Labor Union

National Education Association (NEA)

This is a logo for Post-secondary educational organizations. (link)
Website:

www.nea.org/

Location:

Washington, DC

Tax ID:

53-0115260

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(5)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $396,541,924
Expenses: $377,104,948
Assets: $432,009,050

Formation:

1857

Founder:

Zalmon Richards

President:

Becky Pringle

Associated Organizations:

NEA Advocacy Fund (PAC)

NEA Foundation (Nonprofit)

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The National Education Association (NEA) is America’s largest labor union representing nearly three million employees, principally teachers. With affiliates in every state across 14,000 communities 1, NEA represents teachers, education support professionals, retired teachers, education faculty and staff, substitute teachers, and administrators.2 It exercises enormous political clout in everything from contract negotiations to issue advocacy and lobbying.3

The NEA is a major political player, with its associated political action committees contributing nearly $143.5 million to federal candidates and committees—97% of which supported Democrats and liberals—from 1990 through February 2019. 4 The NEA is also deeply entangled in state and local politics and is a major contributor to left-of-center nonprofit organizations.5

Organizational Overview

Creation

NEA was founded in 1857 as the National Teachers Association (NTA) when 43 educators met in Philadelphia in order to advocate for public education.6 It changed its name to the National Education Association in 1870.7 Zalmond Richards—founder of Union Academy in Washington, D.C. and a faculty member at Columbian College, now known as George Washington University—became NEA’s first president.8 Since then, NEA has grown to represent close to 2.95 million as of 2015, a decline from the union’s peak membership in 2008-2010.9

Early Issue Advocacy

NEA has a long history of issue advocacy, beginning with support for the Morrill Act of 1862, which supported land-grant colleges and the creation of public state universities.10 In 1867, NEA successfully lobbied Congress to create the first Department of Education,11 which was almost solely devoted to collecting information to help states create public school systems.12 In 1866, the NEA opened it’s membership to women.

NEA continued to gain political victories in the 20th century as it began to promote state pension plans in 1923. By 1950, every state had a pension plan.13 By the mid 20th century, NEA was advocating for more controversial policies, such as advocating for the Bilingual Education Act, providing federal funding for the development and implementation of bilingual education programs, in 1968.14

Over the intervening century from founding to 1957, NEA grew from its original 43 to 700,000 members.15 A mere two years after its Centennial, NEA won one of its largest victories: Wisconsin became the first state to allow collective bargaining for public-sector unions.16 This controversial practice allows public-employee unions to negotiate with the very people they support for election to office, tilting the balance of power in negotiations greatly in the favor of unions.

Modern Advocacy

More recently, NEA was one of the primary advocates against the appointment of education reformer Betsy DeVos as President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education, urging senators to vote against the school choice advocate because she was “more than unqualified” and “an actual danger to students,” according to NEA president Lily Eskelen Garcia.17

NEA is located in Washington D.C., employing over 700 people in the nation’s capital alone.18 The average employee at NEA is compensated nearly $100,000 per year, with top employees earning salaries of over $400,000.19

NEA also produces at least seven publications, including NEAToday.org, Higher Education Advocate, and the NEA Almanac of Higher Education.20

Political Activity

NEA gives generously to Democratic political campaigns as well as various left-of-center organizations. This trend to active engagement in politics increased rapidly after the 1960s as states began requiring school districts to collectively bargain with NEA and other unions. From 1980-1994 alone, NEA increased it’s donations to congressional candidates from $4,000 to $3.7 million.21

2020 General Election

The NEA donated over $6 million during the 2020 election cycle, with $873,849 donated to the campaigns of Democratic candidates running and over $5.1 million donated to campaign against Republicans running in the election. 22

2016 General Election

During the 2016 election cycle, NEA gave over $2.6 million to members running for election in the Democratic and Republican parties, giving over 86% of that amount to Democrats. NEA gave $2.2 million to PACs.23  Top recipients of NEA money during the 2016 cycle were:24

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton ($107,561)

Democratic presidential primary contender Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont ($20,085)

Democratic Senate candidate Chris Van Hollen of Maryland ($18,740)

Democratic Senate candidate Ted Strickland of Ohio ($16,715)

Democratic Senate candidate Russ Feingold of Wisconsin ($13,770)

Democratic House candidate Denise Juneau of Montana ($16,595)

Democratic House candidate Pramila Jayapal of Washington ($12,950)

Democratic House candidate Lon Johnson of Michigan ($11,800)

Democratic Senate candidate Kamala Haris of California ($11,475)

Democratic Senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada ($11,428)

Democratic House candidate Emily Cain of Maine ($11,100)

NEA also sent tens of millions of dollars to political action committees, or PACs, including over $68 million to NEA’s PAC, $4.7 million to the NEA Advocacy Fund, and $2.1 million to the California Teachers Association.25

2012 General Election

In the 2012 election, NEA gave $61,577 to elect Barack Obama for president over his rival Mitt Romney. NEA also spent $19,000 on House candidate Kathleen Hochul (D-N.Y.), $17,080 on Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), and $16,000 on House candidate Derek Kilmer (D-Washington), among many others. 26 In recent years, NEA has also thrown its weight for and against multiple state ballot measures, most commonly to support increasing the minimum wage, to reject teacher performance evaluations, or to block repealing taxes. 27

Other Political Spending

Through its grant program and in its political contributions, NEA gives money to various left-of-center organizations, including: 28

UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza)

United Federation of Teachers

National Urban League

Congressional Black Caucus Institute

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

Center for American Progress

Catalist

Progress Now

Media Matters for America

Democracy Alliance

Progressive, Inc.

Progressive States Network

350.org

NEA has also given to a few right-of-center organizations, including the Republican-aligned Ripon Society 29 and the moderate Republican Main Street Partnership. 30

Teacher Strike Fund

At the National Education Association’s 2018 representative assembly, delegates voted to create a fund to support teacher strikes in response to six statewide teacher strikes in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Colorado, Arizona, and North Carolina. This fund was established through individual donations from members of the NEA.31

Positions

NEA advocates for a wide array of left-of-center positions on education and other political issues.

Critical Race Theory

In July 2021, the NEA’s Representative Assembly passed a resolution encouraging the organization to “oppose attempts to ban critical race theory and/or The 1619 Project.” 32 It also expressed support for a rally on George Floyd’s birthday by the Zinn Education Project, a nonprofit that promotes the teachings of socialist activist Howard Zinn. 3334 Another resolution asked the NEA to fund opposition research on organizations “attacking educators doing anti-racism work.” 35

The NEA is also a member of the Partnership for Future Learning, a network of over 300 progressive organizations, which supports critical race theory (CRT). 36 The Partnership has released a messaging guide that describes ways to implement CRT. 37 A section titled “Reframing the Issue” asks teachers to downplay fears that “CRT inflicts emotional and psychological harm” on white children and shift towards emphasizing how diversity makes the U.S. stronger. 38

The messaging guide also criticizes conservative opponents of CRT, claiming that “coordinated efforts to control curriculum come from aggressive right-wing instigators.” 39 An attached resource guide from left-leaning activist group We Make The Future describes CRT opponents as “grifters who have peddled lies about our [2020 presidential] election.” 40

In 2021, a report card of various educational contractors and consultants was released by Parents Defending Education (PDE). The report listed consultants and organizations that work with schools and encourage them to implement Critical Race Theory and diversity, equity, and inclusion curriculums and policies. The report named the NEA as an organization supporting Critical Race Theory, and discussed the NEA’s decision in 2021 to allocate funds for the purpose of investigating parent groups and policy makers that opposed teaching Critical Race Theory in public schools. The report cited the NEA’s spending approvals for 2021 which included roughly $7.5 million for training union members to advocate for “racial and social justice” in the classroom, and “$32.9 million to elect union-friendly candidates, engage members ahead of the 2022 midterms, and ‘develop and utilize strategic research to shape debate in states about education funding, taxes, and revenue.’” 41

School Vouchers and Charter Schools

NEA has been a long time and vocal opponent of school vouchers used to help low-income students afford schools outside of their traditional district school. NEA claims that vouchers “reject students based on economic status, academic achievement, disability, or even gender.”42 NEA also claims that vouchers “divert essential resources from public schools to private and religious schools, while offering no real ‘choice’ for the overwhelming majority of students.”43

NEA has also taken a stand critical of charter schools, saying they have “weak regulation and lax oversight” which should be of “major concern to students, parents, taxpayer, and communities.”44

Other Issues

NEA has taken positions on issues both directly and indirectly related to education. It has supported public child nutrition programs,45 offered qualified support for the Common Core State Standards,46 and opposes voucher legislation.47 However, NEA has also taken stances on issue with little to no relation to education. For example, NEA supports a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants,48 supports  Obamacare,49 opposed the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court,50 and supports barring people on the secret federal “no fly” list from being able to purchase guns with legislation that lacked proper due process protections.51

Controversies

9/11 Terrorism

After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, NEA issued guidelines on how teachers should discuss the attacks, urging teachers to show students how America had mistreated other people and nations, stressing the need for children to be tolerant of other cultures, and stating that teachers should not “suggest that any group [was] responsible” for 9/11. Instead, they urged teachers to have students “discuss historical instances of American intolerance.”52 Public outcry over the guidelines ensued, with Jan La Rue of Concerned Women of America saying, “It’s got their political spin all over it. The sentiment is what is wrong with America.”53

ACORN Donations

Also see ACORN (Defunct Nonprofit)

NEA also donated heavily to the now-defunct progressive community organizing group Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). From 2006-2008, NEA donated nearly $400,000 to a group that was accused of voter fraud, advising on how to dodge taxes, and more. NEA was later forced to retract support for ACORN, as then-president Dennis Van Roekel stated NEA was “stunned and appalled” by the “inexcusable actions.”54

Overt Democratic Party Activism

In a May 18 article in the Washington Post, American Political Science Association congressional fellow Chris Baylor stated that teachers unions such as the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) “don’t increase teacher salaries. . . . But teachers’ unions do accomplish something politically notable: They are a vital part of liberal coalitions and the Democratic Party.”

Baylor argued that “when public-sector [e.g. teachers] unions lose power, so do liberal and Democratic causes.” Teachers unions have played a dominant role in the Democratic Party and its allies since the 1970s. “From early on,” Baylor said, “the NEA aimed to lead the liberal coalition. . . . [S]ince 1990, the AFT has been one of the top 10 contributors to federal campaigns in five election cycles, and NEA has been one of the top five contributors in seven.” 55

Financial Information

Revenues

NEA is predominantly funded by member dues and “agency fees” paid by teachers obligated to be represented by the union in non-right-to-work states. 56 At least in previous years, NEA has received in more in dues than the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).57

As of 2020, NEA reported total assets of over $411 million, income of over $390 million, and expenses at over $377 million. Roughly $369 million of the NEA’s income came from NEA membership dues; the rest came from areas including loan repayments, interest, dividends, rents, reinvestment, and Investment. 58

State Affiliate Grants

NEA distributes gifts and grants each year predominantly to its statewide affiliates, such as the California Teachers Association, which has received the largest sum ($10,599,007).59

Affiliates

NEA Foundation

Also see NEA Foundation (Nonprofit)

The NEA Foundation is NEA’s affiliated 501(c)(3) charitable arm, which itself offers grants and awards funded from teacher dues, corporate sponsors, foundations, and other donors. The NEA Foundation was founded in 196960 and has given “more than $7.1 million to fund nearly 4,500 grants to public school educators.”61 NEA President Lily Eskelen Garcia also sits on the board of directors of the NEA Foundation along with individuals from organizations as diverse as Howard University to the BET Networks to Amazon.62

The President and CEO of the NEA Foundation is Harriet Sanford, who has headed the organization since 2005.  She began her career as a public school teacher, eventually becoming a major fundraiser for nonprofits.63

The NEA Foundation has received over $75,000 from big-name donors like AT&T, Bank of America, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The NEA Foundation has also received tens of thousands of dollars from the BET Networks, Southwest Airlines, Prudential Insurance Company of America, and more.64

The NEA Foundation also awards grants of up to $5,000 to NEA members  to support professional development and academic achievement.65 Other state teacher associations received over $2 million from NEA, including  those in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsyvlania, Washignton, New Jersey, Texas, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Alabama.66

NEA Advocacy Fund

Also see NEA Advocacy Fund (527 PAC)

The NEA Advocacy Fund is the National Education Association’s 527 political action committee. It was created in 2010, and has received millions of dollars in donations from the NEA, its primary funder. In the 2014 election cycle, the NEA Advocacy Fund received $21.8 million and gave $20.9 million, mostly to other political action committees and the national Democratic Party. In the 2016 election cycle, it raised $18.2 million and spent $18.7 million, mostly on donations to other political action committees and broadcast advertisement.67

People

President

Becky Pringle is the president of the NEA, as of 2022. 68 She previously worked as a middle school teacher, 69 and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania State Education Association before moving to NEA. She spent six years as NEA’s secretary-treasurer before becoming NEA’s vice president, and would be elected as president in 2020. 70 71 72
In 2014, President Barack Obama appointed Pringle to the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans.73 She earns a salary of $371,278.74

Vice President

Princess R. Moss is the vice-president of the NEA as of 2022. 75 Moss previously served as the Secretary-Treasurer of the NEA before being elected to Vice-President in 2020. 76 She is a former president of the Virginia Education Association 77 and in 2006 was appointed by then-Virgina Governor Tim Kaine to work in the Virgina State’s P-16 Education Council. She also served on the Executive Committee of nonprofit organization Foundation for Virginia. 78

Secretary-Treasurer

Noel Candelaria is the Secretary Treasurer of the NEA as of 2022. Elected to his position in 2020, he previously served as both vice-president and later president of the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA), as well as president of the Ysleta Teachers Association (YTA). 79

Executive Director

Kim A. Anderson is the Executive Director of the NEA as of 2022. Elected to her position in 2019, she previously worked at the NEA for over 15 years, including time as senior director of the NEA’s Center for Advocacy & Outreach as well as leading the NEA’s government relations division. 80 Prior to the NEA, she served as executive vice-president of Democracy Alliance, worked as both deputy legislative director and legal counsel to former Virginia Senator Sen. Charles Robb (D-VA), and previously worked for the Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Virginia. 81

References

  1. “About NEA.” NEA. Accessed February 21, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/2580.htm.
  2. “Our Members.” NEA. Accessed February 21, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/1594.htm.
  3. “National Education Association (NEA).” Discover the Networks. Accessed February 21, 2017. http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/printgroupProfile.asp?grpid=7428.
  4. Center for Responsive Politics. “Top Organization Contributors.” OpenSecrets.org. February 8, 2017. Accessed May 15, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?cycle=ALL
  5. Antonucci, Mike. “How Much Does NEA Spend on Politics?” The Greenroom. October 18, 2010. Accessed March 22, 2017. http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2010/10/18/how-much-does-nea-spend-on-politics/
  6. Holcomb, Sabrina. “Answering the Call: The History of NEA, Part 1.” NEA. Accessed February 21, 2017.  http://www.nea.org/home/11608.htm.
  7. Holcomb, Sabrina. “Answering the Call: The History of NEA, Part 2.” NEA. Accessed February 21, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/12172.htm.
  8. Maitland, Christine.” NEA Higher Education: 150 Years and Growing.” Fall 2007. Accessed February 21, 2017. http://www.nea.org/assets/img/PubThoughtAndAction/TAA_07_08.pdf.
  9. “Membership.” Union Facts. November 15, 2016. Accessed February 21, 2017. https://www.unionfacts.com/union/National_Education_Association#membership-tab.
  10. Maitland, Christine.” NEA Higher Education: 150 Years and Growing.” Fall 2007. Accessed February 21, 2017. http://www.nea.org/assets/img/PubThoughtAndAction/TAA_07_08.pdf.
  11. Holcomb, Sabrina. “Answering the Call: The HSitory of NEA, Part 2.” NEA. Accessed February 21, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/12172.htm.
  12. “The Federal Role in Education.” U.S. Department of Education. July 21, 2016. Accessed February 21, 2017. https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/role.html.
  13. Taylor, Suzanne Saunders. Public Employee Retirement Systems: The Structure & Politics of Teacher Pensions. Ithaca, NY: ILR Press. 1986.  “https://books.google.com/books?id=VyvzxY1DYRcC&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false.
  14. Maritza De La Trinidad, “Mexican Americans and the push for culturally relevant education: the bilingual education movement in Tucson, 1958–1969.” History of Education 44#3 (2015): 316-338.
  15. Holcomb, Sabrina. “Answering the Call: The History of NEA, Part 3.” NEA. Accessed February 21, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/12241.htm.
  16. Holcomb, Sabrina. “Answering the Call: The History of NEA, Part 3.” NEA. Accessed February 21, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/12241.htm.
  17. Brown, Emma. “Teachers unions mount campaign against Betsy DeVos, Trump’s education pick.” The Washington Post. January 9, 2017. Accessed February 21, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/teachers-unions-mount-campaign-against-betsy-devos-trumps-education-pick/2017/01/08/1b60f2d2-d452-11e6-a783-cd3fa950f2fd_story.html?utm_term=.d0355c3626ee.
  18. “Basic Information.” Union Facts. November 15, 2016. Accessed February 21, 2017. https://www.unionfacts.com/union/National_Education_Association#basic-tab.
  19. “Leaders & Salaries.” Union Facts. November 15, 2016. Accessed March 16, 2017. https://www.unionfacts.com/union/National_Education_Association#leaders-tab.
  20. “Our Publications.” NEA. Accessed March 16, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/606.htm.
  21. Biddle, RiShawn. “The NEA Pays to Play: Buying Influence With ACORN and Other Leftwing Groups. Capital Research Center. April 11, 2010. Accessed March 30, 2017. https://capitalresearch.org/article/13759/.
  22. “National Education Assn Outside Spending.” Open Secrets, Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/detail/2020?cmte=National+Education+Assn&tab=summary
  23. “National Education Association.” OpenSecrets.org. Accessed April 1 ,2017. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals.php?id=d000000064&cycle=2016
  24. “National Education Association.” OpenSecrets.org. Accessed April 1, 2017. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=d000000064&cycle=2016
  25. “Political Spending.” Union Facts. November 14, 2016. Accessed March 16, 2017. https://www.unionfacts.com/union/National_Education_Association#political-tab.
  26. “National Education Association.” Ballotpedia. Accessed March 16, 2017. https://ballotpedia.org/National_Education_Association.
  27. “National Education Association.” Ballotpedia. Accessed March 16, 2017. https://ballotpedia.org/National_Education_Association.
  28. “Spending Detail: Contributions Gifts Grants.” Union Facts. Accessed March 16, 2017. https://www.unionfacts.com/spending/National_Education_Association/Contributions_Gifts_Grants. and” “Spending Detail: Political Activities Lobbying.” Union Facts. Accessed March 16, 2017. https://www.unionfacts.com/spending/National_Education_Association/Political_Activities_Lobbying.
  29. “Spending Detail: Contributions Gifts Grants.” Union Facts. Accessed March 16, 2017. https://www.unionfacts.com/spending/National_Education_Association/Contributions_Gifts_Grants.
  30. “Spending Detail: Political Activities Lobbying.” Union Facts. Accessed March 16, 2017. https://www.unionfacts.com/spending/National_Education_Association/Political_Activities_Lobbying.
  31. Will, Madeline. “The National Education Association to Establish a Fund for Teacher Strikes.” Education Week. July 09, 2018. Accessed July 12, 2018. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2018/07/nea_teacher_strike_fund.html.
  32. “New Business Item 39.” 2021 NEA Annual Meeting. Accessed July 6, 2021. https://ra.nea.org/business-item/2021-nbi-039/.
  33. “New Business Item 39.” 2021 NEA Annual Meeting. Accessed July 6, 2021. https://ra.nea.org/business-item/2021-nbi-039/.
  34. “About: Zinn Education Project: Teaching People’s History.” Zinn Education Project. Zinn Education Project, June 9, 2021. https://www.zinnedproject.org/about/
  35. “New Business Item 2.” 2021 NEA Annual Meeting, May 20, 2021. https://ra.nea.org/business-item/2021-nbi-002/.
  36. “Who We Are.” Partnership for the Future of Learning, June 29, 2021. https://futureforlearning.org/who-we-are/.
  37. “Truth in Our Classrooms Bridges Divides: A Messaging Guide.” Partnership for the Future of Learning, June 15, 2021. https://futureforlearning.org/2021/06/03/truth-bridges-divides/.
  38. “Truth in Our Classrooms Bridges Divides: A Messaging Guide.” Partnership for the Future of Learning, June 15, 2021. https://futureforlearning.org/2021/06/03/truth-bridges-divides/.
  39. “Truth in Our Classrooms Bridges Divides: A Messaging Guide.” Partnership for the Future of Learning, June 15, 2021. https://futureforlearning.org/2021/06/03/truth-bridges-divides/.
  40. Erickson, Samuel. “Messaging Guidance: Honesty in Education.” We Make The Future. We Make The Future, June 29, 2021. https://www.wemakethefuture.us/resources-docs/messaging-guidance-honesty-in-education.
  41. “National Education Association.” Parents Defending Education. Accessed October 27, 2021. https://defendinged.org/report/national-education-association/.
  42. “NEA.” NEA. Accessed March 24, 2017. http://www.nea.org/.
  43. “Vouchers.” NEA. Accessed March 16, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/16378.htm.
  44. “Charter Schools.” NEA. Accessed March 18, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/16332.htm.
  45. “Child Nutrition.” NEA. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/38649.htm.
  46. “Our Position & Actions.” NEA. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/56614.htm.
  47. “Vouchers.” NEA. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/16378.htm.
  48. “Immigration.” NEA Education Advocacy. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://edadvocacy.nea.org/immigration.
  49. “Affordable Health Care for America.” NEA. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/16326.htm.
  50. “Supreme Court.” NEA Education Advocacy. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://edadvocacy.nea.org/supremecourt.
  51. “Gun Violence Prevention.” NEA Education Advocacy. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://edadvocacy.nea.org/gunviolence.
  52. National Education Association (NEA).” Discover the Network. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/printgroupProfile.asp?grpid=7428.
  53. Nauert, Heather. “NEA 9/11 Lesson Plan Draws Criticism. Fox News.com. August 20, 20002. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://www.foxnews.com/story/2002/08/20/nea-11-lesson-plan-draws-critics.html.
  54. Biddle, RiShawn. “The NEA Pays to Play: Buying Influence With ACORN and Other Leftwing Groups. Capital Research Center. April 11, 2010. Accessed March 19, 2017. https://capitalresearch.org/article/13759/.
  55. Baylor, Chris. “Teachers’ Unions May Not Raise Pay – but They Do Bolster the Democratic Party.” The Washington Post. May 18, 2018. Accessed May 21, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/05/18/teachers-unions-may-not-raise-pay-but-they-do-bolster-the-democratic-party/?utm_term=.84424994dace.
  56. http://www.aaeteachers.org/index.php/blog/415-nea-financial-disclosures-shed-light-on-union-dollars. March 21, 2017
  57. Biddle, RiShawn. “The NEA Pays to Play: Buying Influence With ACORN and Other Leftwing Groups. Capital Research Center. April 11, 2010. Accessed March 19, 2017. https://capitalresearch.org/article/13759/.
  58. “Financial Information.” Union Facts. Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.unionfacts.com/union/National_Education_Association#finance-tab
  59. “Spending Detail: Contributions Gifts Grants.” Union Facts. Accessed March 19, 2017. https://www.unionfacts.com/spending/National_Education_Association/Contributions_Gifts_Grants.
  60. “The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education.” Guidestar. Accessed March 19, 2017. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/23-7035089. March 19. 2017
  61. “About Us.” NEA Foundation. Accessed MArch 19, 2017. http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/about-nea-foundation/.
  62. “Board of Directors.” NEA Foundation. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/nea-foundation-board-of-directors/.
  63. “Board of Directors.” NEA Foundation. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/nea-foundation-board-of-directors/.
  64. “Sponsors.” NEA Foundation. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/sponsors/.
  65. “NEA Foundation Grants.” NEA. Accessed March 19, 2017. http://www.nea.org/grants/52144.htm.
  66. “Spending Detail: Contributions Gifts Grants.” Union Facts. Accessed March 19, 2017. https://www.unionfacts.com/spending/National_Education_Association/Contributions_Gifts_Grants.
  67. Center for Responsive Politics. “NEA Advocacy Fund.” Opensecrets.org. Accessed May 21, 2018. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?cycle=2016&strID=C00489815
  68. “Our President.” National Education Association, Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.nea.org/about-nea/leaders/president
  69. “Vice President, NEA Becky Pringle.” NEA. Accessed March 21, 2017. http://www.nea.org/home/Vice-President-National-Education-Association.html.
  70. Mattera, Julianne. “Former Susquehanna Twp. School District teacher elected vice president of the National Education Association.” Penn Live. July 8, 2014. Accessed March 21, 2017. http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/07/former_susquehanna_twp_school.html.
  71. Walker, Tim. “NEA Elects Pringle, Moss and Candelaria to Leadership.” August 6, 2020. https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/nea-elects-pringle-moss-and-candelaria-leadership
  72. “Our President.” National Education Association, Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.nea.org/about-nea/leaders/president
  73. “President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts.” Obama White House Archives.” July 30, 2014. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/30/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts. March 21, 2017
  74. “Leaders & Salaries.” Union Facts. Accessed March 21, 2017. https://www.unionfacts.com/union/National_Education_Association#leaders-tab.
  75.  “Our Vice President.” National Education Association, Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.nea.org/about-nea/leaders/vice-president
  76. Walker, Tim. “NEA Elects Pringle, Moss and Candelaria to Leadership.” August 6, 2020. https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/nea-elects-pringle-moss-and-candelaria-leadership
  77. “Princess Moss.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 21, 2017. https://www.linkedin.com/in/princess-moss-365004b/.
  78. “Our Vice President.” National Education Association, Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.nea.org/about-nea/leaders/vice-president
  79. “Our Secretary-Treasurer.” National Education Association, Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.nea.org/about-nea/leaders/secretary-treasurer
  80. “Our Executive Director.” National Education Association, Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.nea.org/about-nea/leaders/executive-director
  81. “Our Executive Director.” National Education Association, Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.nea.org/about-nea/leaders/executive-director

Directors, Employees & Supporters

  1. Daaiyah Bilal-Threats
    Special Assistant to the Executive Director, Senior Adviser for Strategic Initatives
  2. Maury Koffman
    Member, Executive Committee
  3. John Stocks
    Executive Director
  4. Lily Eskelsen Garcia
    Former President
  5. Princess R. Moss
    Secretary-Treasurer
  6. Eric Brown
    Member, Executive Committee
  7. Kevin F. Gilbert
    Member, Executive Committee
  8. Shelly Moore Krajacic
    Member, Executive Committee
  9. George Sheridan
    Member, Executive Committee
  10. Hanna Vaandering
    Member, Executive Committee
  11. Kim Anderson
    Executive Director
  12. Denise Cardinal
    Former Senior Press Officer
  13. Cristina Uribe
    Special Assistant to the Executive Director
  14. Dawn Laguens
    Former Consultant
  15. Kevin Mack
    Former Direct Mail Consultant

Associated Organizations

  1. NEA Foundation (Non-profit)

Donation Recipients

  1. 350.org (National) (Non-profit)
  2. Advancement Project (Non-profit)
  3. Tides Advocacy (The Advocacy Fund) (Non-profit)
  4. Alliance for Justice (AFJ) (Non-profit)
  5. Alliance For Justice Action Campaign (AFJAC) (Non-profit)
  6. Alliance for Public Schools Foundation (Non-profit)
  7. Alliance For Youth Action (AFYA) (Non-profit)
  8. America Votes (Non-profit)
  9. American Bridge 21st Century (AB PAC) (Political Party/527)
  10. American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (Non-profit)
  11. Americans United for Change (AUFC) (Non-profit)
  12. Analyst Institute (For-profit)
  13. Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) (Non-profit)
  14. Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (Non-profit)
  15. California Teachers Association (CTA) (Labor Union)
  16. Catalist (For-profit)
  17. Center for American Progress (CAP) (Non-profit)
  18. Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAP Action) (Non-profit)
  19. Center for Economic and Policy Research (Non-profit)
  20. Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) (Non-profit)
  21. Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) (Non-profit)
  22. Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) Action Fund (Non-profit)
  23. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) (Non-profit)
  24. Change Corps (Non-profit)
  25. Change to Win (Labor Union)
  26. Color of Change (Non-profit)
  27. Committee on States (Other Group)
  28. Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (Non-profit)
  29. Congressional Black Caucus Institute (Non-profit)
  30. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (Non-profit)
  31. Convergence Center for Policy Resolution (Non-profit)
  32. Courier Newsroom (Non-profit)
  33. Democracy Alliance (DA) (Other Group)
  34. Economic Policy Institute (EPI) (Non-profit)
  35. Education Law Center (Non-profit)
  36. Emerge America (Political Party/527)
  37. Emerging American Majorities (Non-profit)
  38. For Our Future (PAC) (Political Party/527)
  39. For Our Future Action Fund (Political Party/527)
  40. Fund for the City of New York (Non-profit)
  41. Good Jobs First (Non-profit)
  42. Greater Wisconsin Committee (Political Party/527)
  43. Hip Hop Caucus (Non-profit)
  44. Human Rights Campaign (Non-profit)
  45. Human Rights Campaign Foundation (Non-profit)
  46. AlterNet (For-profit)
  47. Institute for Southern Studies (Non-profit)
  48. iVote (Political Party/527)
  49. Jobs With Justice Education Fund (Non-profit)
  50. Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (Non-profit)
  51. Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR) (Non-profit)
  52. Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) (Non-profit)
  53. Main Street Advocacy Fund (Non-profit)
  54. Majority Forward (Non-profit)
  55. Media Matters for America (Non-profit)
  56. Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) (Non-profit)
  57. MoveOn Civic Action (MoveOn.org) (Non-profit)
  58. NAACP National Voter Fund (Non-profit)
  59. National Center for Fair & Open Testing (Non-profit)
  60. National Consumers League (Non-profit)
  61. Partners for Dignity & Rights (formerly National Economic and Social Rights Initiative) (Non-profit)
  62. National Education Association (NEA) Advocacy Fund (Political Party/527)
  63. National Partnership for Women and Families (NPWF) (Non-profit)
  64. National Public Pension Coalition (Non-profit)
  65. National Redistricting Action Fund (NRAF) (Non-profit)
  66. National Student Legal Defense Network (Non-profit)
  67. National Urban League (Non-profit)
  68. National Women’s Law Center (Non-profit)
  69. NEA Foundation (Non-profit)
  70. NEO Philanthropy (Non-profit)
  71. Netroots Nation (Non-profit)
  72. New Media Ventures (For-profit)
  73. New Venture Fund (NVF) (Non-profit)
  74. New York Communities for Change (NYCC) (Non-profit)
  75. North Carolina Citizens for Protecting Our Schools (Non-profit)
  76. North Star Policy Institute (Non-profit)
  77. Opportunity Institute (Non-profit)
  78. Our Oregon (Non-profit)
  79. Parents Together Action (Non-profit)
  80. Partnership for the Future of Learning (Non-profit)
  81. Partnership for Working Families (Non-profit)
  82. Priorities USA (PAC) (Political Party/527)
  83. Progress Michigan (Non-profit)
  84. Progressive Congress Action Fund (Non-profit)
  85. Progressive (Progressive, Inc) (Non-profit)
  86. Progressive States Network (PSN) (Non-profit)
  87. ProgressNow (Non-profit)
  88. Proteus Action League (PAL) (Non-profit)
  89. Republican Main Street Partnership (Political Party/527)
  90. The Ripon Society (Non-profit)
  91. Sixteen Thirty Fund (1630 Fund) (Non-profit)
  92. State Engagement Fund (Non-profit)
  93. State Innovation Exchange (SIX) (Non-profit)
  94. The Progressive (Non-profit)
  95. UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza) (Non-profit)
  96. Vermont Workers Center (Non-profit)
  97. Voter Participation Center (VPC) (Non-profit)
  98. Voters Not Politicians (VNP) (Non-profit)
  99. Working Washington (Non-profit)
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: August - July
  • Tax Exemption Received: February 1, 1970

  • 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
    2020 Aug Form 990 $396,541,924 $377,104,948 $432,009,050 $54,196,162 Y $342,596 $375,030,303 $4,926,726 $6,060,659
    2019 Aug Form 990 $377,146,115 $356,588,871 $400,792,572 $45,903,742 Y $1,120,169 $368,394,888 $2,569,730 $5,052,879 PDF
    2018 Aug Form 990 $383,753,598 $362,826,779 $394,310,023 $60,569,265 Y $254,602 $373,762,760 $1,365,580 $5,442,284 PDF
    2017 Aug Form 990 $374,448,815 $361,016,729 $357,159,708 $45,330,242 Y $206,409 $370,021,521 $1,070,764 $3,379,832 PDF
    2016 Aug Form 990 $371,634,083 $373,522,773 $361,532,888 $63,336,542 Y $732,501 $365,874,541 $1,514,127 $4,071,451
    2015 Aug Form 990 $370,574,746 $343,367,012 $352,430,175 $53,177,401 Y $1,805,966 $363,210,480 $1,532,010 $3,779,894 PDF
    2013 Aug Form 990 $384,614,427 $341,731,468 $291,465,849 $59,913,796 Y $873,673 $365,275,164 $5,842,718 $3,591,041 PDF
    2012 Aug Form 990 $380,736,797 $356,152,638 $245,774,023 $57,971,286 Y $0 $367,947,057 $964,786 $2,259,385 PDF
    2011 Aug Form 990 $376,500,845 $373,213,782 $219,922,653 $57,453,949 Y $356,491,139 $0 $5,770,341 $4,242,608 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    National Education Association (NEA)

    1201 16th Street, NW
    Washington, DC 20036-3290