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American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Florida Inc

EIN 23-7137529 · Coral Gables, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO DEFEND THE CIVIL LIBERTIES OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

Income
$14.4 million
Spending
$10.9 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
7.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
59
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$222,952, cfo

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 124% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 39% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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. $552,057 spent. FIRST AMENDMENT OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA. CENSORSHIP IS BEING USED BY THOSE IN POWER TO DENY AND DISTORT HISTORY; OBSCURE THE LAWS AND POLICIES THAT CONTINUE TO BOLSTER SYSTEMIC INEQUALITY; SILENCE EXPERT GUIDANCE; CONTROL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ACTION; AND THREATEN OUR FUNDAMENTAL LIBERTIES. THE RIGHT TO PEACEFUL PROTEST IS ALSO BEING STIFLED WITH LAWS, RESTRICTIVE RULES, AND EXCESSIVE USE OF POLICE FORCE. THROUGH LITIGATION, ADVOCACY, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, THE ACLU OF FLORIDA IS WORKING TO FIGHT ALL FORMS OF CENSORSHIP, SECURE FREE SPEECH FOR ALL FLORIDIANS, AND DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY.
  2. $4.8 million spent. IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS IMMIGRATION POLICY IN FLORIDA CURRENTLY INSTILLS FEAR IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, HARMS INDIVIDUALS, SEPARATES FAMILIES, AND IS WILDLY DISCRIMINATORY. FLORIDA IS ALSO HOME TO SEVERAL IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTERS, AND THE PRACTICES IN THESE FACILITIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNTOLD SUFFERING, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, AND DEATHS. THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND LITIGATION EFFORTS, THE ACLU OF FLORIDA'S IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS CAMPAIGN AIMS TO BRING AN END TO UNCONSTITUTIONAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES, END MASS IMMIGRATION DETENTION, ENSURE DUE PROCESS, WHILE CREATING SAFER COMMUNITIES FOR IMMIGRANT FLORIDIANS.
  3. $1.8 million spent. VOTING RIGHTS VOTING IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT UPON WHICH ALL OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES REST. FLORIDA CONTINUES TO SUPPRESS VOTING RIGHTS, IMPOSE RACIALLY GERRYMANDERED MAP, AND HEIGHTEN BARRIERS TO REGISTRATION WHICH SEVERELY LIMITS ACCESS TO VOTING. THE ACLU OF FLORIDA'S VOTING RIGHTS CAMPAIGN AIMS TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND VOTING RIGHTS AND PARTICIPATION AMONG ALL ELIGIBLE FLORIDIANS. THIS EFFORT IS PURSUED THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS AND LITIGATION. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE DEPARTMENT IS INVOLVED IN DOZENS OF INVESTIGATIONS, RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS, AND LEGAL CASES.
  4. $2.7 million spent. OTHER LITIGATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ON IMPORTANT CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES THAT ARE CONFRONTING FLORIDIANS BUT FALL OUTSIDE OUR PRIMARY CAMPAIGNS SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING: CRIMINAL JUSTICE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN FLORIDA IS BUILT ON STRUCTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND HAS A DEVASTATING, DISPARATE IMPACT ON BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE. THE ACLU OF FLORIDA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM CAMPAIGN AIMS TO SIGNIFICANTLY REFORM FLORIDA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO REDUCE INCARCERATION AND RACIAL DISPARITIES, END THE PRACTICE OF SUSPENDING DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR NON-DRIVING OFFENSES, INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF REHABILITATION CREDIT CURRENTLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE CAN EARN TO REDUCE THEIR SENTENCE, AND TO END THE USE OF UNAFFORDABLE BAIL PRACTICES IMPACTING PEOPLE DETAINED IN FLORIDA JAILS THROUGH LITIGATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES. REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS DESPITE THE FACT THAT TWO-THIRDS OF FLORIDIANS SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO ABORTION AND VOTERS HAVE CONSISTENTLY CAST THEIR BALLOTS TO PROTECT THAT RIGHT, FLORIDA POLITICIANS PASSED A DANGEROUS 6 WEEK BAN LAST YEAR. IT STRIPS FLORIDIANS OF THEIR RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, OFFERS LITTLE TO NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST, AND CRIMINALIZES DOCTORS WHO OFFER ABORTION CARE TO PATIENTS AFTER THAT POINT. THIS LAW HAS HAD DEVASTATING EFFECTS DUE TO THE MYRIAD OF BARRIERS PEOPLE MUST NAVIGATE TO GET AN ABORTION. THROUGH LITIGATION, RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND STORYTELLING, WE ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT FLORIDIANS' RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND LIMIT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE IN THESE IMPORTANT AND PERSONAL MEDICAL DECISIONS TO ENSURE EVERY FLORIDIAN HAS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHEN AND IF TO HAVE A CHILD. LGBTQ+ RIGHTS THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA-WHO HAS LONG STRUGGLED FOR BASIC RECOGNITION OF THEIR RIGHTS, DIGNITY, AND PRIVACY-IS UNDER INCREASED ATTACK. LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE BEING PUNISHED BY POLICIES THAT ESSENTIALLY BAN CLASSROOM ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THEIR EXISTENCE, PREVENT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE FROM USING THE APPROPRIATE RESTROOM OR RECEIVING LIFE- SAVING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, SERIOUSLY RESTRICT PROPER PRONOUN USE, AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR TEACHERS TO BE SUPPORTIVE WHEN WE KNOW THAT A SINGLE SUPPORTIVE TEACHER CAN SAVE A QUEER STUDENT'S LIFE. THROUGH LITIGATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE ARE FIGHTING THE DANGEROUS AND DISCRIMINATORY LAWS IN FLORIDA TO KEEP ALL LGBTQ+ PEOPLE SAFE.
  5. OTHER LITIGATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ON IMPORTANT CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES THAT ARE CONFRONTING FLORIDIANS BUT FALL OUTSIDE OUR PRIMARY CAMPAIGNS SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING: CRIMINAL JUSTICE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN FLORIDA IS BUILT ON STRUCTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND HAS A DEVASTATING, DISPARATE IMPACT ON BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE. THE ACLU OF FLORIDA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM CAMPAIGN AIMS TO SIGNIFICANTLY REFORM FLORIDA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO REDUCE INCARCERATION AND RACIAL DISPARITIES, END THE PRACTICE OF SUSPENDING DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR NON-DRIVING OFFENSES, INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF REHABILITATION CREDIT CURRENTLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE CAN EARN TO REDUCE THEIR SENTENCE, AND TO END THE USE OF UNAFFORDABLE BAIL PRACTICES IMPACTING PEOPLE DETAINED IN FLORIDA JAILS THROUGH LITIGATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES. REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS DESPITE THE FACT THAT TWO-THIRDS OF FLORIDIANS SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO ABORTION AND VOTERS HAVE CONSISTENTLY CAST THEIR BALLOTS TO PROTECT THAT RIGHT, FLORIDA POLITICIANS PASSED A DANGEROUS 6 WEEK BAN LAST YEAR. IT STRIPS FLORIDIANS OF THEIR RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, OFFERS LITTLE TO NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST, AND CRIMINALIZES DOCTORS WHO OFFER ABORTION CARE TO PATIENTS AFTER THAT POINT. THIS LAW HAS HAD DEVASTATING EFFECTS DUE TO THE MYRIAD OF BARRIERS PEOPLE MUST NAVIGATE TO GET AN ABORTION. THROUGH LITIGATION, RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND STORYTELLING, WE ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT FLORIDIANS' RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND LIMIT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE IN THESE IMPORTANT AND PERSONAL MEDICAL DECISIONS TO ENSURE EVERY FLORIDIAN HAS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHEN AND IF TO HAVE A CHILD. LGBTQ+ RIGHTS THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA-WHO HAS LONG STRUGGLED FOR BASIC RECOGNITION OF THEIR RIGHTS, DIGNITY, AND PRIVACY-IS UNDER INCREASED ATTACK. LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE BEING PUNISHED BY POLICIES THAT ESSENTIALLY BAN CLASSROOM ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THEIR EXISTENCE, PREVENT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE FROM USING THE APPROPRIATE RESTROOM OR RECEIVING LIFE- SAVING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, SERIOUSLY RESTRICT PROPER PRONOUN USE, AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR TEACHERS TO BE SUPPORTIVE WHEN WE KNOW THAT A SINGLE SUPPORTIVE TEACHER CAN SAVE A QUEER STUDENT'S LIFE. THROUGH LITIGATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE ARE FIGHTING THE DANGEROUS AND DISCRIMINATORY LAWS IN FLORIDA TO KEEP ALL LGBTQ+ PEOPLE SAFE.

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 November 1971.

    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.

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