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American Civil Liberties Union of Maine Foundation

EIN 01-0367357 · Portland, ME

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF ACLU OF MAINE FOUNDATION IS TO ADVANCE AND PROTECT THE CIVIL LIBERTIES AND HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS PROVIDED UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONS AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF MAINE AND THE UNITED STATES. THE FOUNDATION IS A NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION THAT USES LITIGATION, EDUCATION, COMMUNICATIONS, ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, AND ADVOCACY TO ACHIEVE ITS PURPOSE.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
30.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
21
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$121,215, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. 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 (2)
  1. $1.2 million spent. LEGAL PROGRAM - THE ACLU OF MAINE'S LEGAL PROGRAM IS CENTRAL TO OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES WORK. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE WON AN IMPORTANT LEGAL VICTORY AT THE TRIAL COURT LEVEL IN OUR ONGOING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TO VINDICATE THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL (ROBBINS V. STATE OF MAINE). WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH NATIONAL ACLU AND AFFILIATE PARTNERS ON LITIGATION IN A RANGE OF CASES, INCLUDING PASULA V. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, SMITH V. TRUMP, NEW HAMPSHIRE INDONESIAN COMMUNITY SUPPORT V. TRUMP, AND BARBARA V. TRUMP. WE ALSO ADVOCATED AT THE MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT AND WON CRIMINAL PROCEDURE PROTECTIONS UNDER THE MAINE STATE CONSTITUTION THAT GO BEYOND THOSE CURRENTLY AFFORDED UNDER THE US CONSTITUTION IN STATE OF MAINE V. DERRIC MCLAIN.
  2. $302,420 spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION - THE ACLU OF MAINE'S PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM RAISES AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONCEPTS THAT UNDERLIE ITS PROVISIONS, AND HOW ITS PROTECTIONS IMPACT THE DAILY LIVES OF ALL PEOPLE IN MAINE. WE SUPPORTED THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT'S WORK BY PUBLICIZING IMPORTANT LAWSUITS, AMICUS BRIEFS, AND OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS IN THE PRESS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA, INCLUDING ROBBINS V. STATE OF MAINE, PASULA V. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, SMITH V. TRUMP, AND BARBARA V. TRUMP. WE ALSO RAISED AWARENESS ON ISSUES SUCH AS THE TREATMENT OF UNHOUSED RESIDENTS IN SEVERAL MUNICIPALITIES, STATE COOPERATION WITH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE), TREATMENT OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS, AND MORE. ADDITIONALLY, WE CREATED NEW AND UPDATED EXISTING KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PRINT AND WEB-BASED MATERIALS COVERING MANY IMPORTANT TOPICS, INCLUDING VOTING, INTERACTING WITH ICE, INTERACTING WITH POLICE, PROTESTING, STUDENTS' RIGHTS AT SCHOOLS, TEACHERS' FREE SPEECH RIGHTS, AND MORE. THIS YEAR WE WORKED TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO THESE MATERIALS BY OFFERING MORE OF THEM IN A RANGE OF LANGUAGES THAT ARE SPOKEN IN MAINE. WE CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN OUR DASHBOARD THAT IS REGULARLY UPDATED TO SHOW HOW MANY PEOPLE IN MAINE ARE ACTIVELY BEING DENIED THEIR RIGHT TO COUNSEL, AS WELL AS LONG-TERM TRENDS. IN COMMUNITIES, THE ACLU OF MAINE TABLED AT MANY EVENTS TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH MAINE PEOPLE, INCLUDING AT PRIDE FESTIVALS, PUBLIC TALKS, FILM SCREENINGS, INFORMATION SESSIONS (VIA ZOOM AND IN PERSON) AND MORE. THE ACLU OF MAINE INFORMED THE PUBLIC OF LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. NON-PARTISAN EDUCATION COVERED ISSUES RANGING FROM IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS, INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, LGBTQ EQUALITY, CRIMINAL LEGAL REFORM, AND FREE SPEECH. THE ACLU OF MAINE REGULARLY WORKS WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL MEDIA TO INFORM JOURNALISTS AND THE BROADER PUBLIC OF OUR WORK AND HOW THEY CAN GET ENGAGED. PUBLIC EDUCATION - THE ACLU OF MAINE'S PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM RAISES AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONCEPTS THAT UNDERLIE ITS PROVISIONS, AND HOW ITS PROTECTIONS IMPACT THE DAILY LIVES OF ALL PEOPLE IN MAINE. WE SUPPORTED THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT'S WORK BY PUBLICIZING IMPORTANT LAWSUITS, AMICUS BRIEFS, AND OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS IN THE PRESS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA, INCLUDING ROBBINS V. STATE OF MAINE, PASULA V. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, SMITH V. TRUMP, AND BARBARA V. TRUMP. WE ALSO RAISED AWARENESS ON ISSUES SUCH AS THE TREATMENT OF UNHOUSED RESIDENTS IN SEVERAL MUNICIPALITIES, STATE COOPERATION WITH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE), TREATMENT OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS, AND MORE. ADDITIONALLY, WE CREATED NEW AND UPDATED EXISTING KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PRINT AND WEB-BASED MATERIALS COVERING MANY IMPORTANT TOPICS, INCLUDING VOTING, INTERACTING WITH ICE, INTERACTING WITH POLICE, PROTESTING, STUDENTS' RIGHTS AT SCHOOLS, TEACHERS' FREE SPEECH RIGHTS, AND MORE. THIS YEAR WE WORKED TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO THESE MATERIALS BY OFFERING MORE OF THEM IN A RANGE OF LANGUAGES THAT ARE SPOKEN IN MAINE. WE CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN OUR DASHBOARD THAT IS REGULARLY UPDATED TO SHOW HOW MANY PEOPLE IN MAINE ARE ACTIVELY BEING DENIED THEIR RIGHT TO COUNSEL, AS WELL AS LONG-TERM TRENDS. IN COMMUNITIES, THE ACLU OF MAINE TABLED AT MANY EVENTS TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH MAINE PEOPLE, INCLUDING AT PRIDE FESTIVALS, PUBLIC TALKS, FILM SCREENINGS, INFORMATION SESSIONS (VIA ZOOM AND IN PERSON) AND MORE. THE ACLU OF MAINE INFORMED THE PUBLIC OF LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. NON-PARTISAN EDUCATION COVERED ISSUES RANGING FROM IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS, INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, LGBTQ EQUALITY, CRIMINAL LEGAL REFORM, AND FREE SPEECH. THE ACLU OF MAINE REGULARLY WORKS WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL MEDIA TO INFORM JOURNALISTS AND THE BROADER PUBLIC OF OUR WORK AND HOW THEY CAN GET ENGAGED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 October 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc (New York, NY), EIN 13-6213516. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.