Roger Baldwin Foundation of Aclu Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO FACILITATE INCREASED UNDERSTANDING AND PROTECTION OF CIVIL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND BY PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF CLIENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADVANCING CIVIL LIBERTIES.
- Income
- $8.0 million
- Spending
- $5.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 30.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 49
- Volunteers
- 190
- Highest pay
- $373,650, 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 30.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 2521 of 21 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 (5)
- $995,455 spent. JUSTICE PROGRAM: CORRECTIONS REFORM PROJECT - THE PROJECT CONTINUES TO WORK TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL PERSONS IN ILLINOIS PRISONS. THE STATE CONTINUES TO LAG IN IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO MAKE CHANGES, AS NOTED IN REPORTS FROM COURT APPOINTED EXPERTS. WE ALSO ARE PURSUING A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING CONDITIONS AT THE MARY DAVIS HOME, A FACILITY DESIGNED TO HOLD YOUTH IN DETENTION PRIOR TO TRIAL OR FURTHER ADJUDICATION. THE HOME, LOCATED IN GALESBURG, HAS FAILED TO MEET CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARDS, INCLUDING THROUGH IMPROPER USE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. POLICE PRACTICES PROJECT -THE PROJECT CONTINUES TO FOCUS THIS YEAR ON IMPLEMENTING A CONSENT DECREE BETWEEN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE AIMED AT IMPROVING POLICING ACROSS THE CITY. OUR CLIENTS AND PARTNERS HAVE PROVIDED VALUABLE INPUT FROM THEIR MEMBERS, BRINGING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND LIFE EXPERIENCES FROM ALL ACROSS THE CITY OF CHICAGO. THE PROJECT HAS SPOKEN OUT AGAINST PROPOSED POLICIES THAT FAIL TO ADDRESS INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC, AND THOSE THAT FALL SHORT OF THE MEANINGFUL REFORM SOUGHT BY CHICAGO RESIDENTS AND PROMISED UNDER THE DECREE. THE PROJECT ALSO CONTINUES A SEPARATE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CHICAGO POLICE ON BEHALF OF SEVERAL CHICAGO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO REPEATED, UNNECESSARY TRAFFIC STOPS. THE TRAFFIC STOPS ARE PART OF A MASSIVE TRAFFIC STOP PROGRAM BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TARGETING BLACK AND LATINO DRIVERS IN CHICAGO THAT ARE ALLEGED TO ENHANCE SAFETY, BUT DATA SHOW NO SUCH POSITIVE IMPACT.
- $947,823 spent. INSTITUTIONAL REFORM PROJECT - THE PROJECT CONTINUES TO WORK TO IMPLEMENT DEEP, MUCH-NEEDED CHANGES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN UNDER THE CARE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES. THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON ASSURING THAT CHILDREN UNDER THE CARE OF DCFS HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN THE WAKE OF THE STATES TRANSFER OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN IN DCFS TO A MANAGED CARE SYSTEM. REPORTS CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT RECEIVING THE CONTINUING, INDIVIDUALIZED CARE THEY REQUIRE. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A MEANINGFUL PROGRAM TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY BASED RESOURCES AND STRENGTHEN OTHER SUPPORTS FOR FOSTER FAMILIES CARING FOR CHILDREN IN DCFS CUSTODY. THIS YEAR WE CONTINUED WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT UNDER AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO GUIDE IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDITIONS FOR YOUTH UNDER THE CARE OF DCFS. THE PROJECT ALSO IS WORKING TO IMPLEMENT CONSENT DECREES IN THREE (3) SEPARATE LAWSUITS DESIGNED TO MOVE HUNDREDS OF PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES - AS WELL AS THOSE EXPERIENCING MENTAL ILLNESS - FROM LARGE INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS INTO THE COMMUNITY CONSISTENT WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
- $845,002 spent. WOMENS & REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS PROJECT - IN THE WAKE OF THE US SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT ENDED THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION THAT HAD BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS, THE PROJECTS ROLE AS THE PRIMARY LEGAL RESOURCE FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. THE PROJECT PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, LARGE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS, AND LEGISLATORS ABOUT HOW ILLINOIS LAW PROTECTS PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS IN ILLINOIS AND RECOMMENDS APPROPRIATE STEPS TO BUILD IN ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR ABORTION CARE IN OUR STATE. THE PROJECT ALSO CHALLENGED THE LACK OF APPROPRIATE PUMPING AND BREASTFEEDING FACILITIES FOR NEW PARENTS ACROSS THE STATE. WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO ENSURE THAT THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT IN ILLINOIS IS ENFORCED IN A RANGE OF AREAS ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
- $1.5 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS AT THE ORGANIZATION: HIV AND CIVIL LIBERTIES PROJECT, FIRST AMENDMENT PROGRAM, CHILDRENS INITIATIVE PROGRAM, PRIVACY & TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM, LGBTQ RIGHTS PROJECT, CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND POLICING PROJECT, COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM, LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, MENTAL HEALTH AND DISABILITY RIGHT INITIATIVE PROGRAM. REVENUE: ATTORNEY FEE AWARDS TOTALING $351,890 EARNED IN FY25, DESIGNATED FOR FUTURE USE.
- OTHER PROGRAMS AT THE ORGANIZATION: 1510228. 0. 351890.
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 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? 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.
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 November 1970.
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.
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