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American Constitution Society for Law and Policy

EIN 52-2313694 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY FOR LAW AND POLICY (ACS) IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT, NON-PARTISAN LEGAL ORGANIZATION. THROUGH A DIVERSE NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF PROGRESSIVE LAWYERS, LAW STUDENTS, JUDGES, SCHOLARS, ADVOCATES, AND MANY OTHERS, OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR LAWS AND LEGAL SYSTEMS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRATIC LEGITIMACY, UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW, AND REDRESS THE FOUNDING FAILURES OF OUR CONSTITUTION AND ENDURING INEQUITIES IN OUR LAWS IN PURSUIT OF REALIZED EQUALITY.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
10 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
42
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$321,462, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
  1. $1.1 million spent. NETWORK ADVANCEMENT: THE DEPARTMENT OF NETWORK ADVANCEMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR STRENGTHENING ACS' NETWORK AND MEMBER ENGAGEMENT TO BUILD A MORE EFFECTIVE AND INCLUSIVE PROGRESSIVE LEGAL COMMUNITY. THIS DEPARTMENT FOCUSES ON ENSURING THAT ACS' MISSION IS CARRIED OUT AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL WHILE SERVING THE NEEDS OF ITS MEMBERS. IT MANAGES ACS' STUDENT AND LAWYER CHAPTERS, ENSURES CONTINUITY OF MEMBERSHIP THROUGHOUT ONE'S LEGAL CAREER, PROVIDES CAREER ASSISTANCE AND MENTORSHIP BOTH TO STUDENTS AND LAWYERS, AND ENSURES THAT ACS IS MOBILIZING ITS MEMBERS TO MEET NEEDS AT NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS WHERE THE NETWORK CAN HELP ADD CAPACITY TO THE BROADER PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY.
  2. $761,546 spent. POLICY AND PROGRAM: THE DEPARTMENT OF POLICY AND PROGRAM DEVELOPS AND PROMOTES A PROGRESSIVE VISION OF THE LAW. THIS DEPARTMENT LEADS ACS' EFFORT TO SHAPE AND ARTICULATE THIS PROGRESSIVE VISION BY WORKING WITH LEGAL SCHOLARS, THOUGHT LEADERS, AND ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS TO PRODUCE WRITTEN WORKS, PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, AND CONVENINGS. THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES, THE DEPARTMENT AND ACS ADVANCE CONSTITUTIONAL, LEGAL, AND POLICY CONCEPTS THAT SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEGAL MOVEMENT AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR LAW STUDENTS, LAWYERS, OPINION LEADERS, AND POLICYMAKERS.
  3. $674,352 spent. CONVENTION: THE ANNUAL ACS NATIONAL CONVENTION BRINGS TOGETHER LAWYERS, JUDGES, ACADEMICS, POLICYMAKERS, AND LAW STUDENTS FOR A SERIES OF SUBSTANTIVE PANELS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AND PRESENTATIONS FROM HIGH-PROFILE MEMBERS OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEGAL COMMUNITY. THE CONVENTION'S SUBSTANTIVE PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON A WIDE RANGE OF LEGAL AND POLICY ISSUES CENTRAL TO ACS' MISSION FEATURING PANELISTS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELDS. CONVENTION ATTENDEES CAN PARTICIPATE IN NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING THOSE ORGANIZED BY LEGAL PRACTICE AREA OR GEOGRAPHY. THE CONVENTION ALSO FEATURES A STUDENT LEADERSHIP RETREAT. THE CONVENTION CREATES COMMUNITY, STIMULATES THOUGHT, AND ENERGIZES ATTENDEES TO WORK TOWARD ACCOMPLISHING ACS' MISSION.
  4. $554,104 spent. STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT: THE DEPARTMENT OF STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT FOCUSES ON COALITION BUILDING AND EXECUTION OF SPECIAL PROJECTS TO ADVANCE ACS' PROGRESSIVE LEGAL VISION; RAISE THE PROFILE OF ACS AS THE GO-TO RESOURCE FOR POLICYMAKERS, REPORTERS, AND ALLIES ON CRITICAL LEGAL ISSUES; AND ENGAGE IN EFFORTS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON PRESSING LEGAL ISSUES.
  5. $498,997 spent. COMMUNICATIONS: THE EFFORTS OF ACS' COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT INCLUDE MEDIA OUTREACH TO PROMOTE ACS' POSITIONS, PROGRAMS, EXPERTS, AND RESOURCES; DEVELOPING AND ENHANCING ACS' PUBLIC PLATFORMS, INCLUDING ITS WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, AND ITS BROKEN LAW PODCAST; AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING OF PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, INCLUDING GRAPHICS AND VIDEO.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 May 2001.

    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 October 21, 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.