Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC
Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC is based in Washington, DC, and is listed as a public charity filing Form 990. The organization’s filing describes its purpose as organizing workers for the economic, moral, and social advancement of their condition and status, and assisting workers with economic support related to strikes and deaths.
Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC at a glance
In short: Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC gave $1.4M across 52 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), top state District of Columbia. 62% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,364,628
- -31.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 52
- -11.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,243
- -22.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $588,183,996
- -3.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 62% first-time grantees (31 of 50, 2025)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (42% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC
- Contact
Mailing address: 501 3Rd Street Nw, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 434-1100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ($250K). Together the top 10 received $779K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($22,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
240 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 197 grants of 240 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing’s grant-dollar distribution was concentrated in Washington, DC (42%) and Maryland (18%), followed by Texas (13%), California (8%), and Michigan (4%). CWA’s website describes Growth Fund activity as serving programs across the union’s districts and sectors.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 52 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC open to new grantees?
62%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 31 of 50 grantees (62%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $19K repeat.
- 20% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $898K (2020) to $2.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 52 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Baltimore, MD | General Support | $250,000 |
| AFA Disaster Relief Fund Washington, DC | General Support | $136,000 |
| Fight for Democracy Houston, TX | General Support | $75,000 |
| Local Progress Policy Action Washington, DC | General Support | $75,000 |
| Jobs to Move America Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $50,250 |
| Economic Policy Institute Washington, DC | General Support | $50,000 |
| Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance AFL-CIO Total Washington, DC | General Support | $40,328 |
| Michigan AFL-CIO Lansing, MI | General Support | $40,000 |
| The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX | General Support | $37,000 |
| 518 C Street NE Inc Washington, DC | General Support | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $588,183,996 | $147,710,670 | $190,828,647 | $1,364,628 | 52 | $18,003,752 |
| 2024 | $610,388,642 | $144,073,543 | $172,941,548 | $1,992,651 | 59 | $20,569,878 |
| 2023 | $618,530,740 | $128,096,234 | $163,538,010 | $1,746,832 | 51 | $13,095,185 |
| 2022 | $663,349,372 | $150,698,127 | $147,970,113 | $1,144,300 | 37 | $30,025,226 |
| 2021 | $715,694,190 | $187,247,584 | $133,187,020 | $1,366,100 | 41 | $44,385,494 |
| 2020 | $641,590,579 | $194,639,907 | $158,183,647 | $897,894 | 29 | $57,300,975 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to organize workers for the economic, moral, and social advancement of their condition and status, and to assist workers by providing economic assistance due to strikes and deaths. Its website describes Growth Fund projects as supporting organizing, legislative and political efforts, education, leadership development, and collaboration with other organizations.
2025 grantees included organizations whose stated missions address civil rights, racial and economic justice, worker organizing, and economic policy. For example, the NAACP describes its mission as advancing equity, political rights, and social inclusion and improving economic security for Black people and people of color. Jobs to Move America describes its work as transforming public spending and corporate behavior through racial and economic justice and community organizing. The Economic Policy Institute says it brings the interests of low- and middle-income workers into economic policy discussions through research, ideas, and partnerships.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, CWA reported 52 grants totaling $1,364,628. Grants ranged from $5,500 to $250,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest reported grants included $250,000 to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for general support; $136,000 to AFA Disaster Relief Fund for general support; $75,000 each to Fight for Democracy and Local Progress Policy Action for general support; and $50,250 to Jobs to Move America for general support.
Other notable 2025 awards included $50,000 to the Economic Policy Institute, $40,328 to the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance AFL-CIO, and $40,000 to Michigan AFL-CIO, all for general support. CWA’s Growth Fund grant request form asks for project goals, milestones, measures of success, expected results at six months and one year, how a project will increase member involvement, and a detailed budget. It also asks about prior Strategic Industry Fund or Defense Fund requests. The form does not state whether requests from outside the union are accepted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Claude Cummings Jr. as president and Ameenah Salaam as secretary-treasurer. Listed vice presidents are Dennis Trainor, District 1; Michael Davis, District 2-13; Richard Honeycutt, District 3; Linda Hinton, District 4; Derrick Osobase, District 6; Susan McAllister, District 7; Frank Arce, District 9; and Lisa Bolton, Telecommunications & Technologies.
Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC is led by Carl Kennebrew, Iue-Cwa Division President on every filing since 2020; 22 of 26 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carl Kennebrew
Iue-Cwa Division President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$169K (2020) → $193K (2025)
Claude Cummings Jr.
President
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$175K (2020) → $247K (2025)
Sara Nelson Borer
President - Afa
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$161K (2020) → $182K (2025)
Elizabeth Allen
Cwa Communications Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$179K (2025)
Carmel Smyth
Director Cwa & Sca Canada
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ameenah Salaam
Secretary - Treasurer
Assistant to President → Secretary - Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$163K (2020) → $226K (2025)
Charles Braico
Vice President - Nabet
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$173K (2020) → $198K (2025)
Dennis Trainor
Vice President - District
Vice President → Vice President - District, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$172K (2020) → $193K (2025)
Frank Arce
Vice President - District
Vice President → Vice President - District, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$64K (2020) → $198K (2025)
Linda L. Hinton
Vice President - District
Vice President → Vice President - District, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$170K (2020) → $194K (2025)
Lisa Bolton
Vice President - Telecommunications & Technologies
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$168K (2020) → $189K (2025)
Margaret Cook
Vice President - Public Health Care & Education
Vice President - Public Health Care & Education → Vice President - Public Healthcare & Education Wor, 2021
Vice President - Public Healthcare & Education Wor → Vice President - Public Health Care & Education, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$69K (2020) → $197K (2025)
Richard Honeycutt
Vice President - District
Vice President → Vice President - District, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$172K (2020) → $196K (2025)
Vera Mikell
At Large Diversity
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Joseph Burns
Afa - Cwa General Counsel
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$190K (2023) → $200K (2025)
Shane Larson
Assistant to President
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$175K (2023) → $186K (2025)
Derrick Osobase
Vice President - District
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$154K (2024) → $196K (2025)
Michael Davis
Vice President - District
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$169K (2024) → $195K (2025)
Sylvia Ramos
Assistant to President
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$179K (2024) → $204K (2025)
Jonathan Schleuss
Vice President - the New Guild
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$197K (2025)
Mary Lou Savage
Senior Benefits Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$228K (2025)
Matthew Holder
General Counsel
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$209K (2025)
Susan McAllister
Vice President - District
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$197K (2025)
Gloria Middleton
At-Large
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keith Gibbs
At-Large
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Reginald Small
At-Large
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Christopher M. Shelton (2020–2024) — President
- Former: Dante Harris (2020–2024) — At-Large -Former -Now Afa Intl S & T
- Former: Edward F. Mooney (2020–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Elizabeth Wilks (2020–2024) — Temp Transitional Support
- Former: Erika White (2020–2024) — At-Large
- Former: Jon Schleuss (2020–2024) — Vice President - the New Guild
- Former: Sara Steffens (2020–2024) — Secretary-Treasurer
- Former: Susie McAllister (2022–2024) — Vice President - District
- Former: Thomas Smith (2024) — Senior Director Organizing
- Former: Brenda Roberts (2020–2023) — Vice President - Retired
- Former: Guerino Calemine III (2020–2023) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Martin O'Hanlon (2020–2023) — Director Cwa & Sca Canada
- Former: Angela Thompson (2023) — General Counsel
- Former: Edward Gilmartin (2020–2022) — Afa - Cwa General Counsel
- Former: Pat Shea (2020–2022) — General Counsel
- Former: Bernard J. Lunzer (2020) — Tng-Cwa President
- Former: Brooks W. Sunkett (2020) — Vice President - Publice, Health Care & Educatio
- Former: Carolyn Wade (2020) — At Large Diversity
- Former: Tom Runnion (2020) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $247K, to Claude Cummings Jr (President). 22 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC
How much does Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC give each year?
Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC gave $1.4M across 52 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.0M across 59 grants.
What is Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC's typical grant size?
Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $26,243, across 52 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC that year got $25K on average.
Where does Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC give grants?
Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC's top state is District of Columbia, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Maryland (18%) and Texas (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (20 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants), Houston, TX (2 grants) and Denver, CO (2 grants).
Does Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (52 of 52) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC's largest grantees?
Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC's largest 2025 grantees include National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ($250,000), AFA Disaster Relief Fund ($136,000) and Fight for Democracy ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($22,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC?
Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC reported $588.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $147.7M.
What does Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to organize workers for the economic, moral, and social advancement of their condition and status, and to assist workers by providing economic assistance due to strikes and deaths. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC?
Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC's EIN?
Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 53-0246709. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Funders that support many of the same organizations
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Total Given
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/communications-workers-of-america-afl-cio-clc-morg_24d8c2c420a84daf8f800c9c2b03aeae
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_530246709_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/communications-workers-of-america-afl-cio-clc-morg_24d8c2c420a84daf8f800c9c2b03aeae},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO CLC down — hundreds of funders to go?