American Civil Liberties Union
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
DEFEND FREEDOM OF SPEECH, PRESS, ASSEMBLY, AND OTHER RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY THE US CONSTITUTION AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
- Income
- $5.6 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 165
- Highest pay
- $373,650, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- $1.2 million spent. LEGISLATIVE: INITIATIVES FOR THIS YEAR INCLUDED AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE TRAUMA OF FAMILY SEPARATION AND IMPROVE YOUTH OUTCOMES BY REDUCING BARRIERS TO RELATIVE PLACEMENTS WHEN YOUTH COME UNDER THE CARE OF THE DCFS SYSTEM. THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES COURT OVERSIGHT TO FIND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO CAN TAKE YOUTH INTO CARE - IF THEY MUST BE SEPARATED FROM BIRTH PARENTS - AND ESTABLISHES A KINSHIP NAVIGATOR PROGRAM TO ASSIST IN THE PROCESS. THE BILL WAS SIGNED INTO LAW AND WE ARE NOW MONITORING ITS IMPLEMENTATION. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR ADVOCACY TO PROTECT HEALTH DATA PRIVACY. ALTHOUGH THE LEGISLATION DID NOT MOVE THIS SESSION, WE SUCCESSFULLY WON COMMITMENTS FROM LEGISLATORS TO WORK ON LEGISLATION THAT WILL ASSURE THAT OUR PERSONAL HEALTH DATA IS PROTECTED WHEN IT IS COLLECTED BY THIRD PARTIES. WE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY PUSHED A MEASURE THAT MAKES AN IMPORTANT REFORM TO ILLINOIS LAW THAT SEEKS TO REDUCE THE FREQUENCY AND DAMAGE OF SO-CALLED STRATEGIC LAWSUITS AGAINST PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (SLAPP). THE NEW LAW ENSURES THAT MEMBERS OF THE NEWS MEDIA CAN USE THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAW TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY AND HARASSING ACTIONS AGAINST THEM. AND WE WORKED TIRELESSLY IN A COALITION TO ENCOURAGE ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS TO PASS A MEASURE THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE MEDICAL AID IN DYING IN ILLINOIS, ALLOWING MENTALLY COMPETENT, ADULT ILLINOIS RESIDENTS WHO HAVE A TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS OF SIX MONTHS OR LESS TO OBTAIN A PRESCRIPTION FOR MEDICINE THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO DIE PEACEFULLY IN THEIR SLEEP. THE ACLU ALSO SUPPORTED LEGISLATION THAT EXPANDED ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION IN HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES IN ILLINOIS, A MEASURE THAT PROHIBITS LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM SHARING DATA FROM AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS WITH FEDERAL OR OUT OF STATE POLICE INVESTIGATING SOMEONE WHO CAME TO ILLINOIS TO SEEK LAWFUL HEALTH CARE, AND A MEASURE THAT ALLOWS DOCTORS IN ILLINOIS TO CONTINUE TO ACCESS MEDICATION NO LONGER APPROVED BY THE FDA IF THAT MEDICATION CONTINUES TO BE RECOMMENDED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.
- $319,558 spent. COMMUNICATIONS: THE COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES OF THE ACLU OF ILLINOIS ARE DESIGNED TO: KEEP OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS UPDATED ON THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION; BROADLY INFORM AND ADVANCE IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR WORK AND ISSUES OF CONCERN (CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES) IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC; AND TARGET MESSAGES THAT MAY MOVE OPINION LEADERS IN SUPPORT OF OUR WORK. WE UTILIZE AN ARRAY OF COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, FROM PUBLIC SPEAKING TO SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL COMMUNICATION WITH MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS, OTHER WRITTEN MESSAGES, AND PODCASTS. THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MESSAGES THAT REACH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS DURING THE YEAR REGARDING THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION.
- $44,330 spent. CHAPTERS: IN FOUR DISCREET GEOGRAPHIC AREAS ACROSS THE STATE - URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, SPRINGFIELD, AND PEORIA - ACLU MEMBERS VOLUNTARILY GATHER TOGETHER TO FORM LOCAL CHAPTERS TO ADVANCE THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION IN THESE AREAS. THESE CHAPTERS SERVE AS A CRITICAL EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES VIOLATIONS/CONCERNS AND OFTEN PRODUCE IMPORTANT PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS CONCERNS THAT MIGHT BE FEDERAL, STATEWIDE, OR LOCAL. FINALLY, THE CHAPTERS SERVE AS REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE ACLU IN THESE COMMUNITIES, RAISING OUR PROFILE BY PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL ACTIVITIES, FROM MARCHES AND PARADES TO DEMONSTRATIONS AND FARMERS MARKETS. THE CHAPTERS ALSO PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE AS CONDUITS TO LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, INCLUDING MAYORS, POLICE LEADERS, AND OTHERS. DURING THIS YEAR, EACH OF THE CHAPTERS ADDRESSED LOCAL PROPOSALS TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEMS IN THEIR COMMUNITY; CHAPTER MEMBERS REACHED OUT TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO SHARE ACLU CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVACY RAISED BY THE SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION, CHAPTER MEMBERS FOCUSED ON WAYS TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRETRIAL FAIRNESS ACT, ENDING THE USE OF MONEY BOND IN ILLINOIS. WE ALSO HAVE SEEN NEW LOCAL GROUPS SUPPORTING THE ACLU FORM IN SEVERAL ILLINOIS LOCATIONS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(4) social welfare organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1972.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.