Massachusetts Afl-cio Scholarship Corp

What Massachusetts Afl-cio Scholarship Corp does

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO (Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Corp) is a nonprofit state labor federation headquartered at 8 Beacon Street, Boston, that serves as the unified voice of organized labor in the Commonwealth and as an advocate for all working people, whether unionized or not. It represents nearly 500,000 members across over 800 local unions and 63 national affiliates, and operates through a President (Chrissy Lynch, succeeding Steven A. Tolman), a Secretary-Treasurer (Kevin Brousseau), four Executive Vice Presidents spanning building trades, public sector, at-large, and industrial/service sectors, and a 19-person management team covering political, legislative, organizing, communications, legal, workforce development, rapid response, and scholarship administration functions.

Its core programs include the 68-year-old Scholarship and Labor Education Program (approximately $500,000 distributed annually, with individual awards of $500-$16,000 and roughly 2,000 students taking the annual labor history exam); workforce development programs operated through its wholly-owned subsidiary Massachusetts AFL-CIO Workforce Development Programs, Inc., spanning 40+ joint apprenticeship training centers, the Tools for the Trades pre-apprenticeship program, and the SkillsBuild six-week pre-apprenticeship; Rapid Response Services partnering with the State to assist laid-off workers; and access to UnionPlus member benefits. The federation's subsidiary structure and 501(c)(3) status underpin its training programs.

The organization is funded through per-capita membership dues passed up from affiliated local unions; revenue is not publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, political education via the Committee on Political Education (COPE), voter registration drives, rallies, and a network of community partners including Community Labor United, Raise Up Massachusetts, Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance, Jobs With Justice, MassCOSH, and 14 other constituency and workers' centers. Marketing channels include a website (massaflcio.org), weekly email newsletter, Facebook/Twitter, events/rallies, and COPE political action programs.

Name

Massachusetts Afl-cio Scholarship Corp

Legal name

Massachusetts AFL-CIO

Website

https://massaflcio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO is a nonprofit state labor federation headquartered in Boston that represents nearly 500,000 members across 800+ local unions, providing collective bargaining, legislative advocacy, workforce development, scholarships, and rapid response services to working families in Massachusetts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Federation

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship, Financial Aid & FAFSA Support (EDAMAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM), Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE)

Keywords

• Labor federation services
• Workforce development programs
• Scholarship administration
• Union member advocacy
• Political education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Malden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Union Membership Dues: The organization is funded through membership dues from affiliated unions representing workers across Massachusetts. Revenue supports legislative advocacy, political action, workforce development programs, and scholarship administration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Corp administers the annual Scholarship and Labor Education Program, which distributes approximately $500,000 in financial awards (individual awards ranging from $500 to $16,000) to Massachusetts high school students pursuing trade union programs or college/university study, now in its 68th year. Beyond scholarships, the affiliated federation delivers Workforce Development Programs including 40+ joint apprenticeship training centers, pre-apprenticeship training, and Rapid Response Services that partner with the State to assist unions and workers experiencing layoffs with job placement, training, counseling, and access to funding programs.

Product overview

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO is a labor federation offering a portfolio of programs and services centered around workforce development and member support. The core offerings include the Scholarship and Labor Education Program (financial awards for students pursuing trade or college study), Workforce Development Programs (apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship training including Tools for the Trades and SkillsBuild), Rapid Response Services (layoff assistance), and UnionPlus Benefits (member discounts on wireless, credit, mortgages, insurance, and travel). These programs work together to support working families through education, job training, and financial benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scholarship and Labor Education Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 joint apprenticeship training centers operated across Massachusetts producing qualified craftspeople
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Climate Jobs MAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2025Executive Director Ryan Murphy joined the JATC tour with Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. The organization works with unions on climate policy and green workforce development.
• Community Labor United (CLU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLU's mission is to move strategic campaigns combining the joint power of community-based organizations and labor unions to protect and promote the interests of low and middle-income working families in the greater Boston area.
• Raise Up MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA grassroots coalition of community organizations, religious groups, and labor unions committed to building an economy that works for all of us.
• Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance (MEJA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA coalition of students, educators, parents, school staff, and concerned community members committed to supporting public schools across the Commonwealth.
• Massachusetts Jobs With JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA coalition of community, faith and labor groups in Massachusetts working together to build unity and support for the struggles of working people.
• Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnites workers, unions and community groups with environmental and health activists to end dangerous work conditions and organize for safe, secure jobs.
• University of Massachusetts Labor CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor over fifty years the UMass system has been home to premiere labor studies programs. Each campus across the state has unique offerings from a full Masters degree for working professionals at Amherst to an undergraduate major at Boston or minor at Lowell.
• Labor GuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated to labor education and training through their school, workshops, forums and conferences. Their mission is to promote a healthy labor-management climate.
• Building PathwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by the Greater Boston Building Trades, Building Pathways is dedicated to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of under-represented groups in the union building trades, including women, people of color, and other under-served communities.
• MassHire Metro South/West Career ConnectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SkillsBuild Pre-Apprenticeship training program for building trades careers.
• Brazilian Workers CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkers' Center that advocates for workers exploited through the underground economy and partners with unions on pro-worker policy.
• Chelsea CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkers' Center that advocates for workers exploited through the underground economy and partners with unions on pro-worker policy.
• Chinese Progressive AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkers' Center that advocates for workers exploited through the underground economy and partners with unions on pro-worker policy.
• Immigrant Workers Center CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkers' Center collaborative that advocates for workers exploited through the underground economy and partners with unions on pro-worker policy.
• A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFL-CIO constituency group that began as an alliance between the civil rights movement and the labor movement. Their mission is to fight for racial equality and economic justice.
• AFL-CIO Union Veterans CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrings working class veterans together to speak out on issues that impact their lives such as the need for good jobs and a strong, fully funded and staffed VA.
• Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe first and only national organization of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) workers. They strive to advance worker, immigrant and civil rights.
• Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrives to improve economic development and employment opportunities for black workers and to provide a voice and vehicle for greater black and minority participation.
• Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormed in 1974, CLUW is a unifying voice for all union women and strives to increase the involvement of all women in their unions and in the legislative and political process.
• Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHas proudly represented the interests of nearly 2 million Latino/a union workers since 1972 and continues to fight for the protection of their families, communities, and workers rights.
• Pride At WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeeks full equality for LGBTQ Workers in workplaces and unions. They work towards creating a labor movement that values diversity, encourages openness, and ensures safety and dignity.
• Alliance for Retired AmericansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2001 the ARA has organized retired union members, seniors, and community activists across the nation to advocate for social and economic justice and full civil rights for all citizens.
• American Labor Studies CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA not-for-profit organization that aligns labor history curricula with state and nationwide education standards as a way to address the erasure of labor history in our education system.
• Jewish Labor CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn independent, secular non-profit which serves to enable the Jewish and organized labor communities to work together in their joint pursuit of economic and social justice.
• New England Laborer's Training TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SkillsBuild Pre-Apprenticeship Programs for building trades career preparation.
• Building Trades Training Directors AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SkillsBuild Pre-Apprenticeship Programs for building trades career preparation.
• Community Works (Western Massachusetts)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdult pre-apprenticeship program in Western Massachusetts for the building/construction trades and transportation/highway.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National SkillsUSA: National nonprofit serving middle-school, high-school, and college students preparing for skilled trades and technical careers. Comparable in administering scholarship competitions, technical skills training, and connecting students to trade apprenticeships.
• National AFL-CIO: The national parent federation of which Massachusetts AFL-CIO is a state affiliate. Directly comparable mission and structure; operates at national scale with 63 affiliates, similar scholarship, workforce development, and political advocacy programs.

Direct peers

• Pennsylvania AFL-CIO: Pennsylvania's state labor federation with similar member base, scholarship programs, workforce development, and political advocacy functions operating across a single state jurisdiction.
• New York State AFL-CIO: Direct state-level peer federation representing unionized workers across New York. Closely comparable in structure, scale, scholarship administration, apprenticeship programs, and legislative advocacy in a similar Northeast political environment.
• Illinois AFL-CIO: Illinois state labor federation offering directly comparable services in legislative advocacy, scholarship administration, and apprenticeship/trade training across Illinois-based affiliates.
• California Labor Federation (State Building & Construction Trades Council): California's state labor federation, comparable in representing hundreds of thousands of union members and affiliates, administering scholarship funds, and operating apprenticeship training programs across the state.
• Ohio AFL-CIO: Ohio's state labor federation with similar structure, scholarship programs, and political mobilization work, though operating in a more politically mixed state environment.

Others

• Raise Up Massachusetts: Core coalition partner of the MA AFL-CIO. A grassroots coalition of community organizations, religious groups, and labor unions working on Massachusetts ballot initiatives; comparable in operating legislative campaigns and member mobilization infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Climate Jobs National Resource Center: National labor-led organization coordinating state-level Climate Jobs coalitions, including Climate Jobs MA. Comparable in mobilizing union apprenticeship pipelines for climate-related construction and green workforce development.

Regional players

• Greater Boston Building Trades: Regional building trades council in greater Boston, Massachusetts, that partners closely with the MA AFL-CIO via Building Pathways. Comparable in operating apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in the building trades, but scoped to construction only.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/massaflcio
• Facebookfacebook.com/MassAFLCIO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/massachusetts-afl-cio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Massachusetts Afl-cio Scholarship Corp