Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association
ActiveMutual & Membership BenefitFunds Individuals
About Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association
The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association serves the dairy processing industry as a strong policy advocate, networking hub, and trusted source of education and information.
Focus Areas
dairy processingeducation & traininggrants & financial supportexport assistancefood safetyworkforce developmentscholarshipsindustry events
Who They Fund
farmstead and small/regional creameriesgoat and sheep milk producersartisan cheesemakers and specialty dairy entrepreneursrural farming collectives and local milk bottling operations
About Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association
A $450,000 grant to the University of Wisconsin River Falls Foundation for dairy processing facility expansion is the largest recent award in the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association’s grant history here, and it points to a funder that uses capital support to help dairy businesses grow. The association backs cheese plants, milk processors, and specialty dairy entrepreneurs with equipment, facility, and product-development funding, alongside scholarships and export support. Recent grants show support for new aging rooms, packaging lines, chillers, presses, bottling systems, and value-added product launches. The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association also funds industry education in a direct way. It has awarded scholarships for food and beverage industry trade shows, cheese-industry student scholarships, and support for skilled-trades students entering Wisconsin technical programs. On the business side, grants have gone to firms pursuing cheese-curd innovation, bottled milk, flavored milk, ice cream, whey processing, and export growth. The pattern is practical and industry-specific: helping dairy processors add capacity, improve handling, diversify products, and develop markets.
What Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association Funds
A large share of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association’s giving supports dairy processing infrastructure. Cedar Grove Cheese Inc received $172,585 for the Climate Curd Project, while Alpinage Cheese LLC received $153,059 for a new cheese aging facility, packaging, and cutting solutions. Those awards point to a focus on processing efficiency, aging capacity, and product handling. Product diversification is another clear theme. Dari LLC received $100,000 to expand retail presence for Moo’V UF whole milk and launch a new chocolate milk flavor, and Flying Dog LLC received $98,503 to expand ice cream production. The association also supports specialty product lines: Green Dirt Farm LLC received $100,000 for sheep milk for specialty markets. Market development appears alongside production support. Rosewood Dairy Inc received $137,235 for a trial vat, new presses, a labeler machine, and an export growth plan, showing that the association ties equipment funding to commercial expansion.
How Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association Gives
Typical award sizes cluster around mid-five figures to six figures: the 25th percentile is $32,876, the median is $53,276, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. The recent grants list shows repeated $100,000 awards, plus several larger strategic grants. Grantmaking is not a one-off pattern; the organization appears across multiple years in the scholarship and industry-support programs listed, including annual scholarships and export services. The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association is a membership trade association rather than a family foundation or operating charity. It also funds individuals: scholarships support students, trade-show attendance, and skilled-trades training. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including DATCP-linked competitive grants and WCMA scholarship programs.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$7M
Total Assets
$7.3M
Total Revenue
$10.6M
Total Expenses
$10.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $33K and $100K, with a median of $53K.
25th Percentile
$33K
Median
$53K
75th Percentile
$100K
Geographic Reach
Regional11 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JOHN UMHOEFER
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