Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund

Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund is a left-of-center nonprofit that focuses on expanding government-run health care, supporting a higher-paying minimum wage and combating voter ID laws. Described as “liberal” by a daily Wisconsin newspaper, 1 the Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund filed a lawsuit in 2015 challenging a state law requiring voters to show a photo ID. 2

At-A-Glance

Issue Areas: Multi-Issue Advocacy
President:

Stephanie Bloomingdale

Location: Milwaukee, WI View on map
Tax ID: 39-1520619
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $4,063,417 Revenue: $2,533,403 Expenses: $1,304,418

Contents

    Ideology

    The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel referred to the Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund as “liberal” in a February 2017 article. 3 That newspaper again referenced the Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund as “liberal” in a July 2020 article. 4

    Advocacy

    Wisconsin Voter ID Law

    In June of 2015, Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund filed a lawsuit challenging a number of provisions added to the state election law, including the state’s requirement that voters show photo identification at the polls. 2 Six years later, according to the state of Wisconsin, “Most Wisconsin voters must show an acceptable photo ID when voting at the polls on Election Day or by absentee ballot.” 5

    Partnership For Working Families

    The Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund has worked with the Partnership for Working Families in a campaign 6 to raise the minimum wage and impose government-mandated paid sick days on private businesses. 7

    ‘End Child Poverty’ Campaign

    In 2014, the Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund joined other partners in a campaign to “End Child Poverty.” 8

    Part of the plan included “increase public investment” in education, creating a “Legislative Child Poverty Bureau” and influencing “state and local economic development and tax policies.” 8

    Organization

    The Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) and was created in 1983. The organization’s tax returns listed Robert Kraig as its principal officer. Kraig also works as the executive director of the affiliated Citizen Action of Wisconsin non-profit. Both non-profits list the same business address. 9

    In 2018, its total revenue was $960,101. Stephanie Bloomingdale was the president of the 16-member board as of 2018. 9 Bloomingdale is also president of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO union. 10

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $4,063,417 $2,533,403 $1,304,418 View
    2023 $2,468,358 $1,227,511 $1,123,659 View
    2022 $2,368,311 $1,592,197 $1,203,655 View
    2021 $2,153,741 $1,551,016 $1,256,788 View
    2020 $2,351,449 $1,576,731 $1,200,684 View

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Robert KraigEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$121,154
    Brian WoolridgeDIR OF OPERATIONS$107,555

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $9,869,168
    • Number of Grants: 145
    • Number of Funders: 56

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $853,5182024 People's Action InstituteAFFILIATE STATE PROGRAMS SUPPORT
    $335,0002022 People's Action InstituteAFFILIATE STATE PROGRAMS SUPPORT
    $325,0002024 Community Catalyst, Inc.SUPPORT HEALTH ISSUES
    $300,0002024 McKnight Foundationfor general operating support – Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund works to support economic, racial, and environmental justice through community organizing across Wisconsin.
    $232,5002022 Community Catalyst, Inc.SUPPORT HEALTH ISSUES
    $215,0002022 Windward FundENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
    $180,0002021 Windward FundENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
    $165,0002020 Windward FundENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
    $148,2232023 People's Action InstituteAFFILIATE STATE PROGRAMS SUPPORT
    $125,0002024 Windward FundENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
    $125,0002020 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $118,1002021 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $115,0002020 People's Action InstituteAFFILIATE STATE PROGRAMS SUPPORT
    $105,5002021 Community Catalyst, Inc.SUPPORT HEALTH ISSUES
    $103,6002023 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $100,0002024 The Arca Foundationgeneral support
    $100,0002023 The Arca Foundationgeneral support
    $100,0002022 The Arca Foundationgeneral support
    $100,0002022 Sierra Club FoundationTO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED PROGRAMS THAT WILL REDUCE ENERGY BURDEN AND ENERGY BURDEN DISPARITIES IN MILWAUKEE, WI THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
    $100,0002021 NEO PhilanthropyProgram Grant
    $100,0002020 NEO PhilanthropyProgram Grant
    $85,0002020 TIDES FOUNDATIONHEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES
    $77,0002022 TIDES FOUNDATIONHEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES
    $75,0002020 Community Catalyst, Inc.SUPPORT HEALTH ISSUES
    $75,0002020 The Arca Foundationgeneral support

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $382,784
    • Number of Grants: 11
    • Number of Recipients: 9

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $121,5002024 Wisdom IncPROGRAM GRANT
    $75,0002020 Pastors United Community Advocacy IncPROGRAM GRANT
    $45,0002024 GREEN SCHOOLS NATIONAL NETWORK INCPROGRAM GRANT
    $36,0002022 ABC for Health IncPROGRAM GRANT
    $10,0002023 Milwaukee Innercity Congregations Allied for Hope IncHEALTHCARE REFORM
    $10,0002022 Milwaukee Innercity Congregations Allied for Hope IncHEALTHCARE REFORM

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. [1] Patrick Marley. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “FEDERAL COURT HEARS WIS. VOTING LAW CASES”; Feb. 25, 2017.
    2. Associated Press. “FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSES CHALLENGE to STATE’S VOTER ID REQUIREMENT”; Dec. 18, 2015.
    3. Patrick Marley. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “FEDERAL COURT HEARS WIS. VOTING LAW CASES”; Feb. 25, 2017.
    4. Patrick Marley. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “APPEALS COURT SHORTENS EARLY VOTING PERIOD” July 1, 2020.
    6. Partnership for Working Families.  https://www.forworkingfamilies.org/about/affiliates/caw; Accessed 4/9/2021.
    7. Partnership for Working Families. https://www.forworkingfamilies.org/resources/policy-tools-living-wage; Accessed 4/9/2021.
    8. End Child Poverty Wisconsin. https://www.endchildpovertywi.org/poverty_reduction_goal ; Accessed 4/9/2021.
    9. Guidestar. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/39-1520619 ; Accessed 4/9/2021.
    10. Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. https://www.wisaflcio.org/about-us/stephanie-bloomingdale-1; Accessed 4/9/2021