A. Philip Randolph Institute

What A. Philip Randolph Institute does

A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) is a 501(c) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1965 by labor and civil-rights icons A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin to advance social, political, and economic justice for Black trade unionists and working Americans. Operating as the senior constituency group of the AFL-CIO, APRI runs a member-driven federation of 109 local chapters across 31 states plus the District of Columbia, supported by 4 national staff and 250+ active volunteers, and shares infrastructure with its sister 501(c)(3) educational fund, the A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund (APREF). Its core programmatic surface consists of the flagship Annual National Education Conference (entering its 55th edition in 2026), regional conferences (Southern, Ohio State, Midwest), and a portfolio of member-benefit and advocacy programs — the APRI Free College Benefit (with Eastern Gateway Community College), the Financial Preparedness Training series (with Amalgamated Bank), the "Everything Health" video series (with Kaiser Permanente), and issue campaigns on voting rights, PBM reform, Medicare, equal pay, and postal services.

APRI does not operate proprietary technology; it composes best-of-breed third-party civic-engagement tools — Action Network for petitions, ActBlue for donations, Cvent for event registration, Mobilize.us and Scale to Win for phone banking and protest mobilization, CivicEngine for voter lookup, and Zoom for webinars — to power voter registration, GOTV, canvassing, phone banking, and education programs. Its revenue model is a hybrid of individual recurring donations (suggested $5/month minimum via ActBlue), conference registration fees, sustaining sponsorships from AFL-CIO affiliate unions (CWA, UFCW, USW, AFT, LIUNA, ILA, UMWA, SEIU, UAW, APWU, Workers United) and corporate partners (Verizon, NCTA, Kaiser Permanente, Amalgamated Bank, Ardelyx), branded merchandise sales, and ad-hoc foundation grants (e.g., $25,000 from PG&E Corporation Foundation in October 2024). Customer segments span Black trade unionists and working Americans (primary), AFL-CIO affiliate unions (sponsor layer), local chapter members and youth volunteers, and members consuming financial/educational/health benefits.

Name

A. Philip Randolph Institute

Legal name

A. Philip Randolph Institute

Website

https://apri.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) is a 501(c) nonprofit advocacy organization and the senior AFL-CIO constituency group, founded in 1965 by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin. It operates 109 chapters across 31 states, mobilizing Black trade unionists and working Americans through voter registration, civic education, and policy advocacy campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Individual donations (Social Justice Action fund): Recurring and one-time individual donations processed through ActBlue to fund APRI's general social justice advocacy. Suggested minimum of US $5/month mentioned as a supporter level.
2. GOTV Education Fund donations: Donations earmarked for voter outreach activities of A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund (APREF), processed through ActBlue's apri-go-vote portal.
3. Conference registration fees: Non-refundable registration fees for the Annual National Education Conference and regional conferences (Southern, Midwest, Ohio State). Fees cover opening reception, pre-reception cocktail, materials, general sessions, and hospitality events; do not cover hotel accommodations.
4. Corporate and union sponsorships: Sustaining and National Conference sponsorships from unions (CWA, UFCW, USW, AFT, LIUNA, ILA, UMWA, Workers United, SEIU, UAW, APWU) and corporate partners (Verizon, NCTA, Amalgamated Bank, ARDELYX, Kaiser Permanente).
5. Conference merchandise sales: Branded merchandise such as the 2026 APRI National Education Conference T-shirts (pre-sale $35 single / $100 for 4 shirts).
6. Giving Tuesday annual fundraising push: Coordinated year-end fundraising drive leveraging the GivingTuesday movement every December.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization and the senior constituency group of the AFL-CIO that fights for racial equality and economic justice for Black trade unionists and working Americans. It delivers voter registration and GOTV mobilization, political and civic education, an annual National Education Conference plus regional conferences, member-benefit programs (Free College Benefit, Financial Preparedness Training, Everything Health series), and advocacy campaigns on voting rights, healthcare, labor, and civil rights, all coordinated through 109 chapters across 31 states.

Product overview

A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) is a single unified advocacy organization — not a software platform — composed of an interconnected suite of programs, events, and member-facing initiatives rather than modular SaaS products. Its "core" offering is the national membership-and-chapter network (109 chapters across 31 states plus 6 AFL-CIO constituency-group partners: APALA, CBTU, CLUW, LCLAA, PAW), under which a portfolio of named programs and annual events operate as add-on modules: the flagship Annual National Education Conference (most recently the 55th, "Rooted in Legacy… Rising in Power," New Orleans, July 22–26, 2026) along with the regional Southern Region Conference, Ohio State Education Conference, and Midwest Conference; member-benefit programs including the APRI Free College Benefit (with Eastern Gateway Community College), the Financial Preparedness Training Series (with Amalgamated Bank), and the "Everything Health" video series (presented by Kaiser Permanente); the 501(c)(3) A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund (APREF) and its online education portal; advocacy campaigns such as the PBM Reform petition, the Louisiana v Callais Voter Rights Mobilization Hub, the "No Contract, No Coffee" Starbucks Workers solidarity campaign, and the GOTV DJ Mix Show Series; and a Volunteer Program and personalized Voter Information / ballot-lookup service (powered by CivicEngine). Petition, donation, event registration, phone-banking, and video-conferencing workflows are delivered through embedded third-party services (ActionNetwork, ActBlue, Cvent, Mobilize.us, Scale to Win, Zoom, CivicEngine).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• APREF (A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund): A nonprofit C3 organization established to support the voter outreach activities and goals of APRI, including voting rights, labor rights training, and community organizing educational programs.

Products and services

• APRI National Education Conference (Annual) Multi-day national convening of APRI members and labor allies featuring keynote plenaries, political and health panels, GOTV/canvass day, regional meetings, workshops, and galas; registration via Cvent.
• APRI Southern Region Education Conference (Annual)

Quantifiable outcome

• 109 chapters across 31 states
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, moderate and minor.

• AFL-CIOflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPRI is one of the six official AFL-CIO constituency groups (alongside APALA, CBTU, CLUW, LCLAA, Pride At Work) and the Senior Constituency Group. APRI's national headquarters is housed in the AFL-CIO building at 815 16th Street, NW, Washington DC. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler sends greetings at APRI's annual conferences; APRI President Clayola Brown serves as Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnership and Racial Justice at AFL-CIO.
• Eastern Gateway Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner offering APRI members the opportunity to earn an online degree from an accredited school with no out-of-pocket expense, through the APRI Free College Benefit.
• Kaiser PermanentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting sponsor of APRI's 'Everything Health' educational program. Kaiser Permanente CEO Gregory Adams participated in a fireside chat with APRI President Clayola Brown at the 2024 National Education Conference Health Symposium.
• Starbucks Workers UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPRI publicly supports 12,000+ unionized Starbucks baristas in their fight for a first contract; promotes the 'No Contract, No Coffee' pledge to refuse crossing picket lines, and amplifies Starbucks Workers United campaigns through APRI's newsletters and social channels.
• Alliance for Retired AmericansmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPRI cross-publishes statements from the Alliance for Retired Americans defending Social Security against cuts. Richard Fiesta (Executive Director, ARA) was a featured speaker at APRI's 2024 conference Retirees workshop.
• Action NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationAPRI uses Action Network as its petition and advocacy platform, powering campaigns including Defend Non-Profit Workers (H.R. 9495), Restore the Voting Rights Act, Expand Medicare, Equal Pay, PBM Reform, and Postal Service petitions.
• Scale to WinmoderateTechnology or IntegrationPhone banking platform used by APRI for member-driven outreach campaigns, including North Carolina phone banks targeting congressional districts on government shutdown, healthcare, and government workers funding.
• Mobilize.usmoderateTechnology or IntegrationEvent mobilization platform used to coordinate nationwide protest participation, including the April 5, 2025 'Hands Off' demonstrations across 1,000+ cities.
• NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPRI partners with NAACP LDF on voting rights advocacy; LDF provides the Louisiana v. Callais case summary, toolkit, and livestream for APRI chapter watch parties, and APRI promotes LDF resources across its network.
• Black Voters Matter / BVMmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerAPRI co-promotes Black Voters Matter campaigns, including the BVM & Fair Fight report on Louisiana v. Callais. Cliff Albright (Co-founder of Black Voters Matter) was a featured speaker at APRI's 2024 National Conference healthcare luncheon and political panel.
• National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) / Black Women's RoundtablemoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerMelanie Campbell, CEO of NCBCP, moderated the 2024 APRI National Education Conference political panel; APRI featured BWR's Costco buycott in its advocacy posts.
• Hands Off coalitionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAPRI is a participating partner in the nationwide 'Hands Off' protest movement (April 5, 2025) coordinated through Mobilize.us, with 1,000+ events across US cities opposing Trump administration policies.
• ArdelyxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiopharmaceutical sponsor of APRI's 2024 National Education Conference Board & President's Luncheon, with featured speaker Dr. Laura Williams (Chief Medical Officer).
• CostcominorGTM or Marketing PartnerAPRI promoted the Black Women's Roundtable Costco buycott (March 2025) as an example of socially conscious spending in support of corporations maintaining DEI programs.
• Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister AFL-CIO constituency group; coordinate on shared diversity and racial justice initiatives within the labor movement. Listed contact: 202.974.8051.
• Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister AFL-CIO constituency group representing Black trade unionists; APRI and CBTU coordinate on Black-labor coalition building. Listed contact: 202.429.1203.
• Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister AFL-CIO constituency group; CLUW co-sponsors APRI programming on women's labor rights and equal pay. Listed contact: 202.508.6969.
• Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister AFL-CIO constituency group; LCLAA partnered with APRI youth LEAD squad on the 2024 Broward County canvassing day. Listed contact: 202.508.6919.
• Pride At WorkmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister AFL-CIO constituency group; APRI chapter 'Bayard Rustin LGBTQ of N.C.' reflects the longstanding partnership. Listed contact: 202.637.5085.
• World Heart FederationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAPRI promoted the World Heart Federation's first global petition on cardiovascular disease in September 2024, aiming for 1 million+ signatures.
• Communications Workers of America (CWA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSustaining and National Conference sponsor; CWA logo displayed prominently on APRI homepage. The NewsGuild-CWA is also a partner on nonprofit worker advocacy (H.R. 9495).
• VerizonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor displayed on APRI homepage alongside other national conference sponsors.
• National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor displayed on APRI homepage alongside other national conference sponsors.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: Major civil-rights and economic-empowerment organization with an explicit focus on Black workers, education, and health. Overlaps with APRI's economic-justice and workforce agenda but operates more as a direct-service and policy institution with regional affiliates rather than a labor federation.
• National Action Network: Established civil-rights organization with overlapping policy positions on voting rights, economic justice, and racial equality. Operates broader national advocacy scope and chapter network with comparable voter-registration programming.
• NAACP: Larger, established civil-rights organization that overlaps with APRI on voting rights, economic justice, and racial-equality advocacy. NAACP operates at significantly larger scale and broader issue scope but targets a similar Black-American constituency.

Direct peers

• Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU): Sister AFL-CIO constituency group representing Black trade unionists; coordinates directly with APRI on Black-labor coalition building, GOTV, and civil-rights advocacy. Same institutional home, same mission focus on Black workers, same donor base.
• Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW): AFL-CIO constituency group focused on women in the labor movement; co-sponsors APRI programming on equal pay and women's labor rights. Same constituency-group structure, comparable advocacy focus and chapter network.
• Pride At Work: AFL-CIO constituency group for LGBTQ+ workers; APRI's 'Bayard Rustin LGBTQ of N.C.' chapter reflects the longstanding partnership. Same federated-constituency structure and labor-aligned advocacy orientation.
• Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA): Fellow AFL-CIO constituency group, also housed in the AFL-CIO building, coordinating with APRI on shared diversity and racial-justice initiatives. Comparable scale, structure, and federated chapter model.
• Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA): AFL-CIO constituency group that partnered with APRI's youth LEAD squad on the 2024 Broward County canvassing day. Operates under the same AFL-CIO federation model with a parallel chapter structure and community-labor mission.

Emerging players

• National Coalition on Black Civic Participation / Black Women's Roundtable: Partner organization that co-promotes Black voter mobilization with APRI; NCBCP CEO Melanie Campbell moderated APRI's 2024 political panel. Similar voter-engagement and GOTV focus but a distinct organizational model centered on Black women civic leaders.
• Black Voters Matter: Civic-engagement organization that APRI co-promotes on voting-rights campaigns; founder Cliff Albright was a featured speaker at APRI's 2024 conference. Highly comparable voter-mobilization mission targeting Southern and Black communities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=AMZ3cv3WZXM
• Facebookfacebook.com/a.philiprandolphinstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/pittsburghapri
• Xx.com/APRI_National
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-philip-randolph-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about A. Philip Randolph Institute