Colorado Education Association

What Colorado Education Association does

The Colorado Education Association (CEA) is a nonprofit labor union founded in 1875 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, representing nearly 40,000 K-12 teachers, education support professionals, higher education staff, retired educators, and aspiring educators across the state. It is the 12th largest state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA) and Colorado's largest educator union, organized into 200 local associations grouped under 18 geographic UniServ Units with regional field offices.

CEA's core offerings include collective bargaining representation, legal services and Educators' Employment Liability insurance, professional development through the COpilot online learning platform (with graduate credit pathways via Adams State University and a peer social network called COnnect), the myCEA mobile application for iOS and Android, the quarterly CEA Journal, mental health support programs partnered with the University of Colorado, and member discounts through NEA Member Benefits. Marketing and advocacy run through a multi-channel digital presence (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), the FastAction digital advocacy tool, weekly Lobby Days at the state capitol, and events such as Delegate Assembly and the Summer Leadership Conference.

The organization is funded entirely through recurring membership dues (specific amounts not publicly disclosed), with revenue also flowing from portions of state and NEA dues rebated to local UniServ Units. Its positioning emphasizes collective bargaining outcomes (educators with CBAs earn 30% more than peers without), higher health insurance and pension coverage rates, and legislative advocacy on education funding in a state identified as underfunding students by roughly $4,000-$4,500 per child annually under TABOR restrictions. The current President is Kevin Vick (elected 2024); the Executive Director position is presently vacant.

Name

Colorado Education Association

Legal name

Colorado Education Association

Website

https://coloradoea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1875

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Colorado Education Association is Colorado's largest educator union, founded in 1875, representing nearly 40,000 K-12 teachers, support professionals, higher education staff, and retirees across 200 locals and 18 UniServ units through collective bargaining, legal services, professional development, and legislative advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CEA generates revenue through membership dues from nearly 40,000 educators across Colorado. Dues fund union operations, staff salaries, UniServ offices, professional development programs, legal services, and political advocacy. Revenue also includes portions returned from state and national (NEA) dues to local UniServ Units.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Colorado Education Association is a labor union that represents approximately 40,000 K-12 educators, education support professionals, and higher education faculty in Colorado. It provides collective bargaining representation, legal services, legislative advocacy, professional development, and member benefit programs through 200 local associations and 18 UniServ Units, operating as the state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA).

Product overview

The Colorado Education Association (CEA) is Colorado's largest education union representing nearly 40,000 educators. Rather than a traditional tech product company, CEA offers a suite of member services and digital platforms including the myCEA mobile app for iOS and Android, the COpilot online professional development platform with social networking features, the CEA Journal quarterly publication, legal services with attorney referral programs, and various member benefits through NEA Member Benefits. These products work together to support educators through advocacy, professional development, legal protection, and community connection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COpilot: CEA's innovative online learning platform that delivers relevant resources to give educators a professional edge, with courses taught by educators for educators.
• myCEA

Products and services

• myCEA App

Quantifiable outcome

• Educators with collective bargaining agreements earn 30% more than peers in districts without CBAs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• National Education Association (NEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEA is the state affiliate of the National Education Association, America's oldest and largest organization dedicated to advancing public education. Founded in 1857, NEA has more than three million members. CEA is the 12th largest NEA affiliate. The partnership provides members access to NEA Member Benefits programs, professional development resources, legal services, and national advocacy representation.
• University of ColoradomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEA partners with the University of Colorado on the Colorado Educator Mental Health and Support Services program, offering free educators group therapy sessions, workshops, individual support sessions, and online programs for members.
• Adams State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOpilot professional development courses allow educators to earn graduate credits through Adams State University partnership. This enables members to pursue advanced degrees and professional credentials through CEA's online learning platform.
• California CasualtyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance provider offering auto and home insurance with educator-specific benefits and exceptional service. California Casualty provides CEA members with discounted insurance products designed specifically for educators.
• Colorado Fund for Children and Public Education (FUND)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe FUND is comprised of dedicated CEA members elected to serve on the board. The board interviews and evaluates candidates for CEA political endorsements, ensuring they align with CEA values and commitment to improving public education. Ballot measure positions are made by the CEA board with recommendations from the FUND.
• Colorado Rapid Response NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA network of concerned groups and volunteers who shine light on potential injustice and create space for change. CEA partners to provide Know Your Rights Red Cards and immigration support resources to members and immigrant families.
• Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide membership-based coalition of immigrant, labor, interfaith, youth and ally organizations founded in 2002 to improve lives of immigrants and refugees. CIRC provides family preparedness packets and Colorado-specific protections for CEA members.
• National Education Association (NEA) - Immigration ResourcesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEA provides immigration guidance booklet covering immigration and schools, safe zone policies, educator advocacy, mass raids FAQ, Know Your Rights guide, DACA updates, and sample board resolutions. CEA distributes these resources to members.
• Learning for Justice (Southern Poverty Law Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource hub for educators providing ready-to-use classroom lessons, multi-media library materials, learning plans, and film kits. CEA recommends these resources for teaching LGBTQ+ rights, Black history, and social justice topics.
• The Trevor ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention organization providing resources for talking about suicide, warning signs identification, and guides for being an ally to transgender and nonbinary students. CEA references these resources for supporting LGBTQ+ educators and students.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Education Minnesota: NEA state affiliate representing Minnesota educators. Operates under the same national framework as CEA with locals, UniServ offices, and member-service programs.
• Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA): NEA state affiliate in Pennsylvania with comparable mission, structure, and service mix including UniServ offices, legal services, professional development, and political advocacy.
• American Federation of Teachers (AFT): The competing national teachers' union. AFT and NEA/CEA represent the two main labor organizations for U.S. educators, with overlapping membership services and political missions.
• Illinois Education Association (IEA): NEA state affiliate in Illinois with similar structure, representing K-12 teachers, ESPs, and higher-ed staff. Operates UniServ offices and delivers parallel member benefits.
• Florida Education Association (FEA): NEA state affiliate in Florida representing educators with collective bargaining and advocacy functions comparable to CEA's Colorado operations.
• California Teachers Association (CTA): Large NEA state affiliate with comparable structure (state-level union, locals, UniServ-equivalent offices) and similar member-service offerings including professional development and political advocacy.
• New York State United Teachers (NYSUT): Major state affiliate union representing educators in New York. Comparable operating model: collective bargaining, professional development, legal services, and political action.

Broad incumbents

• National Education Association (NEA): CEA's national affiliate and parent organization with 3M+ members. NEA provides the umbrella infrastructure, member benefits, and national advocacy that CEA delivers at the state level.

Regional players

• Texas AFT: AFT state affiliate in Texas serving educators with collective bargaining, advocacy, and member services; serves as the AFT-side counterpart to CEA's NEA affiliation in another large state.
• United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA): Large AFT local affiliate in Los Angeles; operates at city scale rather than state but offers directly comparable services (bargaining, professional development, member benefits, political action).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ColoradoEA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ColoradoEA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ColoradoEA
• Instagraminstagram.com/coloradoea
• TikToktiktok.com/@coloradoea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coloradoea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Colorado Education Association