American Civil Liberties Foundation of Delaware Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PRESERVE AND ADVANCE THE LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AS ENSHRINED IN THE UNITED STATES AND DELAWARE CONSITUTIONS THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- 11.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $146,244, 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 2516 of 16 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 (2)
- $992,445 spent. THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH THE ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE FUNDAMENTAL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS GURANTEED TO ALL DELAWAREANS IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS. THE MISSION IS TO MAINTAIN AND ADVANCE CIVIL LIBERTIES IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND TAKE ANY LEGITIMATE ACTION IN THE FURTHERANCE AND DEFENSE OF BASIC RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF POLITICAL PARTISANSHIP.
- $161,256 spent. THE ORGANIZATION IS A FIRST RESORT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT THREATENS PEOPLES RIGHTS IN DELAWARE AND A LAST HOPE WHEN PEOPLE ARE DEPRIVED OF THEIR LIBERTIES. THE ORGANIZATION WILL PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO DEFEND BASIC RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS. THE ORGANIZATIONS PROGRAM OF LITIGATION AND LEGAL ADVOCACY IS TO ESTABLISH CASE LAW AND POLICY PRECEDENTS THAT PROTECT OR EXPAND CIVIL LIBERTIES IN DELAWARE. THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT ALLEGED VIOLATIONS TO THE RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE ORGANIZATION'S LEGAL DIRECTOR, WITH THE HELP OF A LEGAL PANEL, REVIEWS THESE COMPLAINTS AND CHOOSES A LIMITED NUMBER OF NEW CASES EACH YEAR THAT WILL ADVANCE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1978.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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.