Executive Compensation at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) 2025
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is a Washington, CD-based non-profit tax-exempt 501 (c) (6) – a business association – representing “90% of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world.” Members (estimated at 500) include dairy processors and businesses providing ingredients and packaging.
The organization is governed by an executive council and 5 industry segment boards (milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and ingredients).
The IDFA reported total revenue of $12 million for the year ending June 30, 2025 most of which came from membership dues ($7 million or an estimated $14,000 per member annually) and training and education programs ($4 million). Expenses were $12 million and consisted primarily of three: compensation ($7 million), office-related expenses ($1 million), and conferences and trade shows ($2 million).
IDFA reported $11 million in net assets at year-end.
As stated above, compensation is the largest expense for IDFA. With 26 employees who were compensated $7 million, the average compensation was $270,000. 20 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation which means there were some very highly compensated employees. The 8 most highly compensated employees were reported to be:
- $1,083,246: Michael Dykes, CEO
- $ 542,365: Dave Carlin, SVP, Legislative Affairs
- $ 471,337: Thomas Wojno, COO
- $ 455,228: Matthew Herrick, SVP ,Public Affairs and Communication
- $ 299,162: Roberta Wagner, SVP, Regulatory Affairs
- $ 267,611: Danielle Quist, VP, Regulatory Affairs
- $ 257,932: Robert Rosado, VP, Legislative Affairs
- $ 250,076: Rebecca Vargas, SVP, International Affairs
The 8 most highly compensated employees listed above received nearly $4 million, which equates to an average compensation of $500,000. If the total number of employees (26) and total compensation ($7 million) were adjusted to exclude the 8 most highly compensated employees and their compensation ($4 million), then 19 employees received $3 million, which equates to an average compensation (of the non executive team) of $150,000.
3 of the 8 (38%) most highly compensated employees are female while 5 of the 8 (62%) are male. The most highly compensated employee Michael Dykes, the CEO who received $1.1 million in compensation (about 10% of total revenue raised by the organization).
IDFA paid for first class or charter travel, companion travel and health and social club dues or initiation fees. See Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information on the Form 990 (link below) for more information.
4 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation:
- $792,716: Covington and Burling, of Washington, DC for legal work
- $288,888: Davis, Wright, and Remaine, of Seattle, WA for legal work
- $124,447: Hogan Lovells of Washington, DC for legal work
- $288,656: Graves Show Productions of Brookeville, MD for Audio Video Management and Staging
In summation, the IDFA is a business association whose membership dues are primarily spent compensating the staff, including the President of the organization more than $1 million annually, paying for office-related expenses, and for conferences and trade shows. Revenue was down 6% in 2025 over the prior year, yet IDFA paid for first class or charter travel, companion travel and health or social club dues or initiation fees).
To read the IRS Form 990 (2024) for the year ending June 30, 2025, click here.
