Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Tennessee Inc

EIN 62-0988329 · Nashville, TN

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

TO PROTECT AND EXPAND INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION; TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO AGGRIEVED PERSONS; TO PROVIDE BILL OF RIGHTS PROTECTION.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
25.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
21
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$229,336, executive director (until

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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 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 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 (3)
  1. $300,979 spent. THE UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHY GUIDING ACLUF-TN'S COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM IS THAT TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS, YOU MUST EXERCISE THEM; TO EXERCISE THEM, YOU MUST KNOW THEM. WE INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES BY SPONSORING FORUMS AND MEETINGS, PREPARING AND DISTRIBUTING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ON CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BOTH ONLINE AND OFF, WORKING IN COALITION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ON ISSUES OF MUTUAL CONCERN, ENGAGING SUPPORTERS THROUGH EMAIL MARKETING AND ONLINE MOBILIZATION, FOSTERING DIALOGUE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND SPEAKING REGULARLY TO THE MEDIA ON CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES.
  2. $505,389 spent. THE ACLUF-TN LEGAL PROGRAM AIMS TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. WE MEET THIS GOAL BY PROVIDING GUIDANCE, ENGAGING IN ADVOCACY, AND (AS A LAST RESORT) LITIGATION. WE PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION, FREE OF CHARGE, FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WHOSE CIVIL LIBERTIES HAVE BEEN THREATENED OR DENIED. WE ALSO SUBMIT FRIEND-OF-THE-COURT BRIEFS IN APPROPRIATE CASES. THROUGH SUCH LITIGATION, OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN INDIVIDUAL CASES AND ESTABLISH LEGAL PRECEDENTS THAT WILL BE OF ENDURING VALUE IN TENNESSEE AND ACROSS THE NATION.
  3. $438,384 spent. THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT'S ROLE WITHIN ACLUF-TN IS TO INTEGRATE OUR MISSION WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE, COLLABORATING WITH PARTNERS AND INDIVIDUALS TO BUILD A MOVEMENT AND MOBILIZE IN SUPPORT OF BOLD, IMPACTFUL CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS CHANGES IN OUR STATE. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ADVOCACY AT ACLU-TN CENTERS THE EXPERIENCES AND LEADERSHIP OF DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE WHILE ENSURING THAT NON-IMPACTED ALLIES PARTICIPATE IN EFFECTIVE AND SUBSTANTIVE ACTION.

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 December 1976.

    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.