Education Action Group
Education Action Group Foundation (EAG) is a right-wing 501(c)3 nonprofit based out of Muskegon, Michigan that supports taxpayer vouchers to private and religious schools. According to its website, "EAG is a non-partisan non-profit organization with the goal of promoting sensible education reform and exposing those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo."[1]
Contents
Bradley Foundation Funded EAG to Attack Unions
In May 2017, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), publishers of SourceWatch, launched a series of articles on the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. Mary Bottari reported on the Bradley Foundation's internal documents regarding EAG.
“'Education Action Group Foundation has been a partner in the Wisconsin Network for the past five years,' the grant reads. A slide show contained in the Bradley files shows EAGNews 'reporters' with a promotional van emblazoned with giant sign showing the initials of the Wisconsin teachers union WEAC with the “A” turned into an the anarchist symbol. 'Between 2011 and 2014 enrollment in Wisconsin public school dropped by more than 25 percent. Between 2004 and 2013 Milwaukee Public School enrollment dropped by more than 1,000 students annually. Each reduction in enrollment represents a loss of political power for unions and the protectors of the education establishment. As their territory shrinks they become more combative and more intensely focused on retaining what they still have. Teachers recently spent more than seven figures, through various sources, to support a candidate who promised to halt the growth of the School Choice movement... EAG proposes to research and investigate the individual [sic] and organizations in Wisconsin who profit from the education establishment, and the public officials on all levels who do their bidding.' EAG has produced dozens of articles supporting Scott Walker’s Act 10 bill that dismantled public-sector unions in the state and articles delighting at the consequent drop in unionization and lobbying power (EAG, Grant Proposal Record, 6/2/2015)."[2]
Bradley recommended another $75,000 grant for EAG in 2016 for a “study of labor costs” at the University of Wisconsin System (EAG, Grant Proposal Record, 7/27/2016).
| Bradley Files |
|---|
In 2017, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), publishers of SourceWatch, launched a series of articles on the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, exposing the inner-workings of one of America's largest right-wing foundations. 56,000 previously undisclosed documents laid bare the Bradley Foundation's highly politicized agenda. CMD detailed Bradley's efforts to map and measure right wing infrastructure nationwide, including by dismantling and defunding unions to impact state elections; bankrolling discredited spin doctor Richard Berman and his many front groups; and more. |
Funding
In 2012 EAG received $45,000 from the Charles Koch Foundation, and between 2010 and 2012 EAG received $114,000 from DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund, "two funds that have been closely tied to the Kochs but which obscure the percentage of their grants coming from Koch money."[3] (See here for a complete list of DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund grant recipients).
The Bradley Foundation granted the organization $460,000 between 2010 and 2015.[2] (See the complete list of Bradley Foundation grant recipients here). See the 2014 EAG grant proposal here.
Core Financials
2014[4]
- Total Revenue: $378,223
- Total Expenses: $606,002
- Net Assets: $426,178
2013[5]
- Total Revenue: $422,131
- Total Expenses: $763,402
- Net Assets: $647,641
2012[6]
- Total Revenue: $624,557
- Total Expenses: $1,846,154
- Net Assets: 988,912
2011[6]
- Total Revenue: $5,336,615
- Total Expenses: $3,512,287
- Net Assets: $2,210,509
Personnel
Board of Directors
As of EAG's 2014 tax filing:[4]
- Jane Missimer, President
- Garry Olson, Treasurer
- Juan Williams, Director
- Andrew Marcus, Secretary
Staff
As of May 10, 2017:[1]
- Kyle Olson, Founder
- Steve Gunn, Editor-in-Chief
- Victor Skinner, Communications Specialist
- Kelly Olson, Operations Manager
Contact
Employer Identification Number (EIN): 26-0877115
Education Action Group Foundation
950 W. Norton, Suite 202
Muskegon, Michigan 49441
Phone: (231).733.4202
Email: tips@eagnews.org
Website: http://www.eagnews.org
Twitter: @eagnews
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/educationactiongroup
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Education Action Group Foundation, About Us, organizational website, accessed May 10, 2017.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mary Bottari, Bradley Foundation Bankrolls Attacks on Unions, ExposedbyCMD, May 8, 2017.
- ↑ Progress Florida and Center for Media and Democracy, The James Madison Institute and the Foundation for Government Accountability: Lawmaking under the Influence of Very Special Interests, organizational report, November 13, 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Education Action Group Foundation, 2014 IRS Form 990, Internal Revenue Service, November 16, 2015.
- ↑ Education Action Group Foundation, 2013 IRS Form 990, Internal Revenue Service, October 29, 2014.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Education Action Group, 2012 IRS Form 990, Internal Revenue Service, November 14, 2013.
