American Civil Liberties Union Of Illinois

Chicago, IL ยท Founded 2009

Defends constitutional rights and civil liberties through litigation, advocacy, and public policy in Illinois

Primary audience
Illinois residents
Work area
Legal advocacy
Topic
Civil liberties
Contact
Khadine Bennett
Website Contact

About Organization

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois protects freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and Illinois Constitution, including speech, press, and assembly rights. Based in Chicago, IL, the organization operates with 160 volunteers and generated $2.2 million in revenue in 2023. Founded in 2009, it addresses civil liberties issues through legal action, policy advocacy, and community engagement.

What They Focus On

Free Speech Rights

Protects freedoms of speech, press, and assembly guaranteed by federal and Illinois constitutions

Criminal Justice

Reforms Illinois criminal justice systems to ensure fair treatment and protect individual rights

Policy Reform

Advocates for legislative changes that strengthen civil liberties protections across Illinois

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2023)

$2.2M

-37.3% vs 2022

Expenses (2023)

$2.2M

+55.6% vs 2022

Assets (2023)

$10.9M

+6.1% vs 2022

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Employees
2023 $2,229,365 $2,209,068 $10,885,866 0
2022 $3,556,973 $1,419,660 $10,263,124 0
2021 $2,458,827 $1,597,018 $8,456,802 0
2020 $2,873,908 $1,384,236 $7,487,429 0
2019 $2,603,915 $1,323,872 $5,758,773 0
2018 $2,477,352 $1,220,773 $4,567,158 0
2017 $2,171,600 $856,341 $3,227,872 0

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

How They Work

Learn more
  • 01

    Identify Rights Violations

    Monitor and document potential violations of constitutional rights across Illinois communities

  • 02

    Legal Action

    File lawsuits and provide legal representation to defend individual and collective civil liberties

  • 03

    Policy Advocacy

    Engage with lawmakers and agencies to advance legislation protecting constitutional rights

  • 04

    Community Engagement

    Educate the public through communications and mobilize volunteers to support civil liberties

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by American Civil Liberties Union Of Illinois

Constitutional Litigation

Defends individual rights through legal cases challenging violations of free speech, assembly, and other constitutional protections

Policy Advocacy

Advances civil liberties through legislative advocacy and intergovernmental affairs at state and local levels

Criminal Justice Reform

Works to reform Illinois criminal justice systems to protect rights and reduce systemic inequality

Public Education

Engages communities through communications and public policy education on constitutional rights

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind American Civil Liberties Union Of Illinois.

KB

Khadine Bennett

Director Of Advocacy And Intergovernmental Affairs
Full-time
Compensation: $164,250
CC

Colleen Connell

Executive Director
24 hrs/week
Compensation: $131,823
ES

Emmalee Scott

Director Of Philanthropy And Engagement
24 hrs/week
Compensation: $72,766
EY

Ed Yohnka

Director Of Communications And Public Policy
24 hrs/week
Compensation: $70,768
BR

Benjamin Ruddell

Director Of Criminal Justice Policy
Full-time
Compensation: $69,493
MM

Meaghan McElroy

Senior Program Director
Full-time
Compensation: $69,409
NC

Nora Collins-Mandeville

Director Of Systems Reform Policy
Full-time
Compensation: $67,405
KS

Kt Sullivan

Associate Director
18 hrs/week
Compensation: $53,826
AW

Althea Walton

Director Of Finance
18 hrs/week
Compensation: $53,552
GP

Gabriel Pachter

Senior Director Of Strategic Initiatives And Team Operations
6 hrs/week
Compensation: $11,416
JM

Jill M Metz

President
2 hrs/week
SR

Shyni R Varghese

VP, Director
1 hrs/week
ER

Elizabeth Roberson-Young

Senior Supervising Policy Counsel
Full-time
Compensation: $61,881
BC

Bernadette Chopra

VP At Large
1 hrs/week
CW

Cindy Wilson

At-Large Members
1 hrs/week
DK

Diane Klotnia

At-Large Members
1 hrs/week
GC

Grace Chan McKibben

At-Large Members
2 hrs/week
JH

James Holzhauer

At-Large Members
1 hrs/week
KA

Kerry A Miller

General Counsel
1 hrs/week
MB

Marc Beem

At-Large Members
1 hrs/week
MF

Mario F Garcia

At-Large Members
1 hrs/week
MR

Mort Rosen

At-Large Members
1 hrs/week
RJ

Richard J O'Brien

General Counsel
1 hrs/week
RK

Ruth Krugly

VP At Large
1 hrs/week
SL

Scott Lassar

VP, Policy
1 hrs/week
SE

Simon E Weffer

At-Large Members
1 hrs/week
SS

Sufyan Sohel

Affiliate Equity Officer
1 hrs/week
WW

Wendy Walker Williams

VP, Development
1 hrs/week

Milestones

1972

IRS Recognition

1972

Received federal tax-exempt status as nonprofit civil liberties organization

2009

Organization Founded

2009

American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois established to defend constitutional rights

2022

Peak Revenue Year

2022

Reached highest annual revenue of $3.6 million reflecting increased civil liberties advocacy

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

AL
Ada Lopez Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
AR
Akif Rahman Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
AK
Amrith Kaur Aakre Secretary 1.00 hrs/week
AH
Aziz Huq Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
CK
Colby Kingsbury Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
DO
Darlene Oliver Hightower Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
DH
Darren Hunter Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
DW
Daryl Woods Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
EC
Everett Cygal Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
GC
Genita C Robinson Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
HS
Howard Suskin Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
KG
Kathleen Gillespie Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
LK
Laura Kofoid National Board Representative 1.00 hrs/week
LB
Leah Bruno Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
LA
Louis A Klapp Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
LG
Luis Gutierrez Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
MS
Mary Stowell Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
NS
Nida Shakir Ghaffar Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
NE
Noel Elfant Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
PH
Peter H Hanna Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
RS
Rev Susan Frances Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
RM
Robert Murphymd Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
RS
Robert Sash Treasurer 1.00 hrs/week
RE
Roxana Espoz Board Of Directors 1.00 hrs/week
SV
Stelios Valavanis Board Of Directors 1.00 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)

$1.3M

Highest Paid

$231K

Khadine Bennett

Compensated Officers

11

Name Title Base Other Total Hrs/Wk
Khadine Bennett Director Of Advocacy And Intergovernmental Affairs $164,250 $66,429 $230,679 48
Ed Yohnka Director Of Communications And Public Policy $70,768 $117,521 $188,289 24
Kt Sullivan Associate Director $53,826 $123,591 $177,417 18
Colleen Connell Executive Director $131,823 $40,064 $171,887 24
Emmalee Scott Director Of Philanthropy And Engagement $72,766 $46,509 $119,275 24
Benjamin Ruddell Director Of Criminal Justice Policy $69,493 $41,490 $110,983 36
Althea Walton Director Of Finance $53,552 $31,310 $84,862 18
Nora Collins-Mandeville Director Of Systems Reform Policy $67,405 $17,219 $84,624 36
Meaghan Mcelroy Senior Program Director $69,409 $9,422 $78,831 36
Elizabeth Roberson-Young Senior Supervising Policy Counsel $61,881 $11,580 $73,461 36
Gabriel Pachter Senior Director Of Strategic Initiatives And Team Operations $11,416 $13,317 $24,733 6

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

Individual Political Donors

People from this organization who contributed to political campaigns

$28K Total Given
Democratic $25,210 (89%)
Other/PAC $3,144 (11%)
100 Contributions
$284 Avg Each

Top Individual Donors

26 Individual Donors
HS
Harper Seldin 4 contributions • $1,200 avg
$4,800
MC
Mingqi Chu 2 contributions • $2,000 avg
$4,000
BD
Brian Dimmick 3 contributions • $1,300 avg
$3,900
DM
David Mckinney 1 contribution • $3,300 avg
$3,300
LL
Lauren Lee 10 contributions • $300 avg
$3,000

Other Individual Contributors $9,354 combined

#6
JR

Judy Rabinovitz

New York, NY

$1,980 Total
4 Contributions
ELISSA SLOTKIN FOR MICHIGAN AMERICA VOTES ACTION
#7
JD

John Doherty

Washington, DC

$1,600 Total
7 Contributions
HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT ACTBLUE
#8
PM

Patrick Mchenry

Brooklyn, NY

$600 Total
3 Contributions
HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT ACTBLUE
#9
KM

Kriston Mcintosh

Bethesda, MD

$533 Total
2 Contributions
ALSOBROOKS VICTORY ALSOBROOKS FOR SENATE
#10
RB

Ruth Bourquin

Cambridge, MA

$500 Total
2 Contributions
ACTBLUE
#11
AH

Andrew Hoover

Mechanicsburg, PA

$500 Total
2 Contributions
HARRIS VICTORY ACTBLUE
#12
SS

Steve Smith

Brooklyn, NY

$500 Total
1 Contribution
GREENPEACE USA VOTES
#13
MZ

Mohammad Zaidi

Robbinsville, NJ

$450 Total
4 Contributions
HARRIS VICTORY DNC SERVICES CORP / DEMOCRATIC N...
#14
KJ

Kamara Jones

Washington, DC

$360 Total
2 Contributions
HARRIS VICTORY HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT
#15
ED

Evelyn Danforth

San Francisco, CA

$350 Total
1 Contribution
SAN FRANCISCO DEMOCRATIC COUNTY ...
#16
DC

David Cole

Washington, DC

$312 Total
2 Contributions
COLIN ALLRED FOR SENATE
#17
AH

Aaron Horowitz

San Francisco, CA

$310 Total
18 Contributions
DNC SERVICES CORP / DEMOCRATIC N... ACTBLUE
#18
AY

Andrea Young

Atlanta, GA

$250 Total
10 Contributions
WARNOCK FOR GEORGIA
#19
MZ

Michael Zamore

Washington, DC

$250 Total
1 Contribution
ALSOBROOKS VICTORY
#20
SM

Sarah Michelsen

Phoenix, AZ

$250 Total
1 Contribution
ACTBLUE
#21
KG

Karen Goldman

Brooklyn, NY

$200 Total
2 Contributions
HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT
#22
ED

Emily Dindial

Brooklyn, NY

$135 Total
9 Contributions
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ FOR CON...
#23
IT

Ian Thompson

Frederick, MD

$104 Total
3 Contributions
JILL STEIN FOR PRESIDENT 2024
#24
DK

Daniel Korobkin

Ann Arbor, MI

$100 Total
1 Contribution
ELISSA SLOTKIN FOR MICHIGAN
#25
PM

Peter Meysenburg

New York, NY

$40 Total
2 Contributions
JUSTICE DEMOCRATS PAC
#26
AB

Aaron Black

New Orleans, LA

$30 Total
3 Contributions
JON OSSOFF FOR SENATE

Quick Insights

🏆
Most Active Donor Aaron Horowitz with 18 contributions
💰
Highest Avg per Contribution Mingqi Chu at $2,000 each
🎯
Top Recipient ACTBLUE — $7,990

Data from Federal Election Commission • Individual contributions only

Related Organizations

1 affiliated entity reported on IRS Form 990 Schedule R

1

Tax-Exempt Affiliates

1
The Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU
Chicago, IL
See Part VII
501(c) 501 (C) (3)

Source: IRS Form 990, Schedule R (Related Organizations and Unrelated Partnerships)

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 Of Illinois

Phone

(312) 201-9740

Social

Visit Website
150 N Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60601