MILWAUKEE WORLD FESTIVAL INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

MILWAUKEE WORLD FESTIVAL INC

EIN 39-1049688 · Arts, Culture & Humanities (A680)

What they do

THE CORPORATION SHALL BE A CIVIC ORGANIZATION NOT ORGANIZED for PROFIT BUT OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY for CHARITABLE and EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES INCLUDING IN FURTHERANCE THEREOF, THE PRODUCTION of AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL IN THE MILWAUKEE METROPOLITAN AREA KNOWN AS SUMMERFEST, THE PRODUCTION of OTHER EVENTS and ETHNIC FESTIVALS DURING AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL SEASON DURING THE MONTHS of MAY THROUGH OCTOBER of EACH YEAR, ALL of THE AFOREMENTIONED ACTIVITIES BEING DIRECTED TOWARD PROMOTING AN UNDERSTANDING BY MEMBERS of THE GENERAL PUBLIC of DIFFERENT ETHNIC CULTURES, EDUCATING THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN THE HISTORIES and TRADITIONS of VARIOUS NATIONALITIES, PROVIDING A SUITABLE SHOWCASE for THE PERFORMING ARTS, PROVIDING ACTIVITIES and RECREATION AVAILABLE to THE GENERAL PUBLIC, PROMOTING RACIAL and ETHNIC HARMONY IN THE COMMUNITY, PROMOTING CIVIC PRIDE, and PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES for THE COMMUNITYS YOUTH.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $90.00 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders39 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

97.32%of revenue went to mission work90.0% of expenses · Program services

1.35%of revenue went to fundraising1.3% of expenses

$108.12spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

9.44%of revenue went to management and office costs8.7% of expenses

$1.24in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

19.6%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $5,679,988 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $462,058 for SARAH PANCHERI (PRESIDENT - NON VOTING). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$69,991,931

Mission workProgram services$68,119,38097.32% of revenue90.0% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$6,606,0099.44% of revenue8.7% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$946,5301.35% of revenue1.3% of expenses

Total expenses$75,671,919108.12% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 90.0% mission · 8.7% management · 1.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 108.12% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 90.5% mission · 8.5% management · 1.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.68% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 91.4% mission · 7.2% management · 1.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 115.81% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 91.4% mission · 7.6% management · 1.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.17% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 75.3% mission · 22.4% management · 2.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 365.70% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 88.1% mission · 10.6% management · 1.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 95.92% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 89.2% mission · 9.5% management · 1.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 82.97% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 87.8% mission · 10.9% management · 1.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 89.22% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$69,991,931

Expenses$75,671,919

Annual shortfall $5,679,988 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$68,119,380 · 90.0% of expenses

Management and office costs$6,606,009 · 8.7% of expenses

Fundraising$946,530 · 1.3% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$69,991,931

Expenses$75,671,919

Assets$94,078,881

Income$71,288,924

Contributions$13,737,346

Mission work (program services)$68,119,380

Fundraising$946,530

Management and general$6,606,009

Stocks and bonds$9,000,000

Accounting fees$42,200

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

SARAH PANCHERIPRESIDENT - NON VOTING · 45 hrs/week $462,058Base $428,000 · Other $34,058

DON SMILEYCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - NON VOTING · 45 hrs/week $424,681Base $379,583 · Other $45,098

ZACH HASENSTEINVICE PRESIDENT/CFO · 45 hrs/week $268,126Base $228,915 · Other $39,211

JASON STUEWEVP PLANNING/DEVELOPMENT · 45 hrs/week $233,037Base $202,818 · Other $30,219

SCOTT ZIELVP OF ENTERTAINMENT · 45 hrs/week $224,840Base $183,900 · Other $40,940

GAYE LITTELLVP/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER · 45 hrs/week $221,176Base $198,471 · Other $22,705

KEVIN CANADYVP SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT · 45 hrs/week $217,316Base $204,665 · Other $12,651

SHAWN WATKINSINFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEER MANAGER · 45 hrs/week $168,110Base $142,637 · Other $25,473

LENA DELEATSALES DIRECTOR-SPONSORSHIPS/EVENT DIRECTOR-SF TECH · 45 hrs/week $166,924Base $148,615 · Other $18,309

DERRICK HARRISDIRECTOR OF SECURITY · 45 hrs/week $151,532Base $142,064 · Other $9,468

NICK VOLZSOFTWARE ENGINEERING MANAGER · 45 hrs/week $150,640Base $126,652 · Other $23,988

JERROD WOODSSENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING · 45 hrs/week $144,861Base $122,325 · Other $22,536

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (39)

SARAH PANCHERIPRESIDENT - NON VOTING

DON SMILEYCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - NON VOTING

ZACH HASENSTEINVICE PRESIDENT/CFO

JASON STUEWEVP PLANNING/DEVELOPMENT

SCOTT ZIELVP OF ENTERTAINMENT

GAYE LITTELLVP/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

KEVIN CANADYVP SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

SHAWN WATKINSINFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEER MANAGER

LENA DELEATSALES DIRECTOR-SPONSORSHIPS/EVENT DIRECTOR-SF TECH

DERRICK HARRISDIRECTOR OF SECURITY

NICK VOLZSOFTWARE ENGINEERING MANAGER

JERROD WOODSSENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

TED KELLNERFIRST VICE PRESIDENT

PEGGY WILLIAMS-SMITHAT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER

PAUL SWEENEYTREASURER - NON VOTING

JOAN PRINCECITIZEN DESIGNEE BY MAYOR OF MILWAUKEE

MOLLY MODLINSKIUNITED ETHNIC FESTIVALS REP.

MIKE WHITEAT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER

TIM SHEEHYAT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER

MICHAEL MAISTELMANCITIZEN DESIGNEE BY MILWAUKEE COMMON COUNCIL (THRU

MARY ELLEN STANEKCHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

LUKE OLSONUNITED ETHNIC FESTIVALS REP.

GREG WESLEYSECRETARY - NON VOTING

ANDY NUNEMAKERCITIZEN DESIGNEE BY MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE

ANNE ZIZZOAT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER

CHUCK HARVEYAT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER

CORY NETTLESSECOND VICE PRESIDENT

DAN MINAHANAT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER

DANA GUTHRIEAT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER

ERIC RADUEUNITED ETHNIC FESTIVALS REP.

GABRIELLE FINLEY-HAZLEAT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER

JUD SNYDERDESIGNATED BY BMO HARRIS BANK, NA

HOWARD SOSOFFCHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD EMERITUS - NON VOTING

JACK SALZWEDELAT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER

JEFF MUSACITIZEN DESIGNEE BY MILWAUKEE COMMON COUNCIL

JIM WRIGHTDESIGNATED BY MOLSON COORS BEVERAGE COMPANY

AARON JAGDFELDDESIGNATED BY GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.

JOANNE ANTONAT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER

JOANNE BISCHMANNAT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1967
Location: 639 E SUMMERFEST PL, MILWAUKEE, WI 53202-6216
County: Milwaukee
In care of: SARAH PANCHERI
Primary officer: SARAH PANCHERI, CEO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailinfo@summerfest.com Phone(414) 273-2680

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: WIPFLI ADVISORY LLC
NTEE classification: Arts, Culture & Humanities (A680)