Employ America Action Fund (2024)

The Employ America Action Fund is an organization that advocates for legislation, regulations, and government programs to support left-of-center labor-market outcomes. The Employ America Action Fund is the sister organization of Employ America. 1 2

The Employ America Action Fund received $1,000,000 from the Open Philanthropy Project in 2021. 3 In 2020, the Employ America Action Fund gave the Arabella Advisors-managed Sixteen Thirty Fund $46,000 for general purposes. 4 5

History and Leadership

The Employ America Action Fund was founded in 2020. The organization received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service in March 2022. 6 7

Skanda Amarnath is the executive director of the Employ America Action Fund. 8 He is also the executive director of Employ America, Employ America Action Fund’s sister charitable organization. 9 Prior to joining the Employ America groups, Amarnath was vice president at MKP Capital Management. 10

Amarnath has shared posts on his Twitter profile in support of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. He has shared other posts attacking U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). 11

Activities and Funding

The Employ America Action Fund is a left-of-center organization that advocates for legislation, regulations, and government programs to support left-of-center labor market outcomes. The Employ America Action Fund has a resource sharing agreement with its sister group, Employ America, in which the Employ America Action Fund reimburses Employ America for staff time that Employ America employees incur while carrying out programming on Employ America Action Fund-related activities. 12

The Employ America Action Fund supports the development of a government-backed industrial finance corporation, advocates for policies it believes will develop tight labor markets and anti-inflationary policies, and lobbies U.S. Congressional staff on economic legislation, fiscal policy, and Federal Reserve policy. 13

The Employ America Action Fund is a registered lobbying organization 14 and lobbies public officials and the Federal Reserve regarding economic policies and the American labor market. 15 16 The Employ America Action Fund first registered as a lobbying organization in 2020 and was reported to have terminated lobbying activities in 2024. 17 The organization spent $90,000 on lobbying in 2023, $190,000 on lobbying in 2022, and $160,000 on lobbying in 2021. 18

In 2022, the group spent $215,066 on policy advocacy to support tight labor markets. The organization advocated for the establishment of an industrial finance corporation and other issues. 19

In 2023, the Employ America Action Fund co-signed a letter with labor unions including the AFL-CIO, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the Communication Workers of America (CWA), the United Auto Workers (UAW), United Steelworkers (USW), the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), and the AFL-CIO Department for Professional Employees (DPE) in support of efforts to ensure that the Biden administration’s CHIPS Act-funded programs administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce used union labor as a part of their implementation. 20

The Employ America Action Fund is the sister organization of 501(c)(3) Employ America. 21 In 2020, the Employ America Action Fund gave the left-of-center Sixteen Thirty Fund $46,000 for general purposes. 22 23

Funding

The Employ America Action Fund generates its funding from contributions and grants. 24

In 2022, the organization reported revenue of $500,000 and expenses of $306,137. In 2021, the organization reported revenue of $500,000 and expenses of $260,864. 25

The Employ America Action Fund received $1,000,000 from the Open Philanthropy Project in 2021. 26 In 2020, Employ America Action Fund also received $800,000 from the Open Philanthropy Project. 27

References

1. “About.” Employ America Action Fund X Profile. Accessed June 2, 2024. https://x.com/EmployAmericaAF.
2. Meyer, Theodoric. “Brownstein Hyatt hires House Financial Services Committee aide.” Politico. March 2, 2020. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2020/03/02/brownstein-hyatt-hires-house-financial-services-committee-aide-785788.
3. “Employ America Action Fund.” Open Philanthropy. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://www.openphilanthropy.org/grants/employ-america-action-fund-general-support/.
4. “Employ America Action Fund.” Instrumentl. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/employ-america-action-fund.
5. “Employ America Action Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/844385133/202113199349308681/full.
6. “Employ America Action Fund.” Pro Publica. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/844385133.
7. “Notice of Determination.” Department of Treasury. Internal Revenue Service. March 16, 2022. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_84-4385133_EMPLOYAMERICAACTIONFUND_07062021_00.tif.
8. “Employ America Action Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). Part VII.
9. “X Post.” Sam_A_Bell X Profile. Posted June 18, 2021. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://x.com/sam_a_bell/status/1405896045779996682.
10. “About Us.” Employ America. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://www.employamerica.org/about/.
11. “X Profile.” Skanda Amarnath X Profile. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://x.com/IrvingSwisher.
12. Employ America Action Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990.) 2022. Schedule O. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/844385133/202323049349302957/full.
13. “Employ America Action Fund.” Cause IQ. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/employ-america-action-fund,844385133/.
14. Meyer, Theodoric. “Brownstein Hyatt hires House Financial Services Committee aide.” Politico. March 2, 2020. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2020/03/02/brownstein-hyatt-hires-house-financial-services-committee-aide-785788
15. “Employ America Action Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990.) 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/844385133/202323049349302957/full.
16. “Employ America Action Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990.) 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/844385133/202323049349302957/full.
17. Orpysko, Caitlin. “Downtown’s full-court press to seal tax deal.” Politico. January 19, 2024. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2024/01/19/politico-influence-tax-deal-00136682.
18. “Client Profile: Employ America.” Open Secrets. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/hired-firms?cycle=2021&id=D000097138.
19. Employ America Action Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990.) 2022. Part III. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/844385133/202323049349302957/full.
20. “Congressman Dan Goldman Calls for CHIPS and Science Act Funding to Prioritize Union Jobs.” Office of Congressman Dan Goldman. February 13, 2023. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-dan-goldman-calls-chips-and-science-act-funding-prioritize-union.
21. “About.” Employ America Action Fund X Profile. Accessed June 2, 2024. https://x.com/EmployAmericaAF.
22. “Employ America Action Fund.” Instrumentl. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/employ-america-action-fund.
23. “Employ America Action Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/844385133/202113199349308681/full
24. “Employ America Action Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt Form Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/844385133/202323049349302957/full.
25. “Employ America Action Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990.) 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/844385133/202323049349302957/full.
26. “Employ America Action Fund.” Open Philanthropy. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://www.openphilanthropy.org/grants/employ-america-action-fund-general-support/.
27. “Employ America Action Fund.” Instrumentl. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/employ-america-action-fund.