARDARELLA (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)

Highest reported compensation

  • ANNA CARDARELLA (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER): $150,319 total reported compensation
  • THANH BUI-DUQUETTE (DIRECTOR OF HEAD START): $111,920 total reported compensation
  • MARIE PEHLER GERNES (CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER): $111,243 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

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

What it reported doing in 2024

Food programs -provide subsidies to child care providers for meals served to low-income children in their care and the distribution of government commodities to food pantries serving low-income families. Total of 445,332 meals claimed for reimbursement were processed for providers and 9,707 households received goods through the food pantries. In addition the weekend food for kids program distributed 2,174 pounds of food and 2,100 vouchers redeemable for 4,256 pounds of food. The eagle's nest food pantry distributed 2,268 pounds of food and 445 snacks.

Operating model

Revenue model
Grant-funded. 93% of the money available for current operations came from government grants.
Distribution model
Hybrid. The nonprofit split its reported program spending across 77% for direct work, and 23% for grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Expenses are high relative to revenue and total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 94
  • Transparency & Controls: 84
  • Accountability: 95
  • Sustainability: 45
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 92%; rating input score 92
  • Program expense ratio: 96.3%; rating input score 96
  • Fundraising efficiency: $496.31 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 94; 94th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 14th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
    • Compensation committee: Missing
    • Independent consultant: Pass
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd 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; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 4.7%; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.79; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.55; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 1.9%; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 3.3% per year; rating input score 100; 28th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 6.6% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 92% of revenue deployed · 96.3% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 20 of 20 board members independent · 8 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 6 filed program accomplishments · $19M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $150K · 28 people listed · 3 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 5 contractors listed · $2.1M reported
  • Consistency: 33 of 34 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
  • Schedules: 8 filed schedules · includes major donors, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 14 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 7 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 5 filed related-organization links
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Review — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 53/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 28/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Other executive compensation review process not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 25/100.
  • Review — Transparency & Controls: Schedule R controlled transactions itemized did not reconcile in the filed values.