American Civil Liberties Union Foundation

New York, NY · Founded 1967

Litigates constitutional rights cases and defends civil liberties through the courts

Primary audience

General Public

Work area

Legal Advocacy

Topic

Civil Liberties

Contact

Mark V Wier

Website Contact

About Organization

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation litigates cases involving constitutional rights and civil liberties across the United States. Based in New York, NY, the organization operates with 483 employees and generated $185.1 million in revenue in 2023. The foundation works closely with ACLU affiliates nationwide to protect fundamental freedoms through legal advocacy.

What They Focus On

Constitutional Rights Defense

Protects First Amendment freedoms, privacy rights, due process, and equal protection through strategic litigation

LGBTQ Equality

Advances legal rights for LGBTQ individuals and HIV-affected communities through court cases and advocacy

Voting Rights Protection

Defends civic participation and challenges voter suppression to ensure equal access to democratic processes

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2023)

$185.1M

+0% vs 2023

Assets (2023)

$828.6M

+0% vs 2023

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Employees
2023	—	—	—	—
2023	$185,146,988	$201,684,585	$828,604,389	483
2022	—	—	—	—
2022	$201,181,635	$186,344,190	$785,630,158	479
2020	—	—	—	—
2020	$241,839,843	$173,082,558	$735,145,148	481
2019	$185,480,203	$141,347,817	$501,661,278	441
2018	$205,432,828	$140,703,350	$496,522,911	443

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

01

Identify Rights Violations

Monitor and investigate potential violations of constitutional rights and civil liberties across the country
02

Build Legal Cases

Develop litigation strategy with national legal directors and coordinate with state affiliates
03

Litigate in Courts

Pursue cases through federal and state courts to establish legal precedents protecting freedoms
04

Support Affiliate Network

Distribute resources and legal expertise to affiliated organizations for coordinated civil liberties defense

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by American Civil Liberties Union Foundation

Civil Rights Litigation

Legal cases defending constitutional rights including free speech, privacy, equality, and due process protections

LGBTQ Rights Project

Legal advocacy for LGBTQ equality and HIV-related civil liberties through litigation and policy work

Civic Participation

Protects voting rights and political participation through legal challenges to voter suppression and disenfranchisement

Affiliate Support Program

Provides resources and coordination for state ACLU chapters pursuing civil liberties cases nationwide

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind American Civil Liberties Union Foundation.

Mark V Wier

Chief Development Officer

34 hrs/week

Compensation: $504,111

David D Cole

National Legal Director

34 hrs/week

Compensation: $492,089

Louise Melling

Deputy Legal Director

Full-time

Compensation: $354,111

Cecillia D Wang

Deputy Legal Director

Full-time

Compensation: $352,060

Elizabeth Fitzgerald

Director of Development

Full-time

Compensation: $343,414

Kriston Alford McIntosh

Chief Communications Officer

Director (Thru 01/28/24)

3 hrs/week

Anthony D Romero

COO

Kary L Moss

Dir Aff Support & Nation. Init

34 hrs/week

Compensation: $491,101

AJ Hikes

Dep. Exec Dir Strategy&Culture

14 hrs/week

Nj Akbar

Chf. Eq.,Diversty & Incl. Off.

14 hrs/week

Terence R Dougherty

Yomi Wrong

Director

Milestones

1967

Foundation Established

1967

IRS granted tax-exempt status to pursue civil liberties litigation nationwide

2018

Expanded Legal Operations

2018

Revenue reached $205.4 million supporting 443 employees during high-impact litigation period

2020

Peak Funding Year

2020

Achieved highest revenue of $241.8 million with 481 employees for rights defense

2023

Sustained Legal Impact

2023

Maintained operations with $185.1 million revenue and 483 employees across affiliates

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

Anil Mujumdar Director 2.5 hrs/week

Connie Tcheng Director 3.0 hrs/week

Charu Verma Director/VP 3.0 hrs/week

Donita Judge Director 2.5 hrs/week

Dax Goldstein Director/Sec. (As of 01/28/24) 2.5 hrs/week

Deborah Archer Director/President 3.0 hrs/week

Grace Chan Director/Sec. (Thru 10/15/23) 3.5 hrs/week

Michelle Brown-Yazzie Director 3.5 hrs/week

Robert Remar Director/VP, Treasurer 5.0 hrs/week

Ronald Tyler Director/General Counsel 3.0 hrs/week

Shaakirrah Sanders Director/General Counsel 2.0 hrs/week

Yomi Wrong Director 2.5 hrs/week

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2023)

$3.6M

Highest Paid

$615K

Kary L Moss

Compensated Officers

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Kary L Moss	DIR Aff Support & Nation. Init	$491,101	$124,101	$615,202	34
Mark V Wier	Chief Development Officer	$504,111	$50,124	$554,235	34
David D Cole	National Legal Director	$492,089	$25,314	$517,403	34
Louise Melling	Deputy Legal Director	$354,111	$79,118	$433,229	40
Elizabeth Fitzgerald	Director Of Development	$343,414	$80,613	$424,027	40
Cecillia D Wang	Deputy Legal Director	$352,060	$52,580	$404,640	40
Kriston Alford Mcintosh	Chief Communications Officer	$334,893	$19,838	$354,731	26
Terence R Dougherty	DEP EXEC DIR. OPS/Gen. Counsel	$0	$66,754	$66,754	14
Sophia K Goldmacher	Chief People Officer	$0	$59,581	$59,581	14
Anthony D Romero	Executive Director/CEO	$0	$58,263	$58,263	14
Deidre Schifeling	National Political Director	$0	$33,792	$33,792	14
Charizma T Williams	COO	$0	$33,571	$33,571	14
Aj Hikes	DEP. EXEC DIR Strategy&Culture	$0	$30,884	$30,884	14
Nj Akbar	Chf. Eq.,Diversty & Incl. Off.	$0	$24,143	$24,143	14
Larisa Mueller	CFO	$0	$18,720	$18,720	14

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Kary L Moss	DIR Aff Support & Nation. Init	$482,663	$78,317	$560,980	34
Mark V Wier	Chief Development Officer	$481,658	$25,638	$507,296	34
David D Cole	National Legal Director	$460,588	$23,464	$484,052	34
Rebecca Lowell Edwards	Chief Communications Officer	$442,457	$23,156	$465,613	26
Louise Melling	Deputy Legal Director	$333,156	$68,068	$401,224	40
Elizabeth Fitzgerald	Director Of Development	$320,084	$66,339	$386,423	40
Cecillia D Wang	Deputy Legal Director	$332,850	$46,549	$379,399	40
Miriam Yasmin Cader	Deputy Legal Director	$309,310	$28,655	$337,965	40
Dorothy M Ehrlich	Deputy Executive Director	$0	$285,415	$285,415	14
Anthony D Romero	Executive Director/CEO	$0	$244,752	$244,752	14
Sophia K Goldmacher	Chief People Officer	$0	$56,704	$56,704	14
Terence R Dougherty	DEP EXEC DIR. OPS/Gen. Counsel	$0	$53,155	$53,155	14
Charizma T Williams	COO (&CFO Thru 1/31/23)	$0	$36,105	$36,105	14
Amber Hikes	DEP. EXEC DIR Strategy&Culture	$0	$25,603	$25,603	14
Ronald Newman	Nat'L Polit DIR (Thru 3/15/22)	$0	$16,986	$16,986	6

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Mark V Wier	Chief Development Officer	$442,307	$24,534	$466,841	6
Kary L Moss	DIR. Affiliate Support & Nationwide Init.	$380,962	$73,221	$454,183	14
David D Cole	National Legal Director	$427,939	$24,258	$452,197	40
Louise Melling	Deputy Legal Director	$304,776	$65,094	$369,870	14
Jefferey P Robinson	Deputy Legal Director	$314,868	$50,870	$365,738	40
Elizabeth Fitzgerald	Director Of Development	$283,520	$81,244	$364,764	40
Cecillia D Wang	Deputy Legal Director	$302,948	$46,676	$349,624	40
Dorothy M Ehrlich	Deputy Executive Director	$0	$232,408	$232,408	26
Rebecca Lowell Edwards	Chief COMM. Officer (As Of 6/1/20)	$216,915	$13,180	$230,095	14
Terence R Dougherty	COO/Gen Counsel	$0	$66,293	$66,293	26
Sophia K Goldmacher	Chief People Officer	$0	$65,282	$65,282	26
Ronald Newman	National Political Director	$0	$64,911	$64,911	6
Anthony D Romero	Executive Director/CEO	$0	$54,696	$54,696	14
Kimberly P Trueblood	Chief Of Staff	$0	$37,874	$37,874	26
Charizma T Williams	CFO	$0	$32,392	$32,392	26

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
David D Cole	National Legal Director	$456,400	$31,713	$488,113	40
Mark V Wier	Chief Development Officer	$425,479	$33,923	$459,402	6
Michele M Moore	Chief Communication Office	$399,166	$35,617	$434,783	14
Kary L Moss	Affiliate Support & Nation	$363,968	$66,967	$430,935	14
Louise Melling	Deputy Legal Director	$288,805	$60,439	$349,244	40
Judy Rabinovitz	Deputy Immigrants' Rights	$232,503	$107,637	$340,140	40
Cecillia D Wang	Deputy Legal Director	$283,144	$42,643	$325,787	40
Jefferey P Robinson	Deputy Legal Director	$291,241	$14,645	$305,886	40
Laughlin Mcdonald	Special Counsel	$276,148	$14,556	$290,704	40
Dorothy M Ehrlich	Deputy Executive Director	$0	$216,532	$216,532	26
Anthony D Romero	Executive Director/CEO	$0	$187,539	$187,539	14
Terence R Dougherty	COO/Gen Counsel	$0	$69,506	$69,506	26
Ronald Newman	Natioanl Political Director	$0	$61,226	$61,226	6
Kimberly P Trueblood	Chief Of Staff	$0	$41,327	$41,327	26
Charizma T Williams	CFO (From 7/16/19)	$0	$11,514	$11,514	26

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
David D Cole	National Legal Director	$416,600	$22,909	$439,509	40
Geri E Rozanski Director	Affiliate Support & Nationwide Init	$312,766	$103,567	$416,333	14
Mark V Wier	Chief Development Officer	$380,946	$21,567	$402,513	6
Michele M Moore	Chief Communication Officer	$353,169	$37,674	$390,843	14
Dennis Parker Director	Racial Justice Project	$244,883	$95,230	$340,113	40
Louise Melling	Deputy Legal Director	$270,530	$55,160	$325,690	40
Jefferey P Robinson	Deputy Legal Director	$300,500	$17,451	$317,951	40
Judy Rabinovitz	Deputy Immigrants' Rights	$229,625	$80,480	$310,105	40
Cecillia D Wang	Deputy Legal Director	$251,433	$35,190	$286,623	40
Dorothy M Ehrlich	Deputy Executive Director	$0	$182,813	$182,813	26
Anthony D Romero	Executive Director/CEO	$0	$156,984	$156,984	14
Jennifer S Consilvio	Chief Financial Officer	$0	$65,515	$65,515	26
Terence R Dougherty	Chief Oper. Office/Gen Counsel	$0	$47,182	$47,182	26
Faiz R Shakir	National Political Director	$0	$37,012	$37,012	34
Kimberly P Trueblood	Chief Of Staff	$0	$35,200	$35,200	26

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$29.0M Grants Received

$23.8M Grants Given

91 Organizations

Top Funders

42 total

Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund

$20.2M

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

$4.5M

Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc. 4 grants

$645K

The Bessemer Giving Fund

$364K

Give Lively Foundation Inc.

$334K

American Endowment Foundation

$330K

The Donald And Carole Chaiken Foundation

$300K

America's Charities 2 grants

$284K

Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc

$273K

The New York Community Trust 2 grants

$211K

+32 more funders

Top Grantees

49 total

ACLU Foundation of Louisiana New Orleans, LA

$2.0M

ACLU Foundation of Alabama Montgomery, AL

$1.5M

ACLU Foundation of Florida Miami, FL

$1.5M

ACLU Foundation of Georgia Atlanta, GA

$1.4M

ACLU of North Carolina Raleigh, NC

$1.1M

ACLU of Kentucky Louisville, KY

$992K

ACLU Foundation of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA

$932K

ACLU Foundation of Texas Houston, TX

$811K

ACLU of South Carolina Columbia, SC

$790K

ACLU Foundation of Mississippi Jackson, MS

$752K

+39 more grantees

Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund Silicon Valley Community Foundation Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc. The Bessemer Giving Fund Give Lively Foundation Inc. American Endowment Foundation The Donald And Carole Chaiken Foundation America's Charities Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc The New York Community Trust Community Foundation Santa Cruz Bny Mellon Charitable Gift Fund Impactassetsinc Seattle Foundation PAYPAL Charitable Giving Fund T Rowe Price Program For Charitable Maine Community Foundation Inc Pinion Street Foundation Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Sixdegreesorg The Community Foundation Of Utah Our Fund Foundation Inc. Network For Good Rockefeller Family Fund Inc. Community Foundation Of New Jersey The Ayco Charitable Foundation Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation The Oregon Community Foundation The Denver Foundation American Gift Fund ACLU Foundation of Louisiana ACLU Foundation of Alabama ACLU Foundation of Florida ACLU Foundation of Georgia ACLU of North Carolina ACLU of Kentucky ACLU Foundation of Pennsylvania ACLU Foundation of Texas ACLU of South Carolina ACLU Foundation of Mississippi ACLU Foundation of North Carolina ACLU Foundation of Southern California ACLU Foundation of West Virginia ACLU Foundation of Minnesota ACLU Foundation of Arizona ACLU Foundation of Nevada ACLU Foundation of Idaho ACLU Foundation of Wisconsin ACLU Foundation of New Jersey ACLU Foundation of Kansas ACLU Foundation of New Mexico ACLU Fdn of San Diego & Imperial Counties ACLU of Tennessee ACLU Foundation of South Carolina ACLU Foundation of Ohio ACLU Foundation of Nebraska ACLU Foundation of Virginia ACLU Foundation of Michigan ACLU Foundation of Alaska Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Lobbying Activity

Lobbying Disclosure Act registrations

Self-Lobbying

9 Registrations

3 Clients

Yes Self-Lobbying

Clients 3 total

American Civil Liberties Union

7 filings

Self

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc.

1 filing

Self

American Civil Liberties Union Of Texas

1 filing

Self

Source: Senate Office of Public Records — Lobbying Disclosure Act

Contact

Get in touch with American Civil Liberties Union Foundation

Phone

(212) 549-2500

Visit Website

125 Broad Street 18th Floor New York, NY 10004

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation

What They Focus On

Financial Information

How They Work

Identify Rights Violations

Build Legal Cases

Litigate in Courts

Support Affiliate Network

Programs and Initiatives

Civil Rights Litigation

LGBTQ Rights Project

Civic Participation

Affiliate Support Program

Team & Leadership

Mark V Wier

David D Cole

Louise Melling

Cecillia D Wang

Elizabeth Fitzgerald

Kriston Alford McIntosh

Anthony D Romero

Charizma T Williams

Cherie-Dawson Edwards

Deidre Schifeling

Jeffrey Hong

Larisa Mueller

Ruth Colker

Sharon Kyle

Sophia K Goldmacher

William Aceves

Anthony D Romero

Kary L Moss

AJ Hikes

Nj Akbar

Terence R Dougherty

Anil Mujumdar

Connie Tcheng

Charu Verma

Donita Judge

Dax Goldstein

Deborah Archer

Grace Chan

Michelle Brown-Yazzie

Robert Remar

Ronald Tyler

Shaakirrah Sanders

Yomi Wrong

Milestones

Foundation Established

Expanded Legal Operations

Peak Funding Year

Sustained Legal Impact

Associated People

Board of Directors

Executive Compensation

Partners & Funders

Top Funders

Top Grantees

Related Organizations

Tax-Exempt Affiliates

Disregarded Entities

Taxable Corp Trust

Lobbying Activity

Clients 3 total

Contact

Phone