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

1.      “Who We Are”. 2021. Progressive Maryland Education Fund. Accessed February 8. https://pmef.org/who-we-are/.
2.    “Our Network”. 2021. EARN. Accessed February 8. https://earn.us/directory/.
3. “Institute Member Organizations”. 2021. People’s Action. Accessed February 8. https://peoplesaction.org/institute/institute-members/.
4. “Staff Directory & Contacts”. 2021. Progressive Maryland. Accessed February 8. https://www.progressivemaryland.org/theteam.
5.          “Staff Directory & Contacts”. 2021. Progressive Maryland. Accessed February 8. https://www.progressivemaryland.org/theteam.
6. “Who We Are”. 2021. Progressive Maryland Education Fund. Accessed February 8. https://pmef.org/who-we-are/.
7. Form 990. 2018. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2018/030/401/2018-030401249-16992003-9.pdf.
8. “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.