Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc

EIN 13-6213516 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS NOTED IN ITS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, THE MISSION OF THE ACLU FOUNDATION IS "TO ENCOURAGE, SPONSOR, AND FACILITATE THE CULTIVATION AND DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE VARIOUS CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS WHICH ARE PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OR OF THE VARIOUS STATES TO PERSONS INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES WHEREIN THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES ARE THREATENED OR INFRINGED." THE ACLU FOUNDATION TODAY REMAINS FOCUSED ON THE OVERARCHING GOALS SET BY ITS FOUNDERS, SERVING AS THE NATION'S GUARDIAN OF LIBERTY, WORKING DAILY IN COURTS, LEGISLATURES AND COMMUNITIES TO DEFEND AND PRESERVE THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES THAT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE US GUARANTEE. THE ACLU ALSO WORKS TO EXTEND RIGHTS TO SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN DENIED THEIR RIGHTS, INCLUDING PEOPLE OF COLOR; WOMEN; LESBIANS, GAY MEN, BISEXUALS AND TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NONBINARY PEOPLE; PRISONERS; AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Income
$306.8 million
Spending
$245.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
23.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
464
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$1.1 million, executive director/ceo

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: 96 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 66% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 (5)
  1. $104.9 million spent. AFFILIATE SUPPORT - THE ACLU HAS AN AFFILIATE OR CHAPTER IN EVERY STATE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND IN PUERTO RICO. AFFILIATES HANDLE REQUESTS FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE, LOBBY STATE LEGISLATURES AND HOST EDUCATIONAL FORUMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE NATIONAL ACLU COORDINATES FUNDRAISING EFFORTS WITH ITS AFFILIATES AND SHARES THE PROCEEDS OF FUNDRAISING EFFORTS WITH AFFILIATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH A DETAILED POLICY. THROUGH ITS AFFILIATE SUPPORT AND NATIONWIDE INITIATIVES DEPARTMENT (ASNI), THE NATIONAL ACLU ALSO PROVIDES GRANTS AND SUPPORT TO AFFILIATES ON SPECIFIC INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS INVOLVING MATTERS OF BOTH LOCAL/REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. ASNI OFFERS TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO AFFILIATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS OF RELEVANCE.
  2. $71.7 million spent. LEGAL - THE ACLU FOUNDATION'S LITIGATION PROGRAM IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ITS CIVIL LIBERTIES PROGRAM. THE ACLU TODAY IS THE NATION'S PREEMINENT CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION, WITH A STAFF OF ATTORNEYS IN THE NATIONAL OFFICE WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH ATTORNEYS AT AFFILIATE OFFICES NATIONWIDE TO ADDRESS CASES INVOLVING A WIDE RANGE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES. THE ACLU APPEARS BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT MORE THAN ANY OTHER LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY EXCEPT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
  3. $17.2 million spent. EDUCATION - THROUGH NEWSLETTERS, ITS WEBSITE, ADVERTISEMENTS, OP-ED ARTICLES, MEDIA INTERVIEWS, PUBLICATIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND NUMEROUS MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED IN COLLABORATION WITH ITS AFFILIATES THROUGHOUT THE US, THE ACLU FOUNDATION PROVIDES ONGOING EDUCATION TO THE ACLU'S approximately 1,400,000 supporters NATIONWIDE AND TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WITH RESPECT TO A WIDE RANGE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES AND CONCERNS. A CORE COMPONENT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS IS THE EMPHASIS ON KEY RIGHTS, INCLUDING FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH, ASSOCIATION AND ASSEMBLY; THE RIGHT TO EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW; THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS AND TO FAIR TREATMENT WHEN THE LOSS OF LIBERTY OR PROPERTY IS AT STAKE; AND THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND FREEDOM FROM UNWARRANTED GOVERNMENT INTRUSION INTO PERSONAL AND PRIVATE AFFAIRS.
  4. $11.3 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY - THE ACLU SEEKS TO IMPACT CIVIL LIBERTIES THROUGH WORK ON LEGISLATION AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, AS APPROPRIATE. THE ORGANIZATION'S LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATES ARE A CONSTANT PRESENCE ON FEDERAL AND STATE CIVIL LIBERTIES LEGISLATIVE ISSUES. UPDATES ON KEY LEGISLATIVE ISSUES IMPACTING CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE INCLUDED IN MAIL, EMAIL, AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO ACLU MEMBERS NATIONWIDE, AS WELL AS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS. IN ADDITION, THE ACLU DEVELOPS POLICY RELATING TO POSITIONS ON CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES. EXPENSES $9,381,047. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $4,710,919. REVENUE $0. CIVIL LIBERTIES POLICY FORMULATION - THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ACLU WORKS THROUGH ITS STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES TO ANALYZE CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, TO DEVELOP POLICIES THAT WILL SERVE AS THE FRAME OF REFERENCE FOR LEGISLATIVE, EDUCATIONAL AND CASE-SPECIFIC WORK AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AND THE ORGANIZATION IMPLEMENTS AND ASSISTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY GOALS THROUGH ITS AFFILIATES. EXPENSES $1,923,302. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $3,750. REVENUE $0.
  5. (Expenses $ 11,304,349 including grants of $ 4,829,247)(Revenue $ 1,165,759) OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY - THE ACLU SEEKS TO IMPACT CIVIL LIBERTIES THROUGH WORK ON LEGISLATION AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, AS APPROPRIATE. THE ORGANIZATION'S LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATES ARE A CONSTANT PRESENCE ON FEDERAL AND STATE CIVIL LIBERTIES LEGISLATIVE ISSUES. UPDATES ON KEY LEGISLATIVE ISSUES IMPACTING CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE INCLUDED IN MAIL, EMAIL, AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO ACLU MEMBERS NATIONWIDE, AS WELL AS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS. IN ADDITION, THE ACLU DEVELOPS POLICY RELATING TO POSITIONS ON CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES. EXPENSES $9,381,047. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $4,710,919. REVENUE $0. CIVIL LIBERTIES POLICY FORMULATION - THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ACLU WORKS THROUGH ITS STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES TO ANALYZE CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, TO DEVELOP POLICIES THAT WILL SERVE AS THE FRAME OF REFERENCE FOR LEGISLATIVE, EDUCATIONAL AND CASE-SPECIFIC WORK AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AND THE ORGANIZATION IMPLEMENTS AND ASSISTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY GOALS THROUGH ITS AFFILIATES. EXPENSES $1,923,302. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $3,750. REVENUE $0.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1967.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.