Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
Address:	125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
	New York, NY 10004
Phone:	212-549-2500
Web Address:	www.aclu.org
Also known as: ACLU Foundation

ACLU Foundation meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Through public education, litigation and advocacy, the ACLU Foundation works to defend and advance civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and its Bill of Rights. The ACLU Foundation works to protect 1st Amendment rights, including freedoms of speech, association and assembly, the press, and religious freedom; the right to equal protection under the law; the right to due process; the right to privacy; women's rights; reproductive freedom; LGBT rights; voting rights; immigrants' rights; prisoners' rights; racial justice; drug policy reform; and death penalty reform. The ACLU Foundation reports that since 9/11, it has led a national campaign to keep America both safe and free by demanding that the government ensures security without sacrificing civil liberties. Furthermore, the organization works to ensure that the US government complies with international human rights principles and the US Constitution. The ACLU Foundation also helps to support its network of affiliates and chapters in promoting the above mentioned issues.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, ACLU Foundation's program expenses were:

Legal	28,438,997
Public education	18,994,396
Affiliate support	6,734,770
Total Program Expenses:	$54,168,163

Chief Executive : Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director

Compensation*:

$386,385

Chair of the Board: Susan N. Herman
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School

Board Size: 11

Paid Staff Size: 228

*April 1, 2008 - March 31, 2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving.

Fund raising costs were 11% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $62,231,303, are donations received as a result of fund raising 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 ACLU Foundation's audited financial statements (consolidated with subsidiary) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009.

Source of Funds
Grants and contributions	55,354,731
Bequests	6,876,572
Rent income	1,477,091
Other income	92,348
Total Income	$63,800,742

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 79%  Fund Raising: 10%  Administrative: 11%

Total income				$63,800,742
	Program expenses			$54,168,163
	Fund raising expenses			7,089,000
	Administrative expenses			7,381,443
Total expenses				$68,638,606
Expenses in Excess of Income				(4,837,864)
Beginning net assets				266,387,725
Other Changes in Net Assets				(63,945,111)
Ending net assets				197,604,750
Total liabilities				65,152,059
Total assets				$262,756,809

Note: In the above financial summary, "other changes in net assets" includes net legal expenses awarded ($1,805,989), change in value of split-interest agreements ($-424,985), and net investment income, gains and losses ($-65,326,115)