Illinois Federation of Teachers underfunds teachers, props up own officers

The Illinois Federation of Teachers represents educators in 200 districts in Illinois. But just 26% of its spending in 2024 was on “representational activities” – what should be its core focus.

Educators in Illinois spend hundreds of dollars a year – or more – in teacher union dues. But those dues don’t stay local. Most of the money goes to the local union’s state and national affiliates, where the money is not spent on representing teachers.

Case in point: just 26% of Illinois Federation of Teachers’ spending in 2024 was on representing teachers, according to a report the union filed last month with the U.S. Department of Labor.

IFT is the state affiliate for at least 200 districts across Illinois. From Century Community Unit School District 100 in the southern tip of Illinois to Chicago Public Schools in the north, teachers send union dues up the chain to IFT, expecting the union has their backs. But the union’s own records indicate that’s not true.

Below is what teachers should know about IFT’s admitted expenditures – including its nearly $1.1 million political spending in 2024 and the six-figure salaries it funnels to its own officers and employees.

Just 26% of IFT’s spending was on representing teachers in 2024

IFT’s most recent report shows it spent little last year on “representational activities,” which should be the main focus of a union. The U.S. Department of Labor defines representational activities as including the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement and the administration and enforcement of the resulting contract.

IFT spent a total of $50.2 million in 2024. Of that, just $12.9 million was on representing teachers. That’s just 26% of its total spending, down from the 28% it spent in 2023.

The rest was spent on politics, administration and other union leadership priorities.

To put this in perspective, the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance states at least 65% of a nonprofit’s total expenses should be used for program activities.

While the Wise Giving Alliance evaluates spending by charities, it stands to reason IFT’s spending of just 26% on representation – the purpose of a union – should be a cause for concern among members.

IFT spent nearly $1.1 million on politics in 2024

IFT spent more than $1,062,000 on political activities and lobbying in in 2024, up from the $1,055,000 it spent in 2023. That’s the most the union has spent on politics in the past 10 years and its fifth largest amount on record.

But not all of IFT’s political spending was itemized in its report. For example, more than $942,000 went to officer and employee salaries for their political work and lobbying. Members have no way of knowing on what causes or candidate campaigns those employees were working.

In addition, the reported political spending does not include more than $154,000 in other “contributions, gifts and grants,” which also can be political in nature. For example, it donated $15,000 to Equality Illinois, an organization that works to defeat bills limiting girls’ sports to biological females, an issue that has been polarizing to many Illinoisans.

Regardless of a member’s personal leanings, IFT’s politically motivated spending runs counter to the organization’s purpose of representing teachers on core wage and educational issues.

Nearly half of IFT employees made over $100,000 in 2024

IFT employed 142 officers and other staffers in 2024, and 63 of them made over $100,000. IFT President Dan Montgomery earned over $278,000.

Another big IFT earner: Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis Gates, who pulled in $78,150 from IFT to act as its executive vice president. That’s in addition to  to her $187,000 salary from CTU, according to that union’s 2024 federal filing.

Meanwhile, the average teacher salary in Illinois was less than $76,000.

In total, IFT spent $12.7 million on its own officers and employees’ salaries. Despite the fact IFT takes money from teachers all over the state, it funded politically volatile leaders such as Davis Gates, who does not necessarily represent the best interests or political preferences of teachers outside Chicago.

Teachers are sending their hard-earned money to IFT. IFT is taking advantage of them, using their union dues to prop up its own expensive employees while spending just 26 cents of every dollar on representing those teachers.

Teachers have a choice. Public school employees in Illinois don’t have to be a member of a union – or pay fees – to keep their jobs or receive the benefits in their contracts. Learn more at leaveift.com