Title: National Education Association (NEA) - InfluenceWatch
Headings: National Education Association (NEA)
National Education Association (NEA)
Contents
Organizational Overview
Creation
Early Issue Advocacy
Modern Advocacy
Political Activity
2016 General Election
2012 General Election
Other Political Spending
Teacher Strike Fund
Positions
School Vouchers and Charter Schools
Other Issues
Controversies
9/11 Terrorism
ACORN Donations
Overt Democratic Party Activism
Financial Information
Revenues
State Affiliate Grants
Affiliates
NEA Foundation
NEA Advocacy Fund
People
President
Vice President
Secretary-Treasurer
Executive Director
References
Directors, Employees & Supporters
Associated Organizations
Vendors
Nonprofit Information
Available Filings
Additional Filings (PDFs)

Content: NEA Advocacy Fund (PAC)
NEA Foundation (Nonprofit)
The National Education Association (NEA) is America’s largest labor union representing nearly three million employees, principally teachers. With affiliates in every state across 14,000 communities
[1]
, NEA represents teachers, education support professionals, retired teachers, education faculty and staff, substitute teachers, and administrators. [2]
It exercises enormous political clout in everything from contract negotiations to issue advocacy and lobbying. [3]
The NEA is a major political player, with its associated political action committees contributing nearly $143.5 million to federal candidates and committees—97% of which supported Democrats and liberals—from 1990 through February 2019. [4]
The NEA is also deeply entangled in state and local politics and is a major contributor to left-of-center nonprofit organizations. [5]
Contents
Organizational Overview
Creation
Early Issue Advocacy
Modern Advocacy
Political Activity
2016 General Election
2012 General Election
Other Political Spending
Teacher Strike Fund
Positions
School Vouchers and Charter Schools
Other Issues
Controversies
9/11 Terrorism
ACORN Donations
Overt Democratic Party Activism
Financial Information
Revenues
State Affiliate Grants
Affiliates
NEA Foundation
NEA Advocacy Fund
People
President
Vice President
Secretary-Treasurer
Executive Director
References
Directors, Employees & Supporters
Associated Organizations
Child Organizations
Coalition Memberships
Donation Recipients
Vendors
Form 990 Information
Organizational Overview
Creation
NEA was founded in 1857 as the National Teachers Association (NTA) when 43 educators met in Philadelphia in order to advocate for public education. [6]
It changed its name to the National Education Association in 1870. [7]
Zalmond Richards—founder of Union Academy in Washington, D.C. and a faculty member at Columbian College, now known as George Washington University—became NEA’s first president. [8]
Since then, NEA has grown to represent close to 2.95 million as of 2015, a decline from the union’s peak membership in 2008-2010. [9]
Early Issue Advocacy
NEA has a long history of issue advocacy, beginning with support for the Morrill Act of 1862, which supported land-grant colleges and the creation of public state universities.