Executive Compensation at Americans For Prosperity (2022)

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 3 voting members (directors) on the governing body of AFP, one of whom is independent.  All 3 directors are male.

In 2022, AFP raised $112 million (compared to $114 million in 2021), primarily from contributions, gifts, and grants from related organizations.  Expenses totaled $136 million with most revenue spent on compensation ($42 million), advertising and promotion ($36 million), office-related expenses ($13 million), fees for services ($32 million) and travel and conferences ($13 million).  In other words, most revenue is spent on compensation, advertising, and fees for services (primarily consultants).

Both organizations operate out of the same address in Arlington, Virginia and appear to share employees. AFP reports on the IRS Form 990 (2022), they have 430 employees who received $42 million in compensation, which equates to an average compensation of $98,000.  105 employees were compensated more than $100,000 with the 10 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $839,745:  Emily Seidel, CEO 
• $665,639:  Jeff Ogar, Secretary/Director *
• $425,130:  Jorge Lima, SVP, Policy*
• $420,337:  Brent Gardner, VP, Gov’t Affairs
• $357,116:  Chase Downham, SVP, State Ops and Grassroots Strategy*
• $339,503:  Daniel Garza, Executive Director*
• $310,348:  Christopher Hudson, VP, Gov’t Affairs
• $300,000:  Mark Holden, Chairman
• $279,668:  Nathan Nascimento, EVP, Electoral Strategy
• $227,850:  Rob Jentgens, Treasurer

AFPF reports on the IRS Form 990 (2022) they have 8 employees who received $3.7 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $463,000.  7 employees were compensated more than $100,000 although 10 are listed because most employees receive compensation from both organizations.  5 of the named employees above are listed along with:

• $252,611:  Cynthia Crawford, Senior Policy Counsel
• $242,140:  Lee Steven, Senior Policy Counsel
• $224,735:  James Valvo, Chief Policy Counsel
• $207,680:  Eric. Bolinder, Managing Policy Counsel
• $185,780:  Ryan Mulvey, Policy Counsel

It is unclear how AFPF reported $3.7 million in compensation for 8 employees given that the 5 most highly compensated listed above received $1.1 million.

An unnamed entity related to a substantial contributor received $31 million in fees paid for media services. This entity appears to be Stand Together Communications, based in Arlington, VA.

Jeff Ogar, Rób Jentgens, and Mark Holden have a business relationship (no detail provided).

31 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 5 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $31 million:  Stand Together Communications, of Arlington, VA for media services
• $21 million:  360 LLC, of Arlington, VA for data services
• $ 5 million:  Talentwave, of Denver, CO for temp services
• $ 3 million:  People Who Think, of Mandeville, LA for printing
• $ 2 million: Stampede America, of Key Largo, FL for grassroots training

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022) for Americans for Prosperity, click here.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022) for Americans for Prosperity Foundation, click here.