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American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky Foundation Inc

EIN 61-6058569 · Louisville, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF KENTUCKY (ACLU) IS FREEDOM'S WATCHDOG, WORKING DAILY IN COURTS, LEGISLATURES AND COMMUNITIES TO DEFEND THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES GUARANTEED TO ALL PEOPLE BY THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
16.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
22
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$172,067, 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: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $187,916 spent. LITIGATING ON BEHALF OF TRANSGENDER KENTUCKIANS:OUR LEGAL TEAM CONTINUED LITIGATING WITH PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH ACROSS KENTUCKY TO CHALLENGE THE HEALTHCARE PORTIONS OF A LAW THAT INSERTS LAWMAKERS BETWEEN DOCTORS AND PATIENTS. THIS LAW PROHIBITS ESSENTIAL MEDICAL CARE BY TARGETING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND THREATENING THEM WITH LOSS OF LICENSURE IF THEY PROVIDE THAT CARE TO MINORS. THE LAW VIOLATES THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF PARENTS TO DIRECT THE UPBRINGING OF THEIR CHILDREN.DURING FY25, THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES DECIDED TO REVIEW THE SIXTH CIRCUIT'S DECISION PREVENTING TRANSGENDER YOUTH FROM RECEIVING NECESSARY MEDICAL CARE IN TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY. WHILE THE COURT DECIDED NOT TO REVIEW THE KENTUCKY LAW SPECIFICALLY, THE DOJ'S FAILED CHALLENGE TO THE SIXTH CIRCUIT'S DECISION (ANNOUNCED DURING FY26) MEANS OUR CASE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. DESPITE THE RULING ON GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE, WE WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR TRANSGENDER KENTUCKIANS' RIGHT TO EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW AND FREEDOM TO ACCESS THE THINGS THEY NEED TO LIVE FULL AND AUTHENTIC LIVES.
  2. $461,999 spent. CONTINUED FALLOUT FROM THE MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE FOR BREONNA TAYLOR:LITIGATION RELATED TO THE 2020 PROTESTS FOR JUSTICE FOR BREONNA TAYLOR IS STILL ON THE DOCKET. ACLU-KY REPRESENTS PROTESTORS WHOSE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED WHILE THEY PEACEFULLY PROTESTED. THE LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT (LMPD) USED TEAR GAS, RUBBER BULLETS, AND OTHER CROWD CONTROL WEAPONRY DURING THE PROTESTS, CAUSING INJURIES. OUR LAWSUIT SEEKS LMPD POLICY CHANGE, AS WELL AS DAMAGES FOR OUR CLIENTS.ADJACENT TO THIS LITIGATION, THE LEGAL TEAM PARTNERED WITH 14 OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO FILE A BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF THE CONSENT DECREE AGREEMENT THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE AND LMPD REACHED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. AFTER A YEARS-LONG INVESTIGATION, THE DOJ FOUND LMPD HAS A PATTERN/PRACTICE OF VIOLATING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF BLACK AND BROWN LOUISVILLIANS. A NEW FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION HAS LEFT THE CONSENT DECREE IN LIMBO. WE CONTINUE OUR WORK IN FY26 TO DEMAND CITY LEADERS AND LMPD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONSENT DECREE WITHOUT A FEDERAL COURT MONITOR.
  3. $375,873 spent. ADDRESSING JAIL DEATHS/EXPANDING AMNESTY COURT DOCKETS:UNFORTUNATELY, THE JAIL DEATHS CRISIS AT LOUISVILLE METRO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CONTINUED WITH MORE LIVES LOST IN THE FACILITY DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR. ACLU-KY CONTINUES LEADING A COMMUNITY COALITION CALLED THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO END DEATHS AT LMDC. QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH DIRECTOR COLLINS AND MONITORING OF THE NEW HEALTHCARE CONTRACT ARE KEY ACTIVITIES, AND OUR EFFORTS TO SLOW THE FLOW OF PEOPLE INTO THE TROUBLED, UNDERSTAFFED FACILITY ARE ONGOING. ALONG WITH ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS FROM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, WE HOSTED ANOTHER AMNESTY COURT DOCKET ACROSS THREE DAYS IN LOUISVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WITH BENCH WARRANTS HANGING OVER THEIR HEADS.
  4. $153,038 spent. WORKING TO OPERATIONALIZE ORGANIZATION'S STRATEGIC PLAN BY FOCUSING ON KENTUCKIAN'S INALIENABLE 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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1969.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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 September 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.