25,000 opt-outs and counting in 2026

Michael Ciccio
May 21, 2026

The Freedom Foundation is on track for its biggest year yet.

Not even halfway through May, the organization has already surpassed 25,000 union opt-outs in 2026.

Overall, we have helped free more than 275,000 public employees from their union dues. To date, public-sector unions have lost an estimated $791 million in dues revenue.

Too many organizations fall into maintenance mode. They repeat the same strategies year after year, accept incremental results and call it success. The Freedom Foundation has taken the opposite approach — constantly testing, refining and expanding outreach efforts to reach workers who often don’t even realize they have a choice.

One major driver this year has been the Freedom Foundation’s expanded digital outreach program. By investing more heavily in targeted digital communication and modern outreach strategies, the organization is reaching employees faster, more efficiently and at greater scale than ever before.

And if the first few months of 2026 are any indication, the Freedom Foundation is nowhere near slowing down.

- Outreach
, 25000 opt-outs

Michael Ciccio

National Director

Michael Ciccio serves as the National Director for the Freedom Foundation. Michael has over a decade of experience organizing activists and professionals, as well as coaching and advising on topics such as public speaking, organizing tactics, and media strategy. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire in 2008, Michael jumped right into the New Hampshire political sphere, working for various campaigns and within the New Hampshire State Senate. Most recently he served as the director of staff training at Americans for Prosperity, one of the nation’s premier grassroots organizations. During his 7 years at the organization, he focused on the continued expansion of grassroots capabilities.