Communications Workers of America logo

Communications Workers of America

WASHINGTON, DC EIN: 53-0246709 Website
HQEconomically disadvantaged peopleWorking poorCommunity and economic developmentEconomic development

Communications Workers of America (CWA) is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States, representing approximately 700,000 members in both the private and public sectors. Based in Washington, DC, CWA operates as a 501(c)(5) labor organization with a parent structure overseeing 733 affiliated local unions and organizations across the country.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$610.4M

-1.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.0M

+15.4% YoY

Grant Count

59

+18.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$34K

-2.2% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

CWA's primary 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.

The organization's work encompasses:

  • Collective bargaining and member representation
  • Organizing workers across communications, media, telecommunications, and public sector industries
  • Workforce development and apprenticeship programs
  • Economic justice and democracy initiatives
  • Civil rights and equity advocacy
  • Health and safety protections
  • Health care and retirement security

Grantmaking

CWA functions primarily as a labor union rather than a traditional grantmaker, but does provide grants and support to aligned organizations and initiatives.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

CWA operates nationally across the United States, with particular activity documented in:

  • Washington, DC (headquarters)
  • California
  • Virginia
  • Kansas City, Missouri
  • Ohio
  • Texas

Grant Distribution by State

26states
+18 more states

States

AlabamaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoDistrict of ColumbiaIowaIllinoisIndianaKentuckyMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMissouriMississippiNorth CarolinaNew JerseyNevadaNew YorkOhioOregonPennsylvaniaTennesseeTexasVirginiaWest Virginia

Cities

AlbanyAlexandriaAugustaAustinBaltimoreBirminghamBostonBrooklynBuffaloCantonCarlisleCharlestonChicagoClevelandCloverdaleColumbusDenverDes MoinesFrankfortGoldsboro

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

  • Total Assets: $610,388,642
  • Total Revenues: $144,073,543
  • Total Expenses: $172,941,548
  • Number of Employees: 627

As of 2023:

  • Total Assets: $619,000,000
  • Total Revenues: $128,096,234
  • Total Expenses: $163,538,010

Grant Distribution:

  • Total giving reported: $8,079,012 (2024)
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$54M$107M$161M$214M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$610,388,642$618,530,740$663,349,372
Revenue$144,073,543$128,096,234$150,698,127
Expenses$172,941,548$163,538,010$147,970,113
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income$20,569,878$13,095,185$30,025,226
Distributable Amount———

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$498K$996K$1M$2M29 grants202041 grants202137 grants202250 grants202359 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

DEVELOPMENT NOW FOR CHIC…$375KONE VOICE INC$100KPROGRESSIVE CAUCUS ACTIO…$100KFEDERAL CONTRACT CALL CE…$82KLOCAL PROGRESS POLICY AC…$75KORGANIZE ACTION INC$75KAMERICAN FEDERATION OF L…$70KCONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUC…$70KDEMOCRACY ALLIANCE$70KKENTUCKY CIVIC ENGAGEMEN…$65K

Grant Size Distribution

207 grants across all recorded years

162<$50K27$50–100K15$100–250K3$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Development Now for Chicago ($375,000), One Voice Inc ($100,000), Progressive Caucus Action Fund ($100,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
DEVELOPMENT NOW FOR CHICAGO CHICAGO, ILGENERAL SUPPORT$375,000
ONE VOICE INC JACKSON, MSGENERAL SUPPORT$100,000
PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS ACTION FUND WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL SUPPORT$100,000
FEDERAL CONTRACT CALL CENTER WORKERS SOLIDARITY FUND HATTIESBURG, MSGENERAL SUPPORT$82,000
LOCAL PROGRESS POLICY ACTION WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL SUPPORT$75,000
ORGANIZE ACTION INC CLOVERDALE, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$75,000
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR AND CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL SUPPORT$70,000
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL SUPPORT$70,000
DEMOCRACY ALLIANCE WASHINGTON, DCANNUAL DUES$70,000
KENTUCKY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TABLE INC LOUISVILLE, KYGENERAL SUPPORT$65,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Ameenah Salaam - Principal Officer
  • Melissa Smith-Kupihea - President, CWA Local 2336 (as of 2024)
  • Terry Garner - Former President, CWA Local 2336

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

CLAUDE CUMMINGS JRPRESIDENT$213KAMEENAH SALAAMSECRETARY - TREASURER$198KJOSEPH BURNSAFA - CWA GENERAL COUNSEL$195KCHARLES BRAICOVICE PRESIDENT - NABET$193KSUSIE MCALLISTERVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 7$193KJON SCHLEUSSVICE PRESIDENT - THE NEW GUILD$192KMARGARET COOKVICE PRESIDENT - PUBLIC HEAL…$192KRICHARD HONEYCUTTVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 3$191KLINDA L HINTONVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 4$190KFRANK ARCEVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 9$189KCARL KENNEBREWIUE-CWA DIVISION PRES.$189KDENNIS TRAINORVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 1$188KLISA BOLTONVICE PRESIDENT - TELECOMMUNI…$184KSHANE LARSONASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT$181KSARA NELSON BORERPRESIDENT - AFA$179KCHRISTOPHER M SHELTONPRESIDENT (UNTIL 07/10/23)$179KSYLVIA RAMOSASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT$179KELIZABETH WILKSTEMP TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT$178KTHOMAS SMITHSR. DIRECTOR ORGANIZING$173KMICHAEL DAVISVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 2-13$169KDERRICK OSOBASEVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 6$154KSARA STEFFENSSECRETARY-TREASURER (UNTIL 0…$143KDANTE HARRISAT-LARGE -FORMER -NOW AFA IN…$143KEDWARD F MOONEYVICE PRESIDENT (UNTIL 07/10/…$128KVERA MIKELLAT LARGE DIVERSITY$4K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
CLAUDE CUMMINGS JRPRESIDENT40$212,639
CHRISTOPHER M SHELTONPRESIDENT (UNTIL 07/10/23)40$178,947
AMEENAH SALAAMSECRETARY - TREASURER40$198,122
SARA STEFFENSSECRETARY-TREASURER (UNTIL 07/10/2023)40$143,345
DENNIS TRAINORVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 140$188,428
MICHAEL DAVISVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 2-1340$169,484
EDWARD F MOONEYVICE PRESIDENT (UNTIL 07/10/23)40$127,902
RICHARD HONEYCUTTVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 340$191,315
LINDA L HINTONVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 440$189,794
DERRICK OSOBASEVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 640$153,772
SUSIE MCALLISTERVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 740$192,712
FRANK ARCEVICE PRESIDENT - DISTRICT 940$189,123
LISA BOLTONVICE PRESIDENT - TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGIES40$183,714
MARGARET COOKVICE PRESIDENT - PUBLIC HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION40$192,112
CHARLES BRAICOVICE PRESIDENT - NABET40$193,039
JON SCHLEUSSVICE PRESIDENT - THE NEW GUILD40$192,480
CARL KENNEBREWIUE-CWA DIVISION PRES.40$188,596
SARA NELSON BORERPRESIDENT - AFA40$179,133
CARMEL SMYTHDIR. CWA/SCA CANADA1—
KEITH GIBBSAT-LARGE1—
VERA MIKELLAT LARGE DIVERSITY1$3,964
ERIKA WHITEAT-LARGE1—
GLORIA MIDDLETONAT-LARGE1—
JOSEPH BURNSAFA - CWA GENERAL COUNSEL40$194,849
SHANE LARSONASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT40$181,076
SYLVIA RAMOSASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT40$178,756
THOMAS SMITHSR. DIRECTOR ORGANIZING40$173,150
ELIZABETH WILKSTEMP TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT40$177,691
DANTE HARRISAT-LARGE -FORMER -NOW AFA INTL S/T1$143,195

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2026

**March 2026:**

Mid-Continent Public Library workers across the Kansas City, Missouri system declared support to form a union with CWA Local 6360

CWA public sector workers helped lift a 1948 ban on public sector collective bargaining in Virginia, opening the door to union contracts for approximately 500,000 public sector workers

Communications Workers of America Awarded Federal Grants for Workforce Development

CWA filed a lawsuit against the FCC over media control issues

D.C. nonprofit workers represented by CWA engaged in strike action for their first contract

**Ongoing Initiatives:**

CWA continues organizing efforts across nonprofit, public sector, and private sector workplaces

Active engagement in legislative advocacy and political action

Workforce development partnerships with community colleges for apprenticeship programs

Communications Workers of America Awarded Federal Grants for Workforce Development

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

HQEconomically disadvantaged peopleWorking poorCommunity and economic developmentEconomic development

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Communications Workers of America fund?

CWA's primary 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. The organization's work encompasses: • Collective bargaining and member representation • Organizing workers across communications, media, telecommunications, and public sector industries • Workforce development and apprenticeship programs • Economic justice and democracy initiatives • Civil r…

How do I apply for a grant from Communications Workers of America?

CWA functions primarily as a labor union rather than a traditional grantmaker, but does provide grants and support to aligned organizations and initiatives. **Recent Grant Activity:** • The Sunrise Project awarded CWA $50,000 for general support (2024) • Urban Institute provided a $34,191 grant sub-award (2024) • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan awarded $6,000 for CWA District 9 Leadership Conference (2024) **Workforce Development Grants:** CWA has received federal grants for workforce development…

Where does Communications Workers of America make grants?

CWA operates nationally across the United States, with particular activity documented in: • Washington, DC (headquarters) • California • Virginia • Kansas City, Missouri • Ohio • Texas

What size grants does Communications Workers of America award?

In 2024, Communications Workers of America awarded 59 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $34K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

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 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Communications Workers of America's focus areas in our free grants database

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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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