American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
Council 65 works to improve the pay and working conditions of its members and is committed to winning respect and appreciation through strong contracts for the public employees of Minnesota and the Dakotas. This is done using standard negotiation grievance and arbitration procedures.
- Income
- $8.2 million
- Spending
- $8.1 million
- Employees
- 45
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $213,722, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- Bargaining and Contract Enforcement: AFSCME Council 65 through employees members and mediation specialists negotiated approximately 83 union member collective bargaining agreements with 121 contracts still in contract bargaining with a 2025 expiration date. We represent approximately 10,956 members and 4,710 non-members throughout Minnesota and South Dakota. The objective of these contract negotiations is to provide employees with improved working conditions job protections better benefits and higher wages. Our union through employees members and mediation specialists resolved 900+ employment issues statutory changes with updated laws and grievances with employers of which 23 were referred to the Council Arbitration Screening Panel. 17 of these grievances were approved for arbitration or other action 5 settled prior to hearing and 7 open remaining cases. The objective of pursuing these grievances includes protecting workers jobs improving the working conditions of members and to ensure the collective bargaining agreement terms and conditions are enforced. Additionally we processed 9 ULP charges with 3 remaining open from 2025 and 2 cases remaining open from 2024.
- Organizing: Our union through employees and member volunteers ran 15 separate organizing campaigns. We have continued to expand our organizing drive in the state of South Dakota to engage current and potential employee groups who desire union membership and representation. Some of these campaigns are to increase member density improve bargaining strength and expanding union membership into new employers and organizations to improve working conditions of people not yet covered by a union contract. We have additionally put more efforts into internal organizing and outreach with newly hired employees to educate on workers rights in the workplace.
- Communication Training and Governance: The Council has continued its online and social media presence gaining additional members every month who follow and engage with local union actions. The Council has continued to provide the ability to meet through virtual platforms to allow a multimedia approach to member engagement. Our goal is to have Local union meetings grievances arbitrations hearings and many other member representational needs back to in person meetings or at a minimum hybrid meetings especially in work locations where remote workers exist. Other union programs include: 1 Member training in financial standards contract enforcement and grievances organizing bargaining arbitration leadership training workplace actions and community outreach; 2 Conferences and our bi-annual convention to ensure member involvement in governance setting the mission of our union with an overall goal of increasing member involvement.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(5) labor or agricultural organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(5) labor or agricultural organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1957.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.