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American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico Foundation

EIN 85-0275276 · Albuquerque, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACLU OF NM FOUNDATION IS THE STATE AFFILIATE OF ALCU, THE NATION'S PREMIER CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION. OUR PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE JUSTICE, LIBERTY, AND EQUITY.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
12.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
42
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$228,454, exec dir

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: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 69% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

    15 of 15 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 (1)
  1. $3.2 million spent. ACLU OF NEW MEXICO FOUNDATION IS THE STATE AFFILIATE OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, THE NATION'S PREMIER CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION. ITS PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE JUSTICE, LIBERTY, AND EQUITY AS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTIONS OF NEW MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES. THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO MAKE THESE PRINCIPLES A LIVED REALITY FOR ALL PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE RIGHTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED. IT ADVANCES LARGE-SCALE IMPACT ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES, INCLUDING BORDER RIGHTS, CORRECTIONS REFORM, CRIMINAL LEGAL REFORM, FREE SPEECH, IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS, INDIGENOUS JUSTICE, GENDER EQUITY, POLICE PRACTICES, AND RACIAL JUSTICE. THE FOUNDATION PURSUES THIS WORK THROUGH LITIGATION, LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND PARTNERS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY INJUSTICE TO INFORM AND MOBILIZE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THOSE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES REMAIN ESSENTIAL PARTNERS IN SHAPING AND ADVANCING THIS WORK. ACLU OF NEW MEXICO FOUNDATION IS THE STATE AFFILIATE OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, THE NATION'S PREMIER CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION. ITS PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE JUSTICE, LIBERTY, AND EQUITY AS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTIONS OF NEW MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES. THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO MAKE THESE PRINCIPLES A LIVED REALITY FOR ALL PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE RIGHTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED. IT ADVANCES LARGE-SCALE IMPACT ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES, INCLUDING BORDER RIGHTS, CORRECTIONS REFORM, CRIMINAL LEGAL REFORM, FREE SPEECH, IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS, INDIGENOUS JUSTICE, GENDER EQUITY, POLICE PRACTICES, AND RACIAL JUSTICE. THE FOUNDATION PURSUES THIS WORK THROUGH LITIGATION, LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND PARTNERS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY INJUSTICE TO INFORM AND MOBILIZE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THOSE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES REMAIN ESSENTIAL PARTNERS IN SHAPING AND ADVANCING THIS WORK.

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 February 1980.

    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.