American Civil Liberties Union is located in Chicago, IL. The organization was established in 1972. According to its NTEE Classification (R60) the organization is classified as: Civil Liberties, under the broad grouping of Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy and related organizations. This organization is a subordinate organization within an affiliated group for tax-exemption purposes. American Civil Liberties Union is a 501(c)(4) and as such, is described as a "Civic League, Social Welfare Organization, and Local Association of Employees" by the IRS.
For the year ending 03/2023, American Civil Liberties Union generated $3.6m in total revenue. This organization has experienced exceptional growth, as over the past 8 years, it has increased revenue by an average of 22.8% each year . All expenses for the organization totaled $1.4m during the year ending 03/2023. While expenses have increased by 13.6% per year over the past 8 years. They've been increasing with an increasing level of total revenue. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2023
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
DEFEND FREEDOM OF SPEECH, PRESS, ASSEMBLY, AND OTHER RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY THE US CONSTITUTION AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES: FOR THIS YEAR INCLUDED SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF A MEASURE THAT ADDS NEW PROTECTIONS FOR PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS OF BOTH ABORTION CARE AND GENDER-AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE IN THE WAKE OF EFFORTS BY OTHER STATES TO CRIMINALIZE LEGAL HEALTH CARE IN ILLINOIS. WE ALSO WORKED ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROTECT THE PERSONAL HEALTH CARE DATA COLLECTED BY THIRD PARTY PERSONAL DEVICES, MANDATING THAT SUCH DATA COULD NOT BE SHARED OR SOLD WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION FROM THE USER. ADDITIONALLY, WE CHAMPIONED A NEW LAW THAT MODERNIZES LANGUAGE INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE THE INCREASING NUMBER OF LGBTQ+ YOUTH WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN CARE. UNDER THE NEW LAW, ILLINOIS STATUTES AFFECTING CHILDREN IN CARE NOW RECOGNIZE THESE LGBTQ+ YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILY DYNAMICS THROUGH INCLUSIONARY LANGUAGE. WE ALSO WORKED TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO RECOVERY FOR THOSE WHO USE ILLICIT DRUGS. THE MEASURE WE ADVANCED THROUGH THE ILLINOIS HOUSE WOULD REDUCE PENALTIES FOR THOSE ARRESTED WITH SMALL AMOUNTS OF DRUGS FROM A FELONY TO A MISDEMEANOR AND ENHANCE ACCESS TO CARE AND REHABILITATION RATHER THAN RELYING EXCLUSIVESLY ON PUNISHMENT AND IMPRISONMENT. THE ACLU OF ILLINOIS ALSO WORKED WITH INTERESTED PARTIES AND LEGISLATORS ON MEASURES TOUCHING ON CRITICAL FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES, INCLUDING LAWS THAT PROHIBIT THE DOXING OF SOMEONE IN ILLINOIS, AND A LAW AIMED AT ADDRESSING EFFORTS TO BAN BOOKS IN THE STATE. IN ADDITION, WE REVIEWED AND CONSIDERED A POSITION ON MORE THAN 1400 LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS INCLUDING MANY THAT IMPLICATED ISSUES RELATED TO PERSONAL FREEDOM, ABORTION RIGHTS, LGTBQ+ RIGHTS, TECHNOLOGY AND PRIVACY, ISSUES IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND OTHER MATTERS.
COMMUNICATIONS: THE COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES OF THE ACLU OF ILLINOIS ARE DEISGNED TO: KEEP OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS UPDATED ON THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION; BROADLY INFORM AND ADVANCE THE PUBLIC ABOUT IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR WORK AND ISSUES OF CONCERN (CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES) IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC; AND TARGET MESSAGES THAT MAY MOVE OPINION LEADERS IN SUPPORT OF OUR WORK. WE UTILIZE AN ARRAY OF COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, FROM PUBLIC SPEAKING TO SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL COMMUNICATION WITH MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS, OTHER WRITTEN MESSAGES, AND A PODCAST. THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MESSAGES THAT REACH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS DURING THE YEAR REGARDING THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION.
CHAPTERS: IN FOUR DISCREET GEOGRAPHIC AREAS ACROSS THE STATE - URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, SPRINGFIELD, AND PEORIA - ACLU MEMBERS VOLUNTARILY GATHER TOGETHER TO FORM LOCAL CHAPTERS TO ADVANCE THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION IN THESE AREAS. THESE CHAPTERS SERVE AS A CRITICAL EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES' VIOLATIONS/CONCERNS IN THESE AREAS AND OFTEN PRODUCE IMPORTANT PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS CONCERNS THAT MIGHT BE FEDERAL, STATEWIDE, OR LOCAL. FINALLY, THE CHAPTERS SERVE AS REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE ACLU IN THESE COMMUNITIES, RAISING OUR PROFILE BY PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL ACTIVITIES, FROM MARCHES AND PARADES TO DEMONSTRATIONS AND FARMERS' MARKETS. THE CHAPTERS ALSO PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE AS CONDUITS TO LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, INCLUDING MAYORS, POLICE LEADERS, AND OTHERS. DURING THIS YEAR, EACH OF THE CHAPTERS ADDRESSED LOCAL PROPOSALS TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEMS IN THEIR COMMUNITY; CHAPTER MEMBERS REACHED OUT TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO SHARE ACLU CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVACY RAISED BY THE SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION, CHAPTER MEMBERS FOCUSED ON WAYS TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRETRIAL FAIRNESS ACT, ENDING THE USE OF MONEY BOND IN ILLINOIS.
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Jill Metz President | OfficerTrustee | 2 | $0 |
Robert Sash Treasurer | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Thurston Bailey Secretary | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Bernadette Chopra VP At Large | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Ruth Krugly VP At Large | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Kerry Miller General Counsel | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $0 |
Membership dues | $2,511,756 |
Fundraising events | $0 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $0 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $875,207 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $0 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $3,386,963 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $0 |
Investment income | $171,709 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Net Rental Income | $0 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | -$1,699 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | $0 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $0 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $3,556,973 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $796,859 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $88,814 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $188,840 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $748 |
Other employee benefits | $34,194 |
Payroll taxes | $60,896 |
Fees for services: Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Legal | $11,123 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $4,603 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $0 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $0 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Other | $26,241 |
Advertising and promotion | $0 |
Office expenses | $4,552 |
Information technology | $19,338 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $73,835 |
Travel | $48,378 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $2,581 |
Interest | $0 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $11,708 |
Insurance | $2,061 |
All other expenses | $0 |
Total functional expenses | $1,419,660 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $1,179,769 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $1,066,229 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $0 |
Accounts receivable, net | $570,415 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
Inventories for sale or use | $0 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $599 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $103,139 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $6,576,255 |
Investments—other securities | $0 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $766,718 |
Total assets | $10,263,124 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $46,065 |
Grants payable | $0 |
Deferred revenue | $0 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Other liabilities | $153,662 |
Total liabilities | $199,727 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $9,866,132 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $197,265 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $10,263,124 |