American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Rhode Island
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND EDUCATION
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $691,640
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 95.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $180,678, executive director
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: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 95.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $283,855 spent. PROVIDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND PARTICIPATED IN OVER 30 LAWSUITS AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES, INCLUDING THE SUCCESSFUL REPRESENTATION OF A TOWN RESIDENT WHO WAS SUED FOR SPEAKING OUT ABOUT A HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS SHORE ACCESS DISPUTE IN HER COMMUNITY; A SUIT ON BEHALF OF A PERSON WHO WAS TWICE WRONGLY ARRESTED AND JAILED BY POLICE ON THE BASIS OF A FALSE WARRANT; A SUCCESSFUL APPEAL UPHOLDING A STATE LAW ALLOWING JUVENILE OFFENDERS GIVEN LONG SENTENCES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK EARLY PAROLE; AND A SUCCESSFUL SUIT ON BEHALF OF FIREFIGHTERS WHOSE PERSONAL LOCKERS AT THE FIRE STATION WERE SEARCHED BY POLICE WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT.
- $124,896 spent. PREPARED, PUBLICIZED AND DISSEMINATED AN ARRAY OF KNOW YOUR RIGHTS MATERIALS IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND OTHER LANGUAGES ON A VARIETY OF CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES, INCLUDING THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE IN ENCOUNTERS WITH THE POLICE; AND ISSUED A REPORT EXAMINING THE AVAILABILITY OF REMOTE ACCESS BY THE PUBLIC TO MEETINGS OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND CITY AND TOWN COUNCILS.
- $158,959 spent. ORGANIZED AND PARTICIPATED IN A VARIETY OF EVENTS DURING THE YEAR TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS AND STIMULATE PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES, INCLUDING: AN ANNUAL MEETING DISCUSSION WITH ATTORNEYS AND CLIENTS INVOLVED IN MAJOR ACLU CASES; A REVIEW OF ENACTED STATE LAWS IN 2024 AFFECTING CIVIL LIBERTIES; AND A REVIEW OF IMPORTANT CIVIL LIBERTIES CASES IN THE 2023-2024 U.S. SUPREME COURT TERM.
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
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1969.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 2026.
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 October 13, 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.