AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

R600

Classification

1280

Street

125 BROAD STREET

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

• AFFILIATE SUPPORT - THE ACLU HAS AN AFFILIATE OR CHAPTER IN EVERY STATE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND IN PUERTO RICO. AFFILIATES HANDLE REQUESTS FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE, LOBBY STATE LEGISLATURES AND HOST EDUCATIONAL FORUMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE NATIONAL ACLU COORDINATES FUNDRAISING EFFORTS WITH ITS AFFILIATES AND SHARES THE PROCEEDS OF FUNDRAISING EFFORTS WITH AFFILIATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH A DETAILED POLICY. THROUGH ITS AFFILIATE SUPPORT AND NATIONWIDE INITIATIVES DEPARTMENT (ASNI), THE NATIONAL ACLU ALSO PROVIDES GRANTS AND SUPPORT TO AFFILIATES ON SPECIFIC INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS INVOLVING MATTERS OF BOTH LOCAL/REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. ASNI OFFERS TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO AFFILIATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS OF RELEVANCE.

  Expenses $104,909,368 · Grants $20,642,763

• LEGAL - THE ACLU FOUNDATION'S LITIGATION PROGRAM IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ITS CIVIL LIBERTIES PROGRAM. THE ACLU TODAY IS THE NATION'S PREEMINENT CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION, WITH A STAFF OF ATTORNEYS IN THE NATIONAL OFFICE WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH ATTORNEYS AT AFFILIATE OFFICES NATIONWIDE TO ADDRESS CASES INVOLVING A WIDE RANGE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES. THE ACLU APPEARS BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT MORE THAN ANY OTHER LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY EXCEPT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

  Expenses $71,745,129 · Grants $2,840,804 · Revenue $7,815,748

• EDUCATION - THROUGH NEWSLETTERS, ITS WEBSITE, ADVERTISEMENTS, OP-ED ARTICLES, MEDIA INTERVIEWS, PUBLICATIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND NUMEROUS MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED IN COLLABORATION WITH ITS AFFILIATES THROUGHOUT THE US, THE ACLU FOUNDATION PROVIDES ONGOING EDUCATION TO THE ACLU'S approximately 1,400,000 supporters NATIONWIDE AND TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WITH RESPECT TO A WIDE RANGE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES AND CONCERNS. A CORE COMPONENT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS IS THE EMPHASIS ON KEY RIGHTS, INCLUDING FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH, ASSOCIATION AND ASSEMBLY; THE RIGHT TO EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW; THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS AND TO FAIR TREATMENT WHEN THE LOSS OF LIBERTY OR PROPERTY IS AT STAKE; AND THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND FREEDOM FROM UNWARRANTED GOVERNMENT INTRUSION INTO PERSONAL AND PRIVATE AFFAIRS.

  Expenses $17,161,977 · Grants $251,193

• OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY - THE ACLU SEEKS TO IMPACT CIVIL LIBERTIES THROUGH WORK ON LEGISLATION AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, AS APPROPRIATE. THE ORGANIZATION'S LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATES ARE A CONSTANT PRESENCE ON FEDERAL AND STATE CIVIL LIBERTIES LEGISLATIVE ISSUES. UPDATES ON KEY LEGISLATIVE ISSUES IMPACTING CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE INCLUDED IN MAIL, EMAIL, AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO ACLU MEMBERS NATIONWIDE, AS WELL AS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS. IN ADDITION, THE ACLU DEVELOPS POLICY RELATING TO POSITIONS ON CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES. EXPENSES $9,381,047. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $4,710,919. REVENUE $0. CIVIL LIBERTIES POLICY FORMULATION - THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ACLU WORKS THROUGH ITS STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES TO ANALYZE CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, TO DEVELOP POLICIES THAT WILL SERVE AS THE FRAME OF REFERENCE FOR LEGISLATIVE, EDUCATIONAL AND CASE-SPECIFIC WORK AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AND THE ORGANIZATION IMPLEMENTS AND ASSISTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY GOALS THROUGH ITS AFFILIATES. EXPENSES $1,923,302. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $3,750. REVENUE $0.

  Expenses $11,304,349 · Grants $4,829,247 · Revenue $1,165,759

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

The first 25 listed. Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2024

  Revenue

  $306,750,536

  Expenses

  $245,542,362

  Contributions

  $287,910,982

  Grants paid

  $28,564,007

• 2023

  Revenue

  $185,146,988

  Expenses

  $201,684,585

  Contributions

  $169,102,497

  Grants paid

  $24,396,593

• 2022

  Revenue

  $201,181,635

  Expenses

  $186,344,190

  Contributions

  $184,197,455

  Grants paid

  $16,074,767

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2024 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2023 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2022 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $241,948,484

  Expenses

  $172,665,114

  Assets (EOY)

  $824,812,518

• 2021 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $241,839,843

  Expenses

  $173,082,558

  Assets (EOY)

  $735,145,148

• 2020 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $185,480,203

  Expenses

  $141,347,817

  Assets (EOY)

  $501,661,278

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $205,432,828

  Expenses

  $140,703,350

  Assets (EOY)

  $496,522,911

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $146,251,550

  Expenses

  $115,464,165

  Assets (EOY)

  $452,805,832

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

• ACLU FOUNDATION OF TEXAS

  $2,422,000

  2024 · AFFILIATE PROGRAM

• ACLU FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA

  $2,322,500

  2024 · AFFILIATE PROGRAM

• ACLU Foundation of Louisiana

  $2,008,268

  2023 · Affiliate Program

• ACLU FOUNDATION OF WEST VIRGINIA

  $1,733,800

  2024 · AFFILIATE PROGRAM

• ACLU Foundation of Florida

  $1,709,475

  2022 · Affiliate Program

• CITIZENS NOT POLITICIANS

  $1,600,000

  2024 · BALLOT INITIATIVES

• ACLU Foundation of Alabama

  $1,535,325

  2023 · Affiliate Program

• ACLU Foundation of Florida

  $1,479,420

  2023 · Affiliate Program

• ACLU FOUNDATION OF TENNESSEE

  $1,417,000

  2024 · AFFILIATE PROGRAM

• ACLU Foundation of Georgia

  $1,350,500

  2023 · Affiliate Program

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $38,118,835

  2024 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $23,656,175

  2022 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• GS DONOR ADVISED PHILANTHROPY FUND FOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT INC

  $20,187,400

  2023 · MEDICAL / PUBLIC SERVICES

• GS DONOR ADVISED PHILANTHROPY FUND FOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT INC

  $20,140,700

  2024 · MEDICAL / PUBLIC SERVICES

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $13,881,301

  2023 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• GS DONOR ADVISED PHILANTHROPY FUND FOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT INC

  $13,452,850

  2022 · PUBLIC SERVICE

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $12,236,796

  2024 · PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT

• AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC

  $5,402,886

  2024 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO

  $5,036,000

  2024 · GENERAL

• NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR

  $5,023,950

  2024 · PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Taxable family

From Schedule R Parts I, III and IV: entities that legally are the filer, and taxable partnerships, corporations and trusts it is related to. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money.

California fundraising campaigns

Campaigns run by paid fundraisers, commercial coventurers and thrift stores naming this organization, as California published them. Both figures are as filed, and what the first one counts depends on the campaign type — a coventurer or a thrift store files its own sales rather than money collected for the charity. The 990 reports this only as a yearly total, never per campaign.

• DCM INC.

  $326,727 raised

  2024 · Commercial Fundraiser

  $240,577 to charity

• DCM INC.

  $12,000 raised

  2024 · Commercial Fundraiser

  $12,000 to charity

• DCM INC.

  $253,293 raised

  2023 · Commercial Fundraiser

  $174,416 to charity

• CREATIVE GENIUS LLC

  $20,922 in sales

  2023 · Commercial Coventurer

  $4,658 to charity

• DCM INC.

  $446,876 raised

  2022 · Commercial Fundraiser

  $345,203 to charity

• LA COLOMBE TORREFACTION INC.

  $0 in sales

  2022 · Commercial Coventurer

  $0 to charity

• DCM INC.

  $229,635 raised

  2021 · Commercial Fundraiser

  $149,944 to charity

• DCM INC.

  $91,685 raised

  2021 · Commercial Fundraiser

  $67,667 to charity

• DCM INC.

  $591,720 raised

  2020 · Commercial Fundraiser

  $466,664 to charity

• DCM INC.

  $305,971 raised

  2019 · Commercial Fundraiser

  $222,220 to charity

• DCM INC.

  $78,350 raised

  2019 · Commercial Fundraiser

  $60,080 to charity

Amounts are as filed and do not add up: a commercial coventurer reports one promotion's whole gross once for each charity that shared in it. A campaign may also name more than one registered charity, in which case it appears on each.

Other IRS files