American Federation for Children Growth Fund (AFC Growth Fund) is a grantmaking and advocacy organization that that supports school choice in the American educational system. 1
Activities
American Federation for Children Growth Fund advocates for school choice, including through voucher programs, education savings account programs, scholarship tax credit programs, individual tuition tax credits, public charter schools, magnet schools, and other institutions that are not allowed to charge tuition. 2
AFC Growth Fund runs a project called School Choice Facts, which produces defenses of the school choice system. As of 2024, it was showcasing the work of Corey DeAngelis, the national research director of American Federation for Children and the co-editor of School Choice Myths: Setting the Record Straight on Education Freedom (2020). 3
AFC Growth Fund also runs a project called Black Minds Matter, an advocacy group that pushes for the development of more “high-quality” schools for African-American students in the United States. 4
Financials
In 2022, American Federation for Children Growth Fund reported revenue of $10,112,654, expenses of $11,596,217, and net assets of $7,228,221. 5
AFC Growth Fund is associated with three other organizations, all of them political action committees (PACs): American Federation for Children Action Fund, Nebraska Federation for Children PAC, and Texas Federation for Children PAC. It is also formally related to American Federation for Children Inc., a lobbying and advocacy organization. 6
Grantmaking
In 2022, American Federation for Children Growth Fund gave grants to educational organizations, including the Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri ($550,000), EdChoice Kentucky ($100,000), Hoosiers for Quality Education ($120,000), Institute for Quality Education ($325,000), Invest in Education Foundation ($291,662), Iowa Alliance for Children ($20,000), Let Mi Kids Learn ($40,000), Palmetto Promise Institute ($120,000), Parents for Educational Freedom ($350,000), Partners for Educations Freedom ($200,000), SC Opportunity Now ($140,000), School Choice Ohio ($965,000), School Choice Ohio Alliance ($100,000), ScissorTail Community Development Corp ($21,500), and the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy ($65,000). All grants were earmarked for “educational choice efforts” in their respective states. 7
Leadership
As of 2024, William E. Oberndorf was the board chair of the American Federation for Children Growth Fund. Oberndorf is a life trustee of the University of California, San Francico and his wife, Susan Oberndorf, sits on the board of the Environmental Defense Fund. They both are co-presidents of Oberndorf Foundation. 8
As of 2024, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the AFC Growth Fund was Tommy Schultz, who previously was the vice president of communications and marketing for the organization. He previously worked as a spokesman for various political campaigns in New Hampshire, Iowa, and Tennessee as well as in public affairs in and around Washington, D.C. 9
References
- “About.” American Federation for Children Growth Fund. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://afcgrowthfund.org/about.
- “School Choice Programs.” American Federation for Children Growth Fund. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://afcgrowthfund.org/school-choice-programs.
- “School Choice Facts.” School Choice Facts. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://www.schoolchoicefacts.org/.
- “About.” Black Minds Matter. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://www.blackmindsmatter.net/about/.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). American Federation for Children Growth Fund. 2022. Part I, lines 12, 18, 22.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). American Federation for Children Growth Fund. 2022. Schedule R, Part II – Identification of Related Tax-Exempt Organizations.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). American Federation for Children Growth Fund. 2022. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
- “Board – William E. Oberndorf.” AFC Growth Fund. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://afcgrowthfund.org/board-william-e-oberndorf
- “Staff – Tommy Schultz.” American Federation for Children Growth Fund. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://afcgrowthfund.org/staff-tommy-schultz.