Executive Compensation at Americans for Prosperity (2019)

Americans For Prosperity (AFP) is a conservative political advocacy committee (PAC) founded in 2004 that is actually two organizations:  AFP, the social welfare organization and therefore a 501 (c) (4), and the Americans For Prosperity Foundation (AFPF), an “educational” organization, a 501 (c) (3).

Both organizations are tax-exempt non-profits with two major differences between them:  donations to AFP are not tax deductible while donations to AFPF are tax deductible; and, as a 501 (c) (4), AFP can engage in more lobbying (businesses and unions can donate unlimited amounts of funds) while AFPF, as a 501 (c) (3) can only engage in a limited amount of lobbying because the organization is considered an educational organization.

There are 6 independent voting members (directors) on the governing body of AFP, 4 of whom are male and 2 of whom are female.

In 2019, AFP raised $54 million (compared to $97 million in 2018), primarily from contributions, gifts, and grants.  Expenses totaled $57 million with most revenue spent on compensation ($27 million), advertising and promotion ($11 million), office-related expenses ($10 million), fees for services ($3 million) and travel and conferences ($6 million).  In other words, most revenue is spent on compensation, advertising, and office-related expenses.

Both organizations operate out of the same address in Arlington, Virginia and appear to share employees. AFP reports on the IRS Form 990 (2019), they have 408 employees who received $27 million in compensation, which equates to an average compensation of $66,000.  75 employees were compensated more than $100,000 with the 11 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $640,078:  Emily Seidel, CEO
• $514,964:  Tim Phillips, President
• $394,851:  Chase Downham, SVP, State Ops and Grassroots Strategy
• $387,933:  Robert Heaton, Former Treasurer
• $365,950:  Brent Gardner, VP, Gov’t Affairs
• $358,221:  Jorge Lima, SVP, Policy
• $309,043:  Daniel Garza, Executive Director
• $296,280:  MacArthur Zimmerman, SVP of Gov’t Affairs
• $293,784:  Victor Bernson, Secretary, VP, and General Counsel
• $275,317:  Slade O’Brien, VP, Grassroots Leadership
• $265,733:  Alex Varban, Treasurer and VP of Finance and Analysis

AFPF reports on the IRS Form 990 (2019) they have 76 employees who received $9 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $118,000.  7 employees were compensated more than $100,000 although 10 are listed because most employees receive compensation from both organizations.  8 of the named employees above are listed along with:

• $199,388:  David Johnson, Sr Director of Training and Cirr Development
• $199,287:  Lindsey Matlock, VP, Strategy and Innovation

The 13 most highly compensated employees received $4.6 million in compensation (from both AFP and AFPF).

AFP paid for first class travel.

IPO, a controlled entity by a substantial contributor, The Seminar Network received $1.8 million in fees paid for media services.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2019) for Americans for Prosperity, click here.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2019) for Americans for Prosperity Foundation, click here.