Americans for Financial Reform (AFR) is a left-of-center political alliance of 200 left-leaning organizations seeking stricter regulations on the financial industry. It was formerly a project of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR) but has since obtained independent tax status. 12
In June 2025, AFR participated in organizing or supporting protests branded under the “#NoKings” banner, a national day of demonstrations positioned as a defense of democratic norms against Donald Trump. These events were part of a larger mobilization involving over 70 Democratic Party affiliates and allied organizations across at least 19 U.S. states and multiple international locations, according to publicly available event listings on Mobilize.us, a Democratic Party-aligned organizing platform. 13 14
Controversy
Joseph “Jose” Alcoff, a former AFR organizer, was identified by conservative-leaning news outlets as “Jose Martin,” the pseudonymous leader of the Antifa-aligned “direct action” group Smash Racism DC in late 2018.23
Funding
Americans for Financial Reform receives funding from its parent organization, Leadership Conference Education Fund. In 2017, The Leadership Conference Education Fund provided $1,374,405 to Americans for Financial Reform. This was 15 percent of the Fund’s operating expenses that year.26Pro Publica, Americans for Financial Reform 2015 990, Accessed June 10, 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/237026895/2016_09_EO%2F23-7026895_990_201512