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Labor Union

Inter Faculty Organization (IFO)

Website:

www.ifo.org
Location:

St. Paul, MN
Tax ID:

36-3608633
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(5)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $2,239,048
Expenses: $1,981,888
Assets: $4,975,064
Type:

State University Labor Union
Formation:

1989
President:

Jennifer Chernega
Budget (2023):

Revenue: $2,182,530
Expenses: $2,349,145
Total Assets: $4,862,169 1

References

  1. Inter Faculty Organization. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part I). 2023.

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The Inter Faculty Organization (IFO) is a government worker labor union representing the faculty of seven Minnesota state universities. It represents the faculty in collective bargaining and contract enforcement and conducts left-of-center policy advocacy and legislative lobbying at the state and federal levels. 1 The IFO endorses Democratic candidates 2 and supports left-of-center educational policies including academic freedoms that allow faculty to teach their personal views of gender ideology and critical race theory. 3

Background

The Inter Faculty Organization (IFO) is a government worker labor union representing the faculty of seven Minnesota state universities, founded in 1989. It is responsible for collective bargaining, contract enforcement, grievance resolution and arbitration, advocacy, and legislative lobbying for the Minnesota state university faculties. Represented universities are Bemidji State University, Metropolitan State University, MSU-Mankato, MSU-Moorhead, St. Cloud State University, Southwest MN State University, and Winona State University. 4 5

In November 2023, the IFO rolled out a new logo representing its “commitment to the expansion of knowledge through solidarity.” The logo includes an open book, a raised fist representing “defiance, solidarity, and fighting oppression,” and a flame. 6

Organization

The Inter Faculty Organization is led by a board of directors made up of representatives of each of the seven state university faculties. It is responsible for the ongoing operations and budget of the organization, coordinating the collective bargaining negotiations, and developing the organization’s priorities. 7

The IFO Executive Committee includes the IFO president, the seven university-level faculty association presidents, and the IFO treasurer. It represents the board of directors and develops long-range plans and procedures. 8

The IFO works with the faculty associations at each university in contract negotiations. 9

Standing IFO committees focus on academic affairs, feminist issues, LGBT issues, government relations, and faculty of color issues. 10

The IFO Political Action Committee Fund was established in 1989 to influence the election or appointment of Minnesota state-level candidates. 11

Advocacy and Legislative Priorities

In February 2024, Inter Faculty Organization announced its endorsement for Democratic politician Sarah Kruger who is running for election to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2024. It urged its members to support Kruger. 12

Previous political endorsements made by the IFO include Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan (D), and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D). 13

In 2020, following the death of George Floyd, the IFO announced its support of Black Lives Matter and for the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus police reform legislation. In its June 2020 statement, it demanded “justice for George Floyd and all marginalized people who have been victimized by the Minneapolis Police Department.” It supported the AFL-CIO’s demand that Minneapolis Police Union President Bob Kroll resign and that the union be overhauled. 14

In 2022, the University of Minnesota passed a resolution to protect academic freedom, to allow faculty to teach about their views of gender and Critical Race Theory, rejecting attempts by state legislatures to affect what is taught at the university. 15

IFO’s 2024 Minnesota legislative priorities include additional investments in programs such as the Teachers of Color Act which awards scholarships to students of color who are enrolled in teaching programs; 16 support for the Academic Freedom Protection Act which supports “faculty to truthfully educate students, so they may critically identify and analyze all forms of discrimination”; and regulations regarding equity and campus safety, including the restriction of firearms on campus and support for Equity 2030, 17 a program aimed at creating “educational equity across race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location by the end of the decade at every Minnesota state college and university.” 18

Partnerships

Inter Faculty Organization partners with We Choose Us, a coalition of several left-of-center organizations in Minnesota focused on “fighting to protect and expand multiracial democracy in Minnesota.” We Choose Us claims that power is in the hands of a “white, wealthy few.” 19

The We Choose Us list of partners includes Minnesota activist group ISAIAH, Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, the New Justice Project, 20 FairVote Minnesota, Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition – Minnesota, TakeAction Minnesota, Minnesota AFL-CIO, and League of Women Voters Minnesota. 21

Funding

Inter Faculty Organization is funded through membership dues and investment income. The largest expenses were staff salaries and benefits. Other expenses included lobbying and organizing expenses, insurance, and those associated with normal business administration. 22

For the fiscal year ending in 2023, the IFO reported $2,182,530 in revenues and $2,349,145 in expenses. 23

Leadership

Jenna Chernega is Inter Faculty Organization president. In April 2024, she was elected for a second term with 97 percent of the vote. 24 She has been a faculty member in the sociology department at Winona State University (WSU) since 2007 and involved with the IFO, filling several roles. She was the faculty association president at WSU, an IFO academic affairs coordinator, and co-chair of the IFO Government Relations Committee. 25

References

  1. LinkedIn – Inter Faculty Organization. Accessed July 25, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/inter-faculty-organization/about/
  2. Jonathan Bohn. “Endorsement Announcement: Sarah Kruger for MN House.” Inter Faculty Org – Updates. February 26, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2024. https://www.ifo.org/ifo-updates/2024/2/26/endorsement-announcement-sarah-kruger-for-mn-house
  3. Maia Irvin. “UMN Faculty Senate passes resolution to affirm academic freedom.” The Minnesota Daily. January 21, 2022. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://mndaily.com/270488/news/umn-faculty-senate-passes-resolution-to-affirm-academic-freedom/
  4. LinkedIn – Inter Faculty Organization. Accessed July 25, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/inter-faculty-organization/about/
  5. Inter Faculty Organization Financial Statements Auditor’s Report. January 27, 2023. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59304e9ad2b85773b3fbdf63/t/64120e58b57e6b51d46d91ce/1678904921053/IFO+22+-+Audit+Report+Final+%281%29.pdf
  6. “New IFO Logo!” Inter Faculty Organization – Updates. November 7, 2023. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.ifo.org/ifo-updates/2023/11/7/new-ifo-logo
  7. “Board of Directors.” Inter Faculty Organization – About. Accessed July 25, 2024. https://www.ifo.org/board-of-directors
  8. IFO Operating Procedures. Last revised February 23, 2024. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59304e9ad2b85773b3fbdf63/t/65e5fb58ece8093cfe3652a3/1709570904788/Operating+Procedures+%5BLast+Updated+Feb+23%2C+2024%5D%5B6%5D.pdf
  9. IFO Operating Procedures. Last revised February 23, 2024. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59304e9ad2b85773b3fbdf63/t/65e5fb58ece8093cfe3652a3/1709570904788/Operating+Procedures+%5BLast+Updated+Feb+23%2C+2024%5D%5B6%5D.pdf; Link from IFO Governing Documents https://www.ifo.org/ifo-governance-committees/ifo-documents
  10. “Committees.” Inter Faculty Organization – About. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.ifo.org/committees
  11. “IFO Political Action Committee Fund.” CampaignMoney.com. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.campaignmoney.com/political/527/ifo-political-action-committee-fund.asp
  12.  Jonathan Bohn. “Endorsement Announcement: Sarah Kruger for MN House.” Inter Faculty Org – Updates. February 26, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2024. https://www.ifo.org/ifo-updates/2024/2/26/endorsement-announcement-sarah-kruger-for-mn-house
  13. “Political Endorsements.” Inter Faculty Organization. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.ifo.org/political-endorsements
  14. Facebook – Inter Faculty Organization. “IFO Supports Black Lives Matter – Inter Faculty Organization.” Jule 11, 2020. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/profile/100067139721219/search/?q=endorse
  15. Maia Irvin. “UMN Faculty Senate passes resolution to affirm academic freedom.” The Minnesota Daily. January 21, 2022. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://mndaily.com/270488/news/umn-faculty-senate-passes-resolution-to-affirm-academic-freedom/
  16. Alexandra DeYoe. “Teachers of Color Act seeks to improve diversity in Minnesota schools.” The Minnesota Daily. April 10, 2024. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://mndaily.com/283264/news/teachers-of-color-act-seeks-to-improve-diversity-in-minnesota-schools/
  17. “2024 IFO Legislative Agenda.” Inter Faculty Organization. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.ifo.org/government-relations
  18. “What is Equity 2030?” Minnesota State. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.minnstate.edu/Equity2030/what.html
  19. “About We Choose Us.” We Choose Us – The Campaign. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.wechooseusmn.com/about-we-choose-us
  20. “Who We Are.” New Justice Project. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.newjusticeprojectmn.org/who-we-are/
  21. “Partners.” We Choose Us. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.wechooseusmn.com/partners
  22. Inter Faculty Organization Financial Statements Auditor’s Report. January 27, 2023. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59304e9ad2b85773b3fbdf63/t/64120e58b57e6b51d46d91ce/1678904921053/IFO+22+-+Audit+Report+Final+%281%29.pdf
  23. Inter Faculty Organization. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part I). 2023.
  24. “State union keeps WSU prof in charge.” Winona Journal. April 2, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2024. https://www.winonajournal.com/state-union-keeps-wsu-prof-in-charge/
  25. “Leadership and Staff.” Inter Faculty Organization. Accessed July 25, 2024. https://www.ifo.org/support-contacts
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: March 1, 1989

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Jun Form 990 $2,239,048 $1,981,888 $4,975,064 $872,041 N $0 $2,187,503 $51,345 $506,392
    2020 Jun Form 990 $2,221,833 $2,123,243 $4,449,807 $780,583 N $0 $2,148,457 $72,694 $478,700
    2019 Jun Form 990 $2,255,935 $1,995,104 $4,196,866 $680,178 N $0 $2,193,968 $61,513 $467,812 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $2,158,357 $2,192,639 $3,838,318 $643,873 N $0 $2,117,198 $40,989 $491,927 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $2,169,331 $1,931,889 $3,781,433 $589,626 N $0 $2,146,770 $19,663 $541,707 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $2,027,315 $2,206,446 $3,660,686 $757,724 N $0 $2,003,195 $16,633 $495,498 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $2,036,266 $1,908,003 $3,794,568 $709,233 N $0 $2,007,846 $28,420 $38,366 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $1,956,084 $2,160,832 $3,665,746 $708,674 N $0 $1,935,399 $14,185 $25,200 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $1,910,307 $1,737,333 $3,846,826 $685,006 N $0 $1,894,761 $15,546 $182,334 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $1,890,908 $1,751,993 $3,658,788 $667,570 N $0 $1,870,014 $20,894 $316,581 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Inter Faculty Organization (IFO)

    490 CONCORDIA AVENUE SUITE 125
    St. Paul, MN 55103-2412