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Aclu Foundation of Arizona

EIN 23-7238580 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ACLU FOUNDATION OF ARIZONA IS TO DEFEND AND PRESERVE, THROUGH LITIGATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS GUARANTEED TO ALL BY THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ARIZONA.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
28.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
30
Volunteers
365
Highest pay
$152,804, interim 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. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 64% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

    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 (4)
  1. $998,670 spent. LEGAL PROGRAM - THE ACLU FOUNDATION OF ARIZONA PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO PERSONS WHOSE CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE THREATENED OR VIOLATED. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, WE MAINTAINED A DOCKET OF 15 ACTIVE CASES CHALLENGING VIOLATIONS BY GOVERNMENT. WE SENT 4 DEMAND LETTERS ON GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND/OR ACTIONS THAT VIOLATED CIVIL LIBERTIES. WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR LEGAL DOCKET OF 15 CASES THANKS TO THE DONATED LEGAL SERVICES OF LOCAL ATTORNEYS TOTALING $101,1791 DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025. THE ACLU FOUNDATION OF ARIZONA PROCESSED 1,184 COMPLAINTS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEEKING LEGAL ASSISTANCE FROM US.
  2. $403,232 spent. ORGANIZING -THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, THE ACLU FOUNDATION OF ARIZONA INFORMS PEOPLE ABOUT CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS THAT ARE PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ARIZONA. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED 72 PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENTS, DISTRIBUTED LEGAL HANDBOOKS, PUBLISHED ISSUE REPORTS, AND CONDUCTED MEDIA INTERVIEWS ON PRESSING CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES AFFECTING ARIZONANS. THE ACLU FOUNDATION RECRUITS, TRAINS, AND DEVELOPS VOLUNTEER LEADERS. THERE WERE 349 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS AND THERE WERE 110 ONE ON ONE MEETINGS WITH VOLUNTEERS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025.
  3. $235,025 spent. POLICY -THE ACLU OF ARIZONA ENGAGES IN RESEARCH, POLICY ANALYSIS, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION TO ADVANCE CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES. WE WORK IN COALITIONS, WITH PARTNER GROUPS, LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND IMPACTED COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ADVOCACY PLANS FOCUSED ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES. THIS ADVOCACY INCLUDES MONITORING, INVESTIGATION, AND ADVOCACY TO ADDRESS ABUSES ALONG THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER AND UNLAWFUL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES.
  4. $200,230 spent. COMMUNICATIONS -THROUGH TARGETED COMMUNICATIONS, AND TRADITIONAL AND ONLINE MEDIA, THE ACLU OF ARIZONA HELPS INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT PRESSING CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES. WE USE A VARIETY OF COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES TO EDUCATE AND RAISE AWARENESS AMONG OUR MEMBERS, (WHICH TOTALED 20,635 IN 2025) AND SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING DRAFTING OP-EDS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND RESPONDING TO CIVIL LIBERTIES-RELATED NEWS ITEMS IN THE MEDIA. THE ACLU OF ARIZONA HAD 2,913 MENTIONS IN THE PRESS; 343,192 SOCIAL MEDIA HITS AND 29,500 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS,AND PUBLISHED 19 BLOGS.

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 June 1972.

    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.

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.