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ADVOCATES FOR TRANS EQUALITY
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 820861095 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE R60 · Civil Rights & Advocacy · Small ($100K-$1M) · ncteactionfund.org
revenue
$425K
expenses
$37K
net assets
$437K
employees
0
volunteers
4
program ratio
49%
mission · from form 990

ADVOCATES FOR TRANS EQUALITY FIGHTS FOR THE LEGAL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN AMERICA. LEVERAGING DECADES OF EXPERIENCE ON THE FRONTLINES OF POWER, WE SHIFT GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY TOWARDS A FUTURE WHERE WE ARE NO LESS THAN EQUAL.

profile · synthesized from sources

Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) fights for the legal and political rights of transgender people in the United States. Formed in 2024 through the merger of the National Center for Transgender Equality and the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, A4TE advances trans equality through policy advocacy, litigation, electoral endorsements, and public education. The organization works at local, state, and federal levels to secure inclusive legislation and protect trans rights.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $3K
    GENERAL PROGRAM: A4TE'S PROGRAMMATIC WORK IMPROVES THE LIVES OF TRANS PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND LOBBYING FOR THE ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TRANS-INCLUSIVE LEGISLATION AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS. A4TE ALSO EDUCATES AND EMPOWERS TRANS PEOPLE AND ALLIES TO MOBILIZE AS ADVOCATES FOR TRANS EQUALITY, PRESSING POLITICIANS TO TAKE ACTION AND HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY SUPPORT ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION AND POLICIES.
  2. #2 $0
    GRASSROOTS LOBBYING: A4TE EMPOWERS AND MOBILIZIES TRANS PEOPLE AND ALLIES TO TAKE ACTION TO BE ADVOCATES FOR TRANS EQUALITY. NCTEAF ADVOCATES POLICYMAKERS FOR TRANS EQUALITY AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVEL ENCOURAGING THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION THAT GUARANTEES EQUALITY FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND PROHIBITING LEGISLATION THAT IS DISCRIMINATORY.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Electoral Endorsements
Endorses candidates at all levels of government who support transgender equality and opposes those who promote anti-trans legislation
Grassroots Lobbying
Mobilizes trans people and allies to advocate for trans-inclusive legislation at local, state, and federal levels
Impact Litigation
Takes on strategic legal cases to establish precedents protecting transgender and nonbinary individuals, particularly those facing intersecting forms of discrimination
One-on-One Candidate Coaching
Personalized coaching for trans individuals running for office, led by experienced campaign professionals
Political Candidate Training
Comprehensive training program for trans candidates and campaign managers in partnership with the Victory Institute
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • LGBTQ+ Legal and Policy Advocacy 4 activities
    • Advocating for trans-inclusive legislation and policy at all levels of government
      Conducts public education, lobbying, and community mobilization to promote adoption and implementation of trans-inclusive legislation at local, state, and federal levels. Engages in direct advocacy by meeting with policymakers, drafting legislation, testifying at hearings, submitting regulatory comments, and analyzing policy impacts.
    • Conducting large-scale research on transgender communities
      Administers the U.S. Trans Survey, the largest comprehensive survey of transgender people's lives and experiences, with 92,329 respondents in 2022, to inform policy and advocacy efforts.
    • Conducting litigation to advance transgender rights
      Files lawsuits and submits amicus briefs to secure legal rights for transgender people, including precedent-setting cases related to healthcare coverage, school sports participation, school facilities access, and public employee health benefits.
    • Organizing national and state-level advocacy campaigns and mobilizations
      Organizes lobby days, rallies, and grassroots campaigns that bring trans individuals and allies to engage federal and state lawmakers. Operates a State Action Center to support state-level advocacy and mobilize public participation in rulemaking.
  • Political Leadership Training for Underrepresented Groups 1 activity
    • Building political capacity of transgender candidates and activists
      Co-hosts national training programs and provides one-on-one coaching for trans political candidates. Recruits and trains trans people and allies to participate in phone banks, rallies, lobby days, and legislative hearings.
  • LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency & Community Education 1 activity
    • Providing public education and training on transgender rights
      Facilitates workshops, presents at conferences, and publishes educational materials such as testimony guides to increase public understanding of transgender rights and empower allies and community members.
  • Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Support Services 1 activity
    • Providing tools and services to help transgender individuals navigate legal and policy systems
      Offers tools, knowledge, and direct support to help transgender individuals access legal rights and navigate systems such as name changes, ID updates, and court processes. Includes distributing voter protection guides and resources for legal documentation changes.
  • Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
    • Recruiting and managing volunteers for trans equality initiatives
      Maintains a volunteer pool and recruits individuals from diverse backgrounds for in-person and remote opportunities to support advocacy, education, and community engagement efforts.
  • LGBTQ+ Community Events and Celebrations 1 activity
    • Running public storytelling campaigns to promote trans visibility and joy
      Conducts the Trans Joy campaign to collect and share positive stories and images from transgender individuals, countering stigma and amplifying authentic narratives.
  • Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 1 activity
    • Running voter engagement and get-out-the-vote campaigns for transgender communities
      Operates the Transform the Vote campaign to support voter registration and ballot access for transgender and nonbinary individuals, including voter education, protection guides, and get-out-the-vote efforts tied to federal elections.
  • Labor-Backed Candidate Endorsements & Electoral Support 1 activity
    • Supporting trans political candidates through endorsements and campaign support
      Endorses political candidates who support transgender equality, provides financial contributions and campaign support, and mobilizes trans voters around endorsed candidates, including presidential-level campaigns.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$425K
Contributions & grants$425K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$37K
Program expenses49%
Admin / overhead29%
Fundraising22%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$559K
Cash$518K
Investments$0
Liabilities$122K
Net assets$437K
Liquid reserves168.5 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +695.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 4
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
RODRIGO HENG-LEHTINEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 1 $217K
JACOB MCCLAIN A4TEEF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 1 $187K
ANDREA MARRA A4TEEF CEO 1 $93K
MAXWELL SCALES A4TEEF CHIEF OPERATIONS AND EQUITY OFFICER 1 $54K
board members · 4
  • BENJAMIN KENNEDY — VICE CHAIR
  • DANIELLE MORRIS — TREASURER
  • KATE TRAUB — GENERAL COUNSEL & SECRETARY
  • SISSI YADO — PRESIDENT
relationships · 25

Who they work with

  • American Civil Liberties Union Partner — Coalition signatory on a letter urging Congress to protect trans students.
  • Board of Advocates for Trans Equality Partner — Provides governance, financial oversight, strategic direction, and legal compliance in partnership with senior leadership.
  • Department of Education Government — Federal agency with which A4TE engages during regulatory comment processes.
  • Human Rights Campaign Partner — Coalition signatory on a letter urging Congress to protect trans students.
  • LGBTQI+ organizational partners Partner — Collaborates with LGBTQI+ organizations to educate transgender people on voting rights and ballot access.
  • Lambda Legal Partner — Coalition signatory on a letter urging Congress to protect trans students.
  • Lambda Legal Partner — Cosigned a lawsuit with TLDEF on behalf of transgender public employees in North Carolina.
  • NCTE Action Fund Network — ADVOCATES FOR TRANS EQUALITY operates under the NCTE Action Fund umbrella, as indicated by the website domain and branding.
  • NCTEAF Partner — Collaborates on electoral endorsements, voter engagement, and lobbying initiatives as reflected in shared program descriptions across tax years.
  • Name Change Project Partner — Source of clients for litigation cases and referral pathway for legal assistance.
  • National Center for Trans Equality Network — Merger partner in the formation of Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE)
  • National Center for Transgender Equality Coalition — Merger partner of the National Center for Transgender Equality, combining decades of advocacy experience under A4TE.
  • National Center for Transgender Equality Network — Related entity sharing branding and mission focus, likely part of a coordinated organizational network.
  • National Education Association Partner — Coalition signatory on a letter urging Congress to protect trans students.
  • National Women's Law Center Action Fund Partner — Coalition signatory on a letter urging Congress to protect trans students.
  • Services & Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Elders (SAGE) Partner — Collaborating with A4TE to launch a public comment portal in opposition to changes in the Equal Access Rule.
  • Social Security Administration Government — Federal agency with which A4TE engages during regulatory comment processes.
  • The Trevor Project Partner — Coalition signatory on a letter urging Congress to protect trans students.
  • Trans Health Project Partner — Source of clients for litigation cases and referral pathway for legal assistance.
  • Trans Legal Defense & Education Fund Network — Merger partner in the formation of Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE)
  • Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund Coalition — Merger partner of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, combining legal and advocacy expertise under A4TE.
  • Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund Partner — Entity whose prior litigation work and precedent-setting victories inform current impact litigation efforts.
  • Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund Partner — Merged with NCTE to form Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE).
  • Victory Institute Partner — Partner organization co-hosting a national training program for trans political candidates.
  • local organizations Partner — Collaborates with local organizations to expand reach of voter registration efforts through the Transform the Vote campaign.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Intersectional and Multi-Approach Advocacy
    methodology: multi-approach_advocacy
    By combining legal action, public advocacy, community organizing, and policy lobbying in an integrated strategy, we produce broader systemic change because each approach reinforces and amplifies the others across different leverage points.
  • Storytelling and Personal Testimony as Policy Influence
    methodology: storytelling-for-policy-change
    By training individuals to share personal stories and testimony in legislative and public forums, we produce greater policy change because lived experience builds empathy and credibility with decision-makers.
  • Trans-Led Advocacy and Decision-Making
    methodology: trans-led_advocacy
    By centering trans voices and leadership in advocacy, litigation, and policy spaces, we produce more effective and legitimate outcomes because lived expertise ensures strategies are grounded in real-world needs and intersectional oppressions.