Colorado AFL-CIO

What Colorado AFL-CIO does

Colorado AFL-CIO is a state-level, nonprofit labor federation affiliated with the national AFL-CIO, representing more than 130,000 workers through 180 affiliated unions across Colorado. The federation's functional mission is to provide collective bargaining support, legislative and electoral advocacy, organizing assistance for new union formation, and political mobilization on behalf of its affiliated unions and the broader Colorado workforce. It serves both union-represented workers and non-union workers seeking representation, alongside allied community organizations that participate in its coalitions.

Its service portfolio is concentrated in advocacy and training rather than technology products. Core offerings include the Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School (a week-long annual labor education program running since 1956), the Organizing Institute (union organizer training held at IBEW Local 113 in Colorado Springs), Labor Slam (a monthly public-speaking course), annual Legislative Scorecards, a 2026 Voter Guide with electoral endorsements, and member-benefit directories listing union-affiliated plumbers/HVAC providers and print shops. The federation does not develop proprietary technology; its infrastructure is limited to a website (with a Spanish-language version), email newsletter systems, social media accounts across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, Bluesky, and TikTok, and contact-management tools for member outreach.

Colorado AFL-CIO's revenue model is the standard state-federation model: recurring per capita taxes paid by affiliated unions based on their membership counts, supplemented by national AFL-CIO resources and member donations. Distribution is conducted through affiliated union locals, community coalitions (Colorado Workers Rights United, Stronger Denver, People Who Work for a Living, Boulder Area Labor Council), voter guides, and union trade services directories. The leadership team, including President Bryant Preston, Executive Director Dennis Dougherty, Secretary-Treasurer Jeremy Ross, Political and Organizing Director Robert Lindgren, and Young Worker Organizer Len Harris, operates the federation out of its Denver headquarters with training facilities and affiliate offices across Denver, Boulder, Golden, and Colorado Springs.

Name

Colorado AFL-CIO

Legal name

Colorado AFL-CIO

Website

https://coaflcio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Colorado AFL-CIO is a nonprofit state labor federation representing 130,000+ workers across 180 affiliated unions, providing collective bargaining support, legislative advocacy, organizing training, and political mobilization in Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Union Dues and Per Capita Tax: Colorado AFL-CIO generates revenue through per capita taxes paid by affiliated unions based on their membership numbers. The federation also likely receives funding from the national AFL-CIO organization and may engage in fundraising activities from member donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Colorado AFL-CIO is a state-level labor federation that represents more than 130,000 union members across 180 affiliated unions in Colorado. It provides collective bargaining support, legislative and political advocacy, organizing assistance for new union formation, voter guide endorsements, training programs (Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School, Organizing Institute, Labor Slam), and member benefit services such as union trade directories.

Product overview

Colorado AFL-CIO is a labor union federation representing over 130,000 members across 180 affiliated unions. The organization provides a digital platform for advocacy, member services, and political engagement. Core offerings include union organizing support, worker rights advocacy, legislative lobbying, political endorsements, and union member benefits. The organization operates training programs including the Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School (annual week-long education), the Organizing Institute (union organizer training), and Labor Slam (public speaking skills). Member benefits include directories of union-affiliated trade services (plumbing/HVAC and print shops). The organization conducts voter guides, legislative scorecards, and coordinates political campaigns for pro-worker candidates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School Annual week-long labor education program held in Golden, Colorado, offering courses in labor history, law, collective bargaining, communications, steward training, and political engagement for union leaders and activists.
• Labor Slam

Quantifiable outcome

• 83 Colorado workers killed on the job in 2023 (2.8 per 100,000 rate)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• National AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado AFL-CIO is the state-level federation affiliated with the national AFL-CIO, which represents 56 unions and 12.5 million members. The national organization provides resources, research, political coordination, and strategic guidance.
• Colorado Workers Rights UnitedflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition launched November 19, 2024, composed of Colorado workers, union activists, business owners, and grassroots leaders advocating for the Worker Protection Act (SB25-005) to modernize Colorado labor law.
• Stronger DenvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition working on November ballot initiative to secure collective bargaining rights for nearly 10,000 City and County of Denver workers, including trash collectors, social workers, and librarians.
• UFCW Local 7coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado AFL-CIO supported UFCW Local 7 members during the King Soopers strike (February 2025), where over 10,000 grocery workers struck over staffing, wages, and working conditions.
• Actors' Equity Association / IATSE Local 7coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado AFL-CIO supported Casa Bonita workers who unanimously voted to unionize in November 2024, represented by Actors' Equity Association and IATSE Local 7.
• Bell Plumbing and HeatingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnion plumbing and HVAC service provider offering up to 10% discount for union members. Listed in Colorado AFL-CIO Union Trade Services directory.
• Union Print Shops (Artist Proof Collective, Artistic Apparel, C&D Printing, Corazon Printing, Egan Printing, Gamino Printing, JET Print and Mail)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of union-affiliated printing companies listed in the Colorado AFL-CIO Union Trade Services directory, serving union printing needs.
• Community Allies (Working Families Party Colorado, CWA 7777, Coloradans for the Common Good, Colorado Young Democrats, Boulder DSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of community organizations that have joined together in solidarity on issues like HB 1208 resistance and minimum wage advocacy.
• Five Former U.S. Secretaries of LaborflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive former U.S. Secretaries of Labor sent a letter to Governor Polis urging passage of the Worker Protection Act, lending high-profile support to Colorado labor advocacy.
• Towards JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal advocacy organization whose Executive Director David Seligman has partnered with Colorado AFL-CIO on labor law issues including the Worker Protection Act.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New York State AFL-CIO: State-level federation representing over 2.5 million New York union members. Directly comparable in scale and operational scope: legislative lobbying, organizing support, political endorsements, and member-benefit directories mirror Colorado AFL-CIO's structure.
• Pennsylvania AFL-CIO: State-level AFL-CIO federation covering Pennsylvania's unionized workers, with similar organizing, legislative, and political mobilization functions. Operates as a direct structural peer in a different state jurisdiction with comparable affiliated-union federation model.
• Wisconsin AFL-CIO: State-level federation navigating significant right-to-work and collective-bargaining headwinds. Operates with parallel organizing, political mobilization, and affiliated-union coordination functions despite a more challenging political environment than Colorado.
• California Labor Federation (California AFL-CIO): State-level AFL-CIO federation representing over 2 million California workers across affiliated unions. Most directly comparable peer given parallel structure, revenue model (per capita taxes), organizing institute, and legislative advocacy focus at the state level.
• Oregon AFL-CIO: State-level AFL-CIO federation in a neighboring Western state with similar regional labor dynamics, legislative priorities, and affiliated-union mix. Direct comparable peer for state-federation operations in a similar economic and political context.
• Illinois AFL-CIO: State-level federation representing unionized workers across Illinois with parallel organizing, training, and advocacy functions. Direct comparable peer for benchmarking state-federation scale, political effectiveness, and member-services operations.

Broad incumbents

• Change to Win: Alternative labor federation coalition of major unions (SEIU, Teamsters, UFCW) that broke from AFL-CIO in 2005. Represents a competing strategic model for national labor coordination, relevant as Colorado AFL-CIO navigates relationships with affiliates like SEIU and UFCW Local 7 that have Change to Win heritage.
• National Education Association: Largest US labor union with 3 million members operating parallel affiliate-federation structures (state and local). Comparable as a large, established membership organization with similar training, advocacy, and political endorsement functions, though focused on education-sector workers.
• AFL-CIO (national): National parent federation representing 56 unions and 12.5 million members. Colorado AFL-CIO operates as a state-level affiliate within this broader structure, sharing brand, research resources, and political coordination; provides overarching strategic direction to state federations.

Emerging players

• Working Families Party: Pro-labor political organization and coalition partner listed as a Colorado AFL-CIO ally. Represents an emerging model of labor-political coalition building that intersects with traditional federation work on endorsements, voter mobilization, and legislative advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AFLCIOCo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@coloradoafl-cio3046
• Facebookfacebook.com/coloradoaflcio
• Instagraminstagram.com/coloradoaflcio
• TikToktiktok.com/@coloradoaflcio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-afl-cio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Colorado AFL-CIO