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American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho Foundation Inc

EIN 82-0467428 · Boise, ID

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO MAINTAIN AND ADVANCE CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES OF ALL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT IDAHO AND THE UNITED STATES.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
14.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
17
Volunteers
41
Highest pay
$156,896, 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (4)
  1. $470,378 spent. THE LEGAL PROGRAM LITIGATES CASES INVOLVING VIOLATIONS OF GROUPS AND/OR INDIVIDUAL'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. THE LEGAL PROGRAM ALSO RUNS AN INTAKE PROGRAM FOR LEGAL COMPLAINTS AND HOSTS COMMUNITY "KNOW YOUR RIGHTS" TRAININGS.
  2. $551,671 spent. THE ADVOCACY/POLICY PROGRAM IS A COMBINATION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND EDUCATION EFFORTS IN ADDITION TO OUR NON-LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC POLICY WORK. SOME OF THE WORK INCLUDES TRAININGS, PRESENTATIONS, VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT, DISSEMINATING INFORMATION, AND MORE.
  3. $223,306 spent. THE COMMUNICATION PROGRAM PRODUCES AND OVERSEES ALL PUBLIC FACING MATERIALS FOR THE ORGANIZATION. SOME OF THE WORK INCLUDES PRESS RELEASES, OP-EDS, BLOG POSTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, NEWSLETTERS, AND MANAGING WEBSITE CONTENT.
  4. $16,789 spent. DIRECT AND GRASSROOTS LOBBYING PROGRAM HANDLES THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PUBLIC, TRYING TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. THE ORGANIZATION'S WORKS WITH LAWMAKERS TO ALIGN LEGISLATION WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION BEFORE OR AFTER A BILL HAS BEEN ASSIGNED A NUMBER.

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 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 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 September 1994.

    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.

  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.