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American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina Foundation Inc

EIN 27-1942832 · Columbia, SC

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

AT THE ACLU OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOUNDATION, WE ADVOCATE, LITIGATE, EDUCATE, AND MOBILIZE TO DEFEND AND ADVANCE THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OF ALL SOUTH CAROLINIANS.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
22.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
13
Volunteers
5,500
Highest pay
$143,984, 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 86% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 59% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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. $328,205 spent. IMPACT LITIGATION: OUR LEGAL TEAM USES IMPACT LITIGATION TO VINDICATE THE VARIOUS CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES PROTECTED UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL LAW. WHEN POLICY OR PRACTICE FAILS TO LIVE UP TO THE VALUES SET FORTH IN OUR CONSTITUTION, LITIGATION PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RIGHT THE WRONGS EXPERIENCED BY OUR CLIENTS AND TO REFORM THE SYSTEMS THAT CAUSED THE HARM.WE PRIORITIZE CASES IN THE AREAS OF VOTING RIGHTS, JUVENILE JUSTICE, FREE SPEECH, AND LGBTQ EQUALITY. IN 2024, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING STRUCK DOWN A NORTH MYRTLE BEACH ORDINANCE PROHIBITING PROFANE, VULGAR, AND OBSCENE MUSIC," ARGUING THAT SUCH AN ORDINANCE VIOLATED THE FIRST AMENDMENT. ALSO IN 2024, WE CHALLENGED THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND STATE ELECTION COMMISSION'S FAILURE TO REGISTER ELIGIBLE 17-YEAR-OLD VOTERS, WHICH LED TO AN UPDATE IN SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES ENSURING THESE YOUNG VOTERS COULD REGISTER AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
  2. $312,223 spent. ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING: OUR ADVOCACY TEAM ANALYZES THE IMPACT OF PROPOSED AND EXISTING LEGISLATION ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES AND LOOKS FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER OUR MISSION THROUGH POSITIVE POLICY CHANGES. THEN WE ADVOCATE FOR GOOD LAWS AND STAND IN THE WAY OF BAD POLICY. WHEN WE'RE ADVOCATING, WE ORGANIZE AND MOBILIZE ACTIVISTS WHO LEAD EFFORTS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ENGAGE IN STATEWIDE CAMPAIGNS.IN 2024, WE SUCCESSFULLY STOPPED STATE LAWMAKERS FROM CENSORING THE CURRICULUM TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE CONDUCTED LEGAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED POLICIES, EDUCATED SOUTH CAROLINIANS ABOUT THE WAYS CURRICULUM CENSORSHIP VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND ELEVATED THE VOICES OF STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND LIBRARIES WHO WERE OPPOSED TO THESE HARMFUL PROPOSALS.
  3. $138,968 spent. COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION: OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES. WE TELL THE STORY OF SOUTH CAROLINIANS -- THOSE WHOSE RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED AND THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR CHANGE. WE GROW OUR BASE OF SUPPORTERS BY FIRING UP AND ENERGIZING PEOPLE WHO SHARE OUR VALUES. AND WE PERSUADE THE PUBLIC TO SUPPORT OUR ISSUES.IN 2024, WE LAUNCHED A PODCAST CALLED "WHILE I BREATHE." THROUGH IT, WE HIGHLIGHT MAJOR CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES OF THE DAY. WE'VE TAKEN LISTENERS INTO EVICTION COURT AND TOWNHALL MEETINGS WITH LOCAL SHERIFFS, AND WE'VE TOLD STORIES OF THE ACTIVISTS WHO ARE WORKING TO CHANGE THE STATE ON ISSUES RANGING FROM THE FREEDOM TO READ TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY TO GERRYMANDERING.
  4. $131,153 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES

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 April 2011.

    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.

  7. 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.