AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC

NEW YORK, NY, 10004-2400 (212) 549-2500 Est. 1966 EIN 13-6213516
R600 - Civil Rights & Advocacy 990 - Public charity return 501(c)(3)
www.aclufoundation.org

Mission

AS NOTED IN ITS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, THE MISSION OF THE ACLU FOUNDATION IS "TO ENCOURAGE, SPONSOR, AND FACILITATE THE CULTIVATION AND DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE VARIOUS CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS WHICH ARE PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OR OF THE VARIOUS STATES TO PERSONS INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES WHEREIN THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES ARE THREATENED OR INFRINGED." THE ACLU FOUNDATION TODAY REMAINS FOCUSED ON THE OVERARCHING GOALS SET BY ITS FOUNDERS, SERVING AS THE NATION'S GUARDIAN OF LIBERTY, WORKING DAILY IN COURTS, LEGISLATURES AND COMMUNITIES TO DEFEND AND PRESERVE THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES THAT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE US GUARANTEE. THE ACLU ALSO WORKS TO EXTEND RIGHTS TO SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN DENIED THEIR RIGHTS, INCLUDING PEOPLE OF COLOR; WOMEN; LESBIANS, GAY MEN, BISEXUALS AND TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NONBINARY PEOPLE; PRISONERS; AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Giving Portfolio

Total Grants
280
Total Giving
$88.1M
Recipients
278
Years Active
2018 - 2024
Avg grant: $295,306 Median: $219,000

Yearly Trends

YearGrantsTotal Giving Avg GrantNewRepeat
202473$28.4M $389K2844
202362$24.4M $394K1349
202252$16.0M $308K744
202055$14.9M $271K2629
201838$4.4M $115K380

Sectors Funded

Civil Rights & Advocacy
150
International & Foreign Affairs
6
Education
6
Arts, Culture & Humanities
5
Crime & Legal-Related
4
Community Improvement
2

Top States

California
15
District of Columbia
14
New York
11
Alabama
9
Ohio
8
Florida
8
Louisiana
7
Missouri
7
and 40 more states

Grantee Size Profile

$1M - $5M
171
$5M - $10M
40
$10M - $50M
23
$100K - $500K
14
Over $50M
8
$500K - $1M
4

Top Grantees

Page 1 of 3

Grants Awarded · 267 grants

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Financials

Total Revenue
$306,750,536
Total Expenses
$245,542,362
Net Assets
$779,690,153
464 employees 13 volunteers
From latest filing (tax period ending 2025-03-31)

Financial Health

Operating Reserve
3.2 years Healthy
Net assets / monthly expenses
Year-over-Year Change
Revenue ↑ 65.7%
Expenses ↑ 21.7%
Revenue Sources
Contributions 93.9% Investment 2.8% Other 3.0%
Expense Breakdown
Program 83.5% Management 8.0% Fundraising 8.5%

Officers & Trustees (32)

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Filing History (5 filings)

YearRevenueExpensesNet Assets
2024 990 - Public charity return
Apr 1, 2024 to Mar 31, 2025
$306,750,536 ↑$245,542,362$779,690,153
2023 990 - Public charity return
Apr 1, 2023 to Mar 31, 2024
$185,146,988 ↓$201,684,585$680,112,195
2022 990 - Public charity return
Apr 1, 2022 to Mar 31, 2023
$201,181,635 ↓$186,344,190$640,103,105
2020 990 - Public charity return
Apr 1, 2020 to Mar 31, 2021
$241,839,843 ↑$173,082,558$586,814,101
2018 990 - Public charity return
Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
$205,432,828 $140,703,350$371,494,411

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EIN: 13-6213516 · Source: IRS Form 990 e-file data