American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers | |
Basic facts | |
Location: | Washington, D.C. |
Type: | 501(c)(5) |
Top official: | Randi Weingarten, President |
Year founded: | 1916 |
Website: | Official website |
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a 501(c)(5) nonprofit organization. It is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO labor union representing current and retired teachers and other school staff.[1]
Background
Eight local teacher unions joined together to found the American Federation of Teachers as an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1916.[2] As of September 2025, the organization's mission was:[3]
“ |
The AFT is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.[4] |
” |
Leadership
As of September 2025, the following individuals held leadership positions at the American Federation of Teachers:[5]
- Randi Weingarten, president
- Fedrick C. Ingram, secretary-treasurer
- Evelyn DeJesus, executive vice president
- J. Philippe Abraham, vice president
- Frederick R. Albert, vice president
- Jackie Anderson, vice president
- LeRoy Barr, vice president
- Victor M. Bonilla Sánchez, vice president
- Vicky Rae Byrd, vice president
- Zeph Capo, vice president
- Larry J. Carter, Jr., vice president
- Kathy A. Chavez, vice president
- Jaime L. Ciffone, vice president
- Melissa Cropper, vice president
- Amanda Curtis, vice president
- Stacy Davis Gates, vice president
- James C. Davis, vice president
- GlenEva Dunham, vice president
- Christian Fern, vice president
- Francis J. Flynn, vice president
- Jeffery M. Freitas, vice president
- Ron Gross, vice president
- Anthony M. Harmon, vice president
- Karla Hernández-Mats, vice president
- Jan Hochadel, vice president
- David M. Keepnews, vice president
- Frederick E. Kowal, vice president
- Terrence Martin, Sr., vice president
- Kara McCormick-Lyons, vice president
- Daniel J. Montgomery, vice president
- Michael Mulgrew, vice president
- Cecily A. Myart-Cruz, vice president
- Shari Obrenski, vice president
- Melinda Parson, vice president
- Juan Ramirez, vice president
- Andrew Spar, vice president
- Denise Specht, vice president
- Wayne Spence, vice president
- Arthur G. Steinberg, vice president
- Jessica J. Tang, vice president
- Adam Urbanski, vice president
- Debbie White, RN, vice president
- Carl Williams, vice president
- Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, vice president
- Sarah Wolford, vice president
- Todd Wolfson, vice president
- Edward J. McElroy, president emeritus
- Lorretta Johnson, secretary-treasurer emerita
Work and activities
Electoral activities and influence
2014 elections
According to OpenSecrets.org, the American Federation of Teachers spent $19,499,848 in the 2014 election cycle.[6]
Endorsed candidates
In the 2014 election cycle, the American Federation of Teachers supported the following candidates:[6]
Expenditures
Top 5 largest American Federation of Teachers expenditures in 2012[7] | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Party | State | Office | For | Against | Total | Desired Result |
Julia Brownley | ![]() |
CA | House | $20,000 | $0 | $20,000 | |
Ed Markey | ![]() |
MA | Senate | $19,563 | $0 | $20,000 | |
Donald Norcross | ![]() |
NJ | House | $15,500 | $0 | $20,000 | |
Natalie Tennant | ![]() |
WV | Senate | $15,250 | $0 | $15,500 | |
Ron Barber | ![]() |
AZ | House | $15,250 | $0 | $15,000 |
2012 elections
According to OpenSecrets.org, the American Federation of Teachers spent $8,578,462 in the 2012 election cycle.[8]
Endorsed candidates
In the 2012 election cycle, the American Federation of Teachers supported the following candidates:[8]
Expenditures
Top 5 largest American Federation of Teachers expenditures in 2012 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Party | State | Office | For | Against | Total | Desired Result |
Ron Barber | ![]() |
AZ | House | $20,000 | $0 | $20,000 | |
Barack Obama | ![]() |
N/A | President | $19,563 | $0 | $19,563 | |
Tammy Duckworth | ![]() |
IL | House | $15,500 | $0 | $15,500 | |
Sherrod Brown | ![]() |
OH | Senate | $15,250 | $0 | $15,250 | |
Bob Casey | ![]() |
PA | Senate | $15,250 | $0 | $15,250 |
Ballot measures
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the American Federation of Teachers' revenues and expenses from 2004 to 2024. The information comes from ProPublica.
Year | Revenue | Expenses |
---|---|---|
2004 | $132.4 million | $128.5 million |
2005 | $134.4 million | $137.0 million |
2006 | $138.7 million | $141.2 million |
2007 | $147.0 million | $152.9 million |
2008 | $159.9 million | $152.6 million |
2009 | $165.8 million | $169.6 million |
2010 | $173.0 million | $169.9 million |
2011 | $176.3 million | $189.4 million |
2012 | $178.3 million | $182.9 million |
2013 | $179.8 million | $181.1 million |
2014 | $188.0 million | $195.6 million |
2015 | $191.5 million | $202.5 million |
2016 | $199.9 million | $203.3 million |
2017 | $201.0 million | $209.4 million |
2018 | $229.2 million | $192.2 million |
2019 | $204.5 million | $197.4 million |
2020 | $205.3 million | $196.0 million |
2021 | $207.2 million | $196.1 million |
2022 | $206.0 million | $190.4 million |
2023 | $211.0 million | $220.2 million |
2024 | $218.1 million | $221.6 million |
See also
- What is an influencer?
- PACs and Super PACS
- Political action committee
- Super PAC
- Federal Election Commission
- AFL-CIO
External links
- American Federation of Teachers official website
- American Federation of Teachers on Instagram
- American Federation of Teachers on Threads
- American Federation of Teachers on Facebook
- American Federation of Teachers on Bluesky
- American Federation of Teachers on YouTube
- American Federation of Teachers on LinkedIn
Footnotes
- ↑ American Federation of Teachers, "About Us," accessed September 19, 2025
- ↑ American Federation of Teachers, "History," accessed September 19, 2025
- ↑ American Federation of Teachers, "Mission," accessed September 19, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ American Federation of Teachers, "AFT Leadership," accessed September 19, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Open Secrets, "American Federation of Teachers," accessed May 14, 2015
- ↑ Open Secrets, "American Federation of Teachers," accessed May 14, 2015
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Open Secrets, "American Federation of Teachers," accessed December 16, 2013
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