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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: February 2026 Expires: February 2028

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(212) 549-2500
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY, 10004
https://www.aclu.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to preserve and promote individual civil rights and civil liberties as guaranteed by the United States Constitution."

Year, State Incorporated:
1966, NY

Also Known As:
ACLU Foundation

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation's (ACLUF) litigation program is the cornerstone of its civil liberties work. The ACLUF reports that it is the nation's largest public interest law organization, with a staff of attorneys in the national office working in collaboration with attorneys at affiliate offices nationwide. The ACLUF reports that it appears before the U.S. Supreme Court more than any other legal services organization or governmental agency except the U.S. Department of Justice. ACLUF's issue areas include voting rights, reproductive freedom, free speech, LGBTQ equality, women's rights, immigrants' rights, and criminal law reform.

For the year ended March 31, 2024, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation's program expenses were:

Legal $115,362,727
Affiliate support $62,715,827
Public education $19,065,039
Legislative $5,236,621
Civil liberties policy formulation $1,804,609
Total Program Expenses $204,184,823

Chief Executive
Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director

Compensation*
$1,378,565

Chair of the Board
Deborah Archer

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Law Professor

Board Size
13

Paid Staff Size
617

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Telephone appeals, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Membership appeals, Texting and canvassing

Fundraising costs were 9% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $208,607,254, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on American Civil Liberties Union Foundation's audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Grants, bequests, and contributions $164,702,497
Investment income, net $64,828,186
Donated legal services $39,504,757
In-kind donated property $4,400,000
Rental income $717,155
Merchandise and book sales $598,066
Other income $493,375
Total Income $275,244,036

Programs: 85% Fundraising: 8% Administrative: 7%

Total Income $275,244,036
Total expenses: $239,899,525
  Program expenses $204,184,823
  Fundraising expenses $18,868,836
  Administrative expenses $16,845,866
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $35,344,511
Beginning Net Assets $640,103,105
Other Changes In Net Assets $4,664,579
Ending Net Assets $680,112,195
Total Liabilities $148,492,194
Total Assets $828,604,389

Note 1: In the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" represents legal awards, net ($7,009,067), other components of postretirement benefit cost (-$76,645), and changes in value of split interest agreements (-$2,267,843).

Note 2: According to the audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2024, ACLUF received in-kind contributions of $43,904,757 in the form of donated legal services ($39,504,757) and donated property ($4,400,000).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance