AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION INC

EIN 13-3871360

What they do

AS NOTED IN ITS ARTICLES of INCORPORATION, THE MISSION of THE ACLU is "TO MAINTAIN and ADVANCE CIVIL LIBERTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE FREEDOMS of ASSOCIATION, PRESS, RELIGION and SPEECH, and THE RIGHTS to THE FRANCHISE, to DUE PROCESS of LAW, and to EQUAL PROTECTION of THE LAWS for ALL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE U.S. and ITS JURISDICTIONS. THE ACLUS OBJECTS SHALL BE SOUGHT WHOLLY WITHOUT POLITICAL PARTISANSHIP." THE ACLU TODAY REMAINS FOCUSED ON THE OVERARCHING GOALS SET BY ITS FOUNDERS MORE THAN 100 YRS AGO, SERVING AS THE NATIONS 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.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $80.60 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders100 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

67.34%of revenue went to mission work80.6% of expenses · Program services

10.55%of revenue went to fundraising12.6% of expenses

$83.58spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

5.69%of revenue went to management and office costs6.8% of expenses

$1.31in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

99.1%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $1,128,202 for ANTHONY D ROMERO (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$222,051,375

Mission workProgram services$149,535,77867.34% of revenue80.6% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$12,632,2515.69% of revenue6.8% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$23,422,88010.55% of revenue12.6% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$36,460,46616.42% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$185,590,90983.58% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 80.6% mission · 6.8% management · 12.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 83.58% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 80.2% mission · 8.0% management · 11.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.63% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 86.4% mission · 6.2% management · 7.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 118.96% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 87.6% mission · 5.9% management · 6.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.44% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 90.7% mission · 6.0% management · 3.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 90.97% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 90.6% mission · 5.6% management · 3.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 102.91% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 92.3% mission · 3.9% management · 3.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 104.92% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 92.8% mission · 4.2% management · 3.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 75.91% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$222,051,375

Expenses$185,590,909

Annual surplus $36,460,466 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$149,535,778 · 80.6% of expenses

Management and office costs$12,632,251 · 6.8% of expenses

Fundraising$23,422,880 · 12.6% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$222,051,375

Expenses$185,590,909

Assets$242,812,594

Income$247,881,661

Contributions$220,027,137

Mission work (program services)$149,535,778

Fundraising$23,422,880

Grants given$103,878,090

Average grant$249,707

Management and general$12,632,251

Stocks and bonds$37,909,709

Accounting fees$178,427

Investing fees$256,373

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

ANTHONY D ROMEROEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO · 25 hrs/week $1,128,202Base $759,792 · Other $368,410

TERENCE R DOUGHERTYDEP. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/GENERAL COUNSEL · 25 hrs/week $659,249Base $569,229 · Other $90,020

AJ HIKESDEP. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY & CULTURE · 26 hrs/week $619,317Base $569,934 · Other $49,383

CHARIZMA T WILLIAMSCOO · 25 hrs/week $539,028Base $492,394 · Other $46,634

AMARDEEP SINGHCHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (THRU 11/30/2024) · 26 hrs/week $503,625Base $431,847 · Other $71,778

DEIRDRE SCHIFELINGCHIEF POLITICAL & ADVOCACY OFFICER · 25 hrs/week $498,992Base $466,658 · Other $32,334

ALETHEIA HENRYCHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $393,747Base $322,240 · Other $71,507

LARISA MUELLERCFO · 26 hrs/week $382,306Base $361,434 · Other $20,872

IJEOMA G MBAMALUCHIEF TECH & ANALYTICS OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $364,378Base $289,858 · Other $74,520

ISHUGHUN ORKARCHIEF EQUITY & INCLUSION OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $363,286Base $290,905 · Other $72,381

STEPHANIE WECHTDEPUTY CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $353,144Base $294,183 · Other $58,961

KARY MOSSNATIONAL DIRECTOR OF AFFILIATES SUPPORT & NATIONWI · 6 hrs/week $148,185Base · Other $148,185

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (100)

ANTHONY D ROMEROEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO

TERENCE R DOUGHERTYDEP. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/GENERAL COUNSEL

AJ HIKESDEP. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY & CULTURE

CHARIZMA T WILLIAMSCOO

AMARDEEP SINGHCHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (THRU 11/30/2024)

DEIRDRE SCHIFELINGCHIEF POLITICAL & ADVOCACY OFFICER

ALETHEIA HENRYCHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER

LARISA MUELLERCFO

IJEOMA G MBAMALUCHIEF TECH & ANALYTICS OFFICER

ISHUGHUN ORKARCHIEF EQUITY & INCLUSION OFFICER

STEPHANIE WECHTDEPUTY CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

KARY MOSSNATIONAL DIRECTOR OF AFFILIATES SUPPORT & NATIONWI

MARK V WIERCHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

CECILLIA WANGNATIONAL LEGAL DIRECTOR (AS OF 10/16/2024)

DAVID D COLENATIONAL LEGAL DIRECTOR (THRU 10/15/2024)

KRISTON MCINTOSHCHIEF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING OFFICER

ALEXIS KARTERONDIRECTOR (AS OF 01/01/2025)

ALICE BOYERDIRECTOR

ALLAN HILLMANDIRECTOR

ALONZO KELLYDIRECTOR (AS OF 10/01/2024)

AMBER CYPHERS STEPHENSDIRECTOR

AMER SAJEDDIRECTOR

ANDREW ALEMANDIRECTOR

ANGELA COOKDIRECTOR (AS OF 01/01/2025)

ANIL MUJUMDARDIRECTOR (THRU 02/02/2025)

ANNE FARMERDIRECTOR

ANNE GORDONDIRECTOR

ANNIE B WILLIAMSDIRECTOR

ASHLEY HEILPRINDIRECTOR

BEN MATTHEWSDIRECTOR

CAROL WINDRUMDIRECTOR (AS OF 01/01/2025)

CAROLYN LOVEDIRECTOR (THRU 06/07/2024)

CAROLYN MANNISDIRECTOR (THRU 02/01/2025)

CHARLENE LUIDIRECTOR (AS OF 01/01/2025)

CHARU VERMADIRECTOR/VICE PRESIDENT

CHELSIE ACOSTADIRECTOR (THRU 02/01/2025)

CHERIE DAWSON EDWARDSDIRECTOR (THRU 02/01/2025)

CLAUDIA GORDONDIRECTOR

COLEMAN BAZELONDIRECTOR

CONNIE TCHENGDIRECTOR/TREASURER(AS OF 02/01/2025)

DANIELLE ZIFFDIRECTOR (AS OF 01/01/2025)

DARLENE ENGLISHDIRECTOR

DARON SMITHDIRECTOR

DAX GOLDSTEINDIRECTOR/SECRETARY

DEBORAH ARCHERDIRECTOR/PRESIDENT

DERRELL SLAUGHTERDIRECTOR

DONITA JUDGEDIRECTOR

ERIC SCHNEIDERDIRECTOR

ERIC SMAWDIRECTOR (THRU 02/01/2025)

ERIN KENNEDY STARTZMANDIRECTOR (AS OF 01/01/2025)

EVE WACHTELLDIRECTOR

FRANCES DICKMANDIRECTOR (AS OF 06/01/2024)

GABRIELLE UBALLEZDIRECTOR

GAIL PODOLSKYDIRECTOR

GAVIN GRIMMDIRECTOR (THRU 02/01/2025)

GREG HASTYDIRECTOR

GUADALUPE MARROQUINDIRECTOR

IRENE TRESSERDIRECTOR

IVAN SEGURADIRECTOR (THRU 02/01/2025)

JACOB RAIFORDDIRECTOR (THRU 06/07/2024)

JAY BARTHDIRECTOR (AS OF 01/01/2025)

JESSE WINGDIRECTOR

JIM METZGERDIRECTOR (THRU 02/01/2025)

JOAN HSIAODIRECTOR

JOY SPRINGFIELDDIRECTOR

JULIE MORALESDIRECTOR

JULIE REISKINDIRECTOR (AS OF 06/01/2024)

KARA SIMARDDIRECTOR (THRU 06/07/2024)

KATE CORRIVEAUDIRECTOR (AS OF 06/01/2024)

KATE JERMANDIRECTOR (AS OF 01/01/2025)

KATHERINE ITACYDIRECTOR (AS OF 01/01/2025)

KATHRYN JAKABCINDIRECTOR

KIM FERGUSONDIRECTOR

KIM JORDANDIRECTOR (THRU 02/01/2025)

LAURA KOFOIDDIRECTOR

LI YUN ALVARADODIRECTOR (THRU 02/01/2025)

LIA EPPERSONDIRECTOR

LISA RASMUSSENDIRECTOR (THRU 02/01/2025)

LORELLA PRAELIDIRECTOR

LOUIS THOMASDIRECTOR (THRU 06/07/2024)

MARILYN LANTZDIRECTOR

MARINA HSIEHDIRECTOR

MARK CHAETDIRECTOR (AS OF 01/01/2025)

MELANIE DEASDIRECTOR

MICHELLE ESPINODIRECTOR

NADIA HUSSAINDIRECTOR

NANCY FANNONCO-SECRETARY (THRU 10/5/2024)

RACHEL LOPEZDIRECTOR (AS OF 06/01/2024)

RAMZI KASSEMDIRECTOR (AS OF 01/01/2025)

ROBERT KELLEYDIRECTOR (AS OF 10/01/2024)

ROBERT REMARDIRECTOR/VP, TREASURER (THRU 02/01/2025)

RONALD CHENDIRECTOR/GENERAL COUNSEL

RONALD TYLEREX-OFFICIO OFFICER

ROYCE BROOKSDIRECTOR

RUT MARTINEZ-ALICEADIRECTOR

RUTH COLKERDIRECTOR

RUTH MARY HALLDIRECTOR

SANDY VOPALKADIRECTOR

SHAAKIRRAH SANDERSDIRECTOR/GENERAL COUNSEL

TIM FOXDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1970
Location: 125 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10004-2400
County: New York
In care of: % CHARIZMA T WILLIAMS
Primary officer: CHARIZMA T WILLIAMS, COO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(212) 549-2500

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: April 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: BDO USA
Grant-giving organization: Yes