Progressive Maryland Education Fund is a left-of-center nonprofit organization that lobbies in support of left-of-center legislation and engages in community organizing in Maryland. It is the educational sister organization of Progressive Maryland.
The organization has supported the passage of left-progressive legislation in Maryland, including measures that raised the state minimum wage to $15 an hour, implemented a universal paid sick leave mandate, created left-of-center criminal justice policies, and restricted campaign financing in three Maryland counties. 1
The organization is a member of the Economic Analysis and Research Network, a left-of-center umbrella group for pro-organized labor research organizations. 2 It is also a member of the People’s Action Institute, the educational arm of the left-wing community organizing group People’s Action. 3
Leadership
Larry Stafford Jr. is the executive director of the Progressive Maryland Education Fund. He has been the executive director since 2015. Previously, he was a staffer for the controversial, now-defunct voter outreach organization ACORN. He also works as the head of Progressive Maryland, the associated lobbying arm of Progressive Maryland Education Fund. 4
Jennifer Mendes Dwyer is the deputy executive director of the organization. She has been working for the organization since 2016. Before joining the organization, she worked to prevent a Walmart store from opening in her town. 5 Nikki MG Cole is the Progressive Maryland Education Fund organizing director. Elizabeth Mackenzie is the director of legislative organizing. 6
Financials
In 2018, the organization generated $359,569 in revenue and spent $334,940. 7
The Fund accepted a grant of an undisclosed amount from the Greater Washington Community Foundation to assist low-income people in completing the 2020 Census. 8
References
- “Who We Are”. 2021. Progressive Maryland Education Fund. Accessed February 8. https://pmef.org/who-we-are/.
- “Our Network”. 2021. EARN. Accessed February 8. https://earn.us/directory/.
- “Institute Member Organizations”. 2021. People’s Action. Accessed February 8. https://peoplesaction.org/institute/institute-members/.
- “Staff Directory & Contacts”. 2021. Progressive Maryland. Accessed February 8. https://www.progressivemaryland.org/theteam.
- “Staff Directory & Contacts”. 2021. Progressive Maryland. Accessed February 8. https://www.progressivemaryland.org/theteam.
- “Who We Are”. 2021. Progressive Maryland Education Fund. Accessed February 8. https://pmef.org/who-we-are/.
- Form 990. 2018. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2018/030/401/2018-030401249-16992003-9.pdf.
- “Ensuring An Equitable Future For Our Region Through A Fair And Accurate Census Count”. 2019. Greater Washington Community Foundation. https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/news/census-count-grants.