Union overreach in public education has long posed challenges for educators and taxpayers. From mandatory dues to political spending many teachers don’t support, the current system can leave public-sector employees feeling powerless with little say over where their money goes. Growing concern around these issues has fueled new efforts to expand transparency, restore choice and help educators better understand their rights.
One of the more effective and scalable efforts underway is led by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Michigan. Since launching its national worker freedom campaign in 2018, Mackinac has helped public employees across the country, especially teachers, make informed decisions about union membership.
Through direct outreach campaigns, the organization provides clear information that has empowered tens of thousands of workers to opt out. As a result, Mackinac estimates it’s helped keep over $935 million in the pockets of hard-working public sector teachers, laborers and other professionals
The campaign’s strength lies in its combination of precision targeting and strategic partnerships. Engagement is driven by real-time analytics and refined continually through digital feedback loops. To measure long-term results, Mackinac files Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to track actual opt-out rates, data unions are often reluctant to release and, in some cases, attempt to delay through litigation.
To localize and strengthen its efforts, Mackinac has built formal partnerships in states where unions take the most money from public sector employees and often redirect it into battleground elections. In New Jersey, Mackinac is collaborating with the Sunlight Policy Center, an in-state organization uniquely positioned to respond to the needs and issues of the Garden State. For every dollar they raise, Mackinac matches it with national funds, doubling the campaign’s reach while streamlining donor investment.
In Massachusetts, a new pilot program adds another layer of donor innovation. There, a private foundation is not only funding the campaign but also brought in a non-union professional association to offer teachers a two-year scholarship to try an alternative membership. This approach directly addresses a common concern among teachers: fear of losing support or benefits if they leave the union. Early results in the pilot city of Marblehead have already exceeded expectations, with digital engagement rates more than six times higher than projected.
Looking ahead to 2026, Mackinac has identified 12 states where union activity is high and the potential for impact is significant, including Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan and New Hampshire. The team mapped out a campaign strategy that would require an estimated $13 million in additional support to reduce union revenue by $70 million across these priority states. The effort is designed to preempt a $50 million electoral push recently announced by unions in these same regions.
For donors interested in promoting worker freedom, curbing political spending by public-sector unions or simply giving teachers more professional options, these campaigns offer a clear strategy with measurable results. Philanthropy isn’t just underwriting the message, it’s helping shape the future of teacher and public sector employee choice.
To learn more about Mackinac Center for Public Policy, please contact Clarice Smith, portfolio director and fellow, America’s Founding Principles at Philanthropy Roundtable here.
