The A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) is a 501(c)(4) “constituency group” of the AFL-CIO for African-American union members. APRI was founded in 1965, and advocates for the agenda of the AFL-CIO at the state and federal level, using litigation and legislative pressure. ¹

Following the start of the second Trump Administration in 2025, the foundation has helped organize, or was involved with, protests and demonstrations against the Administration as well as its policies and allies.  ²

Background

The A. Philip Randolph Institute is one of six AFL-CIO “constituency groups” — nonprofit organizations directly affiliated (and funded by) the labor union federation that represent specific ethnic and other identity groups within the AFL-CIO. APRI represents African Americans in the AFL-CIO. These constituency groups, including APRI, advocate for pro-union legislation and policy. ¹

The group has a 501(c)(3) affiliate, the A. Philip Randolph Institute Educational Fund. ³

Political Activity

The A. Philip Randolph Institute has previously advocated in favor of voter mobilization and activism in support of labor unions and left-of-center political causes. The left-wing political action committee Democracy in Color, a project of PowerPAC created by Center for American Progress senior fellow Steven Phillips, characterized the North Carolina chapter of APRI among organizations with “proven track records of conducting effective and accountable voter registration and mobilization work” in battleground districts and states. ⁴

On June 11, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute to uphold Ohio’s voter integrity law allowing the state to lawfully remove infrequent voters from its voter rosters. APRI served as the primary respondent in the case, and was supported by a number of left-of-center interest groups. ⁵

In January 2021, APRI and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists issued a joint statement calling President Donald Trump a racist after President Trump allegedly disparaged Haiti, El Salvador, and Africa in an Oval Office meeting. The two groups blamed the United States and other Western nations for the poverty of all three areas. ⁶

In November 2024, APRI opposed H.R. 9495 which would allow the U.S. Department of the Treasury to strip the tax-exempt status of nonprofits that were providing material support to terrorist groups. The group published an appeal on its website from the NewsGuild-CWA which called on its supporters to write to the U.S. Congress to oppose the legislation. The NewsGuild-CWA claimed that the legislation was a threat to its nonprofit members. ⁷

In February 2025, APRI published an attack on the 340B Drug Pricing Program, claiming that the program allowed large pharmacy chains to buy discounted medicines intended for low-income people and mark them up for profit. The group claimed that the number of 340B pharmacies in historically Black, Latino, and low-income areas dropped between 2011 and 2019 and the number of 340B pharmacies increased in wealthier areas. The group demanded reform of the program to ensure that 340B discounts went to low-income patients and not corporate chain pharmacies. ⁸

Second Trump Administration

In March 2025, the A. Philip Randolph Institute posted on its website an effort by members of the Black Women’s Roundtable to organize a “buycott” in support of Costco after the retailer decided to continue its “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) programs. The group seemed to imply that Black customers were giving a boost to Costco’s sales because they decided to keep their DEI programs. ⁹

In April 2025, APRI endorsed the nationwide “Hands Off” protests against President Donald Trump and then-administration Department of Government Efficiency advisor Elon Musk. The group accused the second Trump administration of being engaged in a power grab benefiting the wealthy and that would take away civil rights and cut government services. ²

In May 2025, APRI advocated for its members and supporters to participate in a  Washington, D.C.-based May Day demonstration opposing the Trump Administration. ¹⁰

Funding

The A. Philip Randolph Institute receives much of its funding from the AFL-CIO and its member unions, including the United Auto Workers and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). ¹¹

Between 2005 and 2017, APRI received over $1 million from labor unions, including $715,594 from the AFL-CIO; $243,115 from the SEIU; $64,750 from the United Steelworkers; and $46,620 from the American Federation of Government Employees.¹²

In 2023, APRI received $7,000 from the American Postal Workers Union,  ¹³ $6,600 from the United Mine Workers of America, ¹⁴ $20,000 from the Office and Professional Employees International Union, ¹⁵ $10,000 from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, ¹⁶ $15,000 from the NCTA- The Internet and Television Association, ¹⁷ $10,000 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), ¹⁸ $101,400 plus $28,997 worth of office space from the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), ¹⁹ $15,000 from the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, ²⁰ and other support from local labor union chapters. ²¹

People

President

Clayola Brown is president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute. She is a former vice-president of the AFL-CIO and international vice-president of the Workers United labor union. ²²

Board of Directors

Richard Womack Jr., the vice president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, is the vice chair of the Delaware County Council in Pennsylvania. He also currently serves as an advisor to the president of the AFL-CIO for community and religious affairs. ²³

Mike D. Payne, the other vice president of the APRI, is the secretary-treasurer of the Florida AFL-CIO. ²⁴

Edgar Romney, the secretary of the APRI, is the secretary-treasurer of Workers United SEIU, a vice president of the SEIU, and a board member of Amalgamated Bank. ²⁵

Loretta Johnson, the board treasurer of the APRI, is also vice-president of AFL-CIO, board secretary treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers, and a board member of the BlueGreen Alliance. ²⁶

Fred Redmond, the board chair of the APRI, is the secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO. ²⁷

Financials

According to the A. Philip Randolph Institute’s 2023 tax returns, the group had $555,437 in revenue, $689,825 in expenses, and $-24,395 in net assets. ²⁸

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