Communications Workers of America
Communications Workers of America (CWA), based in Washington, DC, is a union whose 1,200 chartered local unions represent workers in private- and public-sector jobs across communications and information industries, news media, airlines, public service, higher education, health care, manufacturing, and other fields. Its IRS filing type is listed as a public charity.
Key facts about Communications Workers of America
In short: Communications Workers of America gave $1.4M across 52 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), top state District of Columbia. 66% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 53-0246709
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,364,628
- Grants made (2025)
- 52
- Average grant
- $26,243
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 66% first-time grantees (33 of 50, 2025)
- Total assets
- $588,183,996
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (42% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$588.2M
-3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-31.5% YoY
Grant Count
52
-11.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
-22.3% YoY
Is Communications Workers of America open to new grantees?
66%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 33 of 50 grantees (66%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 18% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
CWA’s stated mission is to organize workers for the economic, moral, and social advancement of their condition and status, and to provide economic assistance related to strikes and deaths. Its Growth Fund supports union-wide programs related to organizing, legislative and political work, education, and leadership development. CWA describes these programs as ways to build power across its districts and sectors and to connect members with organizations working for economic justice and democracy.
The 2025 grantees include organizations with varied missions. Local Progress Policy Action describes its work as advancing a racial and economic justice agenda through local government and building power with underrepresented communities. 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 uses economic research and ideas to bring low- and middle-income workers’ interests into policy discussions and support worker organizing and policy change.
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 listed 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; and $75,000 each to Fight for Democracy and Local Progress Policy Action, also for general support. Other listed awards included $50,250 to Jobs to Move America and $50,000 to the Economic Policy Institute, both for general support.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CWA represents workers across the United States. In 2025, the largest shares of its grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC (42%), Maryland (18%), Texas (13%), California (8%), and Michigan (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 52 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Grant Insights
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.
Grant Size Distribution
239 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 196 grants of 239 (82%).
Giving History
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 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $588,183,996 | $147,710,670 | $190,828,647 | $1,364,628 across 52 grants |
| 2024 | $610,388,642 | $144,073,543 | $172,941,548 | $1,992,651 across 59 grants |
| 2023 | $618,530,740 | $128,096,234 | $163,538,010 | $1,727,425 across 50 grants |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $588,183,996 | $610,388,642 | $618,530,740 |
| Revenue | $147,710,670 | $144,073,543 | $128,096,234 |
| Expenses | $190,828,647 | $172,941,548 | $163,538,010 |
| Net Investment Income | $18,003,752 | $20,569,878 | $13,095,185 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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. Other listed officers are Dennis Trainor, vice president—District 1; Michael Davis, vice president—District 2–13; Richard Honeycutt, vice president—District 3; Linda Hinton, vice president—District 4; Derrick Osobase, vice president—District 6; Susan McAllister, vice president—District 7; Frank Arce, vice president—District 9; and Lisa Bolton, vice president—Telecommunications & Technologies.
Communications Workers of America 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.
Contact
Mailing address: 501 3Rd Street Nw, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 434-1100
Website: https://cwa-union.org
Frequently asked questions about Communications Workers of America
How much does Communications Workers of America give each year?
Communications Workers of America 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's typical grant size?
Communications Workers of America'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 that year got $24K on average.
Where does Communications Workers of America give grants?
Communications Workers of America'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 Dallas, TX (2 grants).
Does Communications Workers of America give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Communications Workers of America'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's largest grantees?
Communications Workers of America'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. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Communications Workers of America?
Communications Workers of America 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 fund?
CWA’s stated mission is to organize workers for the economic, moral, and social advancement of their condition and status, and to provide economic assistance related to strikes and deaths. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Communications Workers of America?
Communications Workers of America has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check cwa-union.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Communications Workers of America's EIN?
Communications Workers of America's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 53-0246709. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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