The nation’s two largest teachers unions — the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA) — have funneled more than $43.5 million since 2022 into a sprawling network of leftwing and far-left political organizations.
A new report details just where that money went. These weren’t small checks to neutral civic groups or nonpartisan charities. The funds flowed directly into some of the most aggressively political outfits in America.
For example, the unions handed over a combined $9.3 million to For Our Future Action Fund, a leftwing super PAC. The NEA alone contributed $9.5 million to the State Engagement Fund, another political powerhouse. Other recipients include MoveOn.org, PEN America, the Sixteen Thirty Fund, the Hopewell Fund, and even the notorious Clinton Foundation.
The Sixteen Thirty Fund has been active in leftist causes and support for leftist candidates in Alaska, funneling $35,000 into “Building a Stronger Anchorage,” a group dedicated to electing Forrest Dunbar as mayor of Anchorage, a failed campaign. This funding was part of a broader controversy involving a Swiss billionaire allegedly channeling millions through the fund to support Democratic candidates, raising concerns about foreign influence in Alaska elections.
Operating under the name “Bristol Bay Action,” the Sixteen Thirty Fund provided $600,000 to promote Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Congresswoman Mary Peltola as the “pro-fish ticket.” This effort included distributing flyers in Anchorage, though it raised questions about potential campaign violations due to Bristol Bay Action’s lack of Federal Election Commission qualification as a multi-candidate group.
The Sixteen Thirty Fund, alongside other Arabella Advisors affiliates like the Hopewell Fund, has supported the Alaska Beacon, a left-leaning news outlet. The Beacon provides content to all major Alaska media outlets, a strategy to shape the state’s news narrative with dark-money-funded journalism that appears neutral.
Here are just a few of the more striking expenditures:
- $1.6 million to House Majority PAC (aligned with congressional Democrats).
- $1.25 million to Senate Majority PAC.
- $1 million+ to Red Wine & Blue, a progressive organizing group.
- Hundreds of thousands to groups like Color of Change, Latino Victory Fund, and MomsRising.
- Contributions to the Trevor Project, Democracy Alliance, and even Politico.
These are not expenditures for classroom supplies or student programs. No textbooks, computers, or free lunches were purchased, but instead, the AFT and NEA are making partisan investments designed to swing elections, wage culture wars, and entrench a progressive agenda.
Both unions frame themselves as advocates for teachers and students, but these filings tell another story: one of massive political machinery fueled by dues-paying educators,many of whom may not agree with these ideological causes.
It raises serious questions:
- Do teachers paying mandatory dues know their money is being routed into these political organizations?
- Should unions that receive influence and leverage in public schools be allowed to act as bankrollers of partisan politics?
- Is this the job of a teachers union, or is it a misuse of union dues?
The list of organizations that AFT and NEA prop up, as uncovered by the Defending Education report:
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS (AFT)
FORM LM-2 LABOR ORGANIZATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT – July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023
FORM LM-2 LABOR ORGANIZATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT – July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
- A Better Wisconsin Together Political Fund – $500,000
- All for Justice (Illinois) – $100,000
- Alliance for a Better Minnesota – $63,000
- Ballot Initiative Strategy Center – $180,000
- Battleground CA – $100,000
- Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation – $100,000
- Building Back Together – $100,000
- Center for American Progress – $200,000
- Color of Change PAC – $100,000
- Communities United for Bass for LA Mayor 2022 – $150,000
- Defend Our Constitution – $150,000
- Democracy 21 – $250,000
- Democracy Alliance – $70,000
- Democracy Alliance – $103,333
- Democratic Governors Association – $600,000
- Future Forward PAC (FF PAC) – 250,000
- For Our Future Action Fund – $2,350,000
- House Majority PAC – $500,000
- House Majority PAC – $1,100,000
- iVote Fund – $100,000
- Latino Victory Fund – $400,000
- March for Our Lives Action Fund – $140,000
- Michigan Democratic State Central Committee – $450,000
- MomsRising Together – $125,000
- MoveOn.org Political Action – $100,000
- MoveOn.org Political Action – $150,000
- National Action Network – $100,000
- New Georgia Project Action Fund – $75,000
- New Venture Fund – $75,000
- One for All Committee – $150,000
- Opportunity PAC – $100,000
- Parents Together Action – $100,000
- Parents Together Action – $200,000
- Parents Together Action – $100,000
- PEN America Center – 50,000
- Politico LLC – $160,292
- Priorities USA Action – $250,000
- Protect Constitutional Abortion Rights – $100,000
- Red Wine & Blue – $520,000
- Red Wine & Blue – $350,000
- Resist, Inc. Boston Education Justice Alliance – $50,000
- Senate Majority PAC – 250,000
- Senate Majority PAC – $1,000,000
- Sixteen Thirty Fund – $150,000
- Sixteen Thirty Fund – $25,000
- State Democracy Defenders Action – $250,000
- State Engagement Fund – $350,000
- The Voter Project – $75,000
- Virginia Plus PAC – $50,000
- UnidosUS Action Fund – $50,000
- VoteVets – $200,000
- VoteVets Action Fund, Inc – $20,000
- VoteVets Action Fund, Inc – $25,000
- Way to Win Action Fund – $150,000
- We the People for Education – $50,000
- Workers Vote – $816,000
- Workers Vote – $100,000
- Working America – $300,000
NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (NEA)
FORM LM-2 LABOR ORGANIZATION ANNUAL REPORT – September 1, 2022 – August 21, 2023
FORM LM-2 LABOR ORGANIZATION ANNUAL REPORT – September 1, 2023 – August 31 2024
- Alliance for Justice – $40,000
- Alliance for Justice – $20,000
- Alliance for Justice – $46,146
- Alliance for Justice Action Campaign – $60,000
- Amalgamated Foundation – $342,895
- Amalgamated Foundation – $50,000
- Amalgamated Foundation – $239,105
- Amalgamated Charitable Foundation – $50,000
- America Votes – $450,000
- America Votes – $675,000
- Black Progressive Action Coalition – 300,000
- Building Back Together – $150,000
- Center for American Progress – $500,000
- Center for American Progress – Action Fund – $50,000
- Chinese for Affirmative Action – $15,000
- Chinese Progressive Association – $100,000
- Color of Change.org Education Fund – $500,000
- Committee on States – $350,000
- Defend Our Constitution – $500,000
- Demlist LLC – $10,000
- Democracy Alliance – $310,000
- Democracy Alliance – $310,000
- EMILY’S List – $150,000
- For Our Future Action Fund – $3,450,000
- For Our Future Action Fund – $3,500,000
- Future Forward USA Action – $500,000
- Gender Inclusivity, LLC – $29,250
- GLSEN – $30,000
- Great Lakes Center for Education, Research and Practice – $225,000
- Hopewell Fund – $500,000
- Human Rights Campaign Foundation – $60,000
- Midwest Academy – $395,000
- MoveOn.org Civic Action – $110,000
- National Action Network – $85,000
- National Equity Project – $17,941
- National Redistricting Action Fund – $100,000
- Organize Action – $300,000
- Parents Together Action – $300,000
- Politico LLC – $110,663
- Progressive Caucus Action Fund – $150,000
- Protect Our Schools KY – $2,415,000
- Race & Equity in Education, Inc – $34,750
- Race & Equity in Education, Inc – $23,250
- Race Forward – $22,500
- Race Forward Action Inc – $300,000
- Sixteen Thirty Fund – $250,000
- Sixteen Thirty Fund – $75,000
- State Democracy Action Fund – $150,000
- State Engagement Fund – $4,100,000
- State Engagement Fund – $5,400,000
- State Power Action Fund – $445,000
- State Power Fund – $200,000
- Teaching for Change – $40,000
- Trevor Project – $100,000
- Tides Advocacy – $50,000
- Tides Center – $25,000
- Tides Center – $50,000
- VoteVets Action Fund, Inc – $15,000
Nice research here(!), clearly listing the existential ‘enemies’ of society. Would also make a comprehensive target list. Sooner or later, the cancer must be cut-out.
It’s a problem due to a monopoly with no competition.
We have a 3rd world level education system because parents are unable to use the public funds alloted for their children to shop for quality education.
The system is left wing and abridges the rights of our youth to be educated.
Education services must be competitive as any other service.
There is a massive benefit for the special interests who control the permanent government to retain perpetual power when the public is ignorant. Our society, cities, economy and national security are decayed into a dysfunctional condition while a handful of billionaires loot this country.
Brainwashing begets brainwashing. Right out of the Marxist playbook. Several generations ago, the new crop of teachers were being brainwashed at the universities where they received their teaching degrees. 50 years later, the fruit is bore, and the next crop of kiddies are being brainwashed in our public schools. All of this is being directed from national and local teacher unions. That’s how it works. Kids are not being taught how to think. They are being taught WHAT to think, and to ACT accordingly. EG….LGBTQ nonsense. It’s real.
No wonder the Democrats are always screaming about the “preservation” of Democracy.
It pays off better than a red hot vegas slot machine
Lion and Tigers and Bears!
Hysteria rampant on the bloviating right!
Let’s be clear, voluntary contributions by individual union members to a PAC whose purpose is to promote education is what professionals are expected to do. Maybe if the extreme right ideologues ruling this country weren’t intent on killing public education union members would not contribute as much.
Of course, what really upsets you is free speech, as you don’t want teaching professionals to be able to have the measly $25 they spend on political action. What do you call folk who want to muzzle political discourse?
Ignorant comment again!
We are talking union dues here not VOLUNTARY contributions. IF you want to send your money to those organizations have at it.
BTW You have proof of your homicidal claim that “right ideologues” want to kill teachers. I bet not!
Union dues collection is mandatory and performed by the school districts and the individual member has no control over how the organization spends those funds, or what the union bosses earn (Randi Weingarten makes $560,000/year). What does the average teacher make?
In my opinion public sector unions should be prohibited from making ANY donations to ANY political organization/PAC as it constitutes a conflict of interest. It should further be questioned how much money your really need to negotiate a labor contract for members and represent them in disputes. I bet that isn’t all that much……
A Taxpayer: Union dues are no longer mandatory. Teachers who work in a school district where they are unionized may choose not to pay dues, and therefore are not members of the union. But because they work in a union shop, the union still represents them during collective bargaining. Teachers who opt out of paying dues are not eligible for union benefits, e.g. representation during disciplinary hearings.
SA, thank you for making my point about the Janus decision. That being said it is clear that those who choose NOT to avail themselves of that option(opt out of the union) are REQUIRED to submit union dues, which are MANDATORY to maintain membership in the union. From the amounts listed above it is clear that there are many many teacher still in active union membership, leaving these unions flush with cash to support the likes of Politico and Chinese for Affirmative Action. It should also be pointed out that Marc deliberately claimed that all these funds were VOLUNTARY contribution which they are decidedly not, if you ARE a member of said union.
Yet on average (according to the NEA’s own websites) there is a student molested by school employees- teachers, aides, administrators etc once a day on average. Not a priority for them. These are just the ones reported. But they seem to care more about gender ideology and DEI and making white people out to be villians. I don’t think they promote education at all. If you think they are not socialist bent you live in a bubble. If by free speech you mean only the left gets to speak. Parents are terriorists remember. Charter schools out preform public schools for a reason.
Did you read the article? If they were making voluntary contributions, the unions wouldn’t need to coerce the dues from them and donate to political causes.
You actually stumble upon the solution. Bar unions from using dues for political contributions of any sort. The members could then decide for themselves what they want to contribute to. It is that simple.
If it were voluntary contributions, no issue, no article.
.
It isn’t. it is union dues.
Suzanne; I have a question. What is the average teacher salary, entry salary and maximum salaries?
All these “donations” and we’re closing schools……?
There are priorities Ben.
You would think that the Alaska Legislature could pass legislation preventing unions from spending money on lobbying and indoctrination. There is that pesky first amendment. Yet, I find it difficult to believe that the majority of their members are in full agreement with the organizations and stances (such as child mutilation, CRT, DEI and others). Would that out legislature have the brains to realize what we know and the cajones to put their feet down and say no to this cabal.
So, where is Union shill Rick Morgan to tell us how this is a good thing that helps educate the kids??
Public sector unions are among the most corrupt form of employee union. When the employer is represented by people who literally have no skin in the game, except to garner future contributions and votes, you are never going to have a fair system for the taxpayer who is on the hook to pay for all the grift.
There is a reason why every state should be a right to work state versus Union forced dues. The Unions are nothing more then modern day GANGSTERS.
Chinese for affirmative action? Chinese Progressive association??
After the Janus decision, why anyone is still a member of these public sector unions, is beyond me.
It can only mean that teachers approve of these donations and are more interested in political activism than better educating our kids.
Schools appear to be in the pockets of the Unions or what I call…criminal organizations funneling money here and there. Sad
Revolting . Political action during education .
Children are to be educated not used as political pawns.
Any decent teacher leaves their biases at home .
How much USAID dollars were laundered to appear as union dues. Don’t think they aren’t or wouldn’t.
Does this same logic apply to police unions?
One of President Trump’s most significant achievements would be to somehow eliminate public employee unions. You shouldn’t be able to fund and influence the lawmakers who vote on your contracts with employee dues.
Mayor–teachers unions are prohibited from donating to individual campaigns.
Come on SA, they just contribute to independent PACs!
Surely the Democratic Governors Association uses their contributed union funds to buy pencils for school children (sarc)!
Please! If you believe that, there is a bridge……
On top of that they endorse candidates every vote cycle, which in my opinion is unethical and should be prohibited, as they represent a government workforce.
Where are the teachers??? We are supposed to pat them on the back and say “thanks for your service”, or be supportive every time they strike, yet they are willing to throw the public and our children under the bus first chance they get. Alaskan’s need to demand change. Shut the schools down, time for parents, students, and taxpayers to strike! No NEA members in our schools.
Arabella is also funding salmonstate and many other tribes and ngos in state. Pushing anti resource development campaigns aimed at gathering people’s data and using “pro fish” politics to try and turn red voters blue. It worked. Mary got a lot of red votes. People need to understand how much money they’re putting into Facebook and others.
The joys of diversity.
Is the problem that the unions are purchasing political influence?
Or is the problem that our system of government encourages those that can to purchase influence?
That’s not anything new Every Union in the US is bankrolling the Left Trash