American Civil Liberties Union
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF ARIZONA IS THE STATE'S PREMIER GUARDIAN OF LIBERTY WORKING THROUGH THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE AND COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE TO DEFEND AND PRESERVE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS GUARANTEED TO ALL BY THE (CONT. ON SCHEDULE O)UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION, AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 365
- Highest pay
- $152,804, interim executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- $1.1 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS -THROUGH TARGETED COMMUNICATIONS, AND TRADITIONAL AND ONLINE MEDIA, THE ACLU OF ARIZONA HELPS INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT CURRENT OR PROPOSED LAWS, POLICIES OR BALLOT MEASURES THAT IMPACT CIVIL LIBERTIES. WE WORK TO INFLUENCE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND POLICYMAKERS AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS TO PROTECT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND USE A VARIETY OF COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES TO ENGAGE OUR MEMBERS, (WHICH TOTALED 20,635 IN 2025) AND SUPPORTERS IN ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING, CHANGING PUBLIC OPINION, RESPONDING TO CIVIL LIBERTIES-RELATED NEWS ITEMS AND INFLUENCING DECISION MAKERS. THE ACLU OF ARIZONA AND 36,438 SUBSCRIBERS ON OUR EMAIL LIST AND MAINTAINED A WEBSITE THAT ATTRACTED 343,192 HITS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND HAD 29,500 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS.
- $188,373 spent. POLICY -THE ACLU OF ARIZONA LOBBIES ARIZONA LEGISLATORS AND MEMBERS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES, INCLUDING SCHOOL BOARDS, TO TAKE ACTION ON PUBLIC POLICIES THAT IMPACT CIVIL LIBERTIES. WE ENGAGE IN RESEARCH AND POLICY ANALYSIS TO DEVELOP AND DRAFT POLICIES AND TAKE POSITIONS AND ACTIONS ON BALLOT MEASURES THAT IMPACT CIVIL LIBERTIES. DURING THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR, THE ACLU OF ARIZONA'S LOBBYING-RELATED ACTIVITIES INCLUDED TESTIFYING 70 TIMES BEFORE MEMBERS OF THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE AND SUBMITTING 176 WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS TO THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS. DURING THE 2025 SESSION, THE ACLU OF ARIZONA ASSISTED IN DEFEATING 105 OF THE BILLS WE OPPOSED THAT WOULD HAVE THREATENED CIVIL LIBERTIES, TRACKED 553 BILLS, DRAFTED 4 PIECES OF LEGISLATION, AND SENT 9 VETO LETTERS.
- $90,681 spent. ORGANIZING -THE ACLU OF ARIZONA UTILIZES GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM TO RECRUIT, TRAIN AND MOBILIZE ACLU MEMBERS AND ACTIVISTS IN THE FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES. WE BELIEVE IN ELEVATING THE VOICES OF DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES, HELP DEVELOP POLICY GOALS AND LEAD DISCUSSIONS WITH POLICYMAKERS. THROUGH A VARIETY OF OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY-BASED ACTIVITIES INCLUDING TRAINING, PHONE BANKS, WORKSHOPS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS, THE ACLU OF ARIZONA RECRUITS, TRAINS AND DEVELOPS VOLUNTEER LEADERS, WHILE ALSO EDUCATING PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE ABOUT THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND IMPORTANT CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES. AS PART OF OUR ORGANIZING/ADVOCACY EFFORTS, WE MAINTAINED 349 VOLUNTEERS TO LEAD OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS AND CONDUCTED 110 ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS TO EXPAND OUR VOLUNTEER/LEADER BASE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1970.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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.