American Civil Liberties Union Inc
ACLU demonstrates significant asset growth and strong revenue, with occasional annual deficits.
EIN: 133871360 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $247.9M |
| Total Expenses | $174.5M |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| Net Assets | $139.7M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is American Civil Liberties Union Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
American Civil Liberties Union Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About American Civil Liberties Union Inc
American Civil Liberties Union Inc (EIN: 133871360) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $247.9M and total assets of $242.8M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of American Civil Liberties Union Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
American Civil Liberties Union Inc is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 56 years, with 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 14.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $146.7M |
| Total Expenses | $174.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-27,821,493 |
| Total Assets | $181.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $41.8M |
| Net Assets | $139.7M |
| Operating Margin | -19.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 23.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 12.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, American Civil Liberties Union Inc reported a deficit of $27.8M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 12.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 23.0% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 12 years of filings (2012–2023), American Civil Liberties Union Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -9.5% | +7.2% | -17.1% |
| 2022 | -5.2% | +4.7% | +6.7% |
| 2021 | +21.8% | +7.6% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | +0.9% | -1.0% | +4.9% |
| 2019 | -3.7% | +33.1% | -6.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 3000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1970 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates American Civil Liberties Union Inc with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Civil Liberties Union Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $27.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 23.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings is highly unusual for an organization of this size and revenue, suggesting that executive compensation may be reported in a different section of the 990 or paid through a related entity, requiring further investigation of the full tax forms.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of American Civil Liberties Union Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and requires further investigation.
- Occasional annual deficits, such as in 202303 where expenses ($174.5M) exceeded revenue ($146.7M), though offset by strong asset base.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Civil Liberties Union Inc:
- Strong and consistent growth in revenue over the past decade, from $36.9M in 201403 to $146.7M in 202303.
- Substantial and growing asset base, reaching $181.4M in 202303, providing long-term financial stability.
- Assets significantly outweigh liabilities, indicating a healthy balance sheet ($181.4M assets vs $41.8M liabilities in 202303).
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s (12 filings), demonstrating transparency in financial reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions about American Civil Liberties Union Inc
Is American Civil Liberties Union Inc a legitimate charity?
American Civil Liberties Union Inc (EIN: 133871360) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $247.9M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does American Civil Liberties Union Inc spend its money?
American Civil Liberties Union Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to American Civil Liberties Union Inc tax-deductible?
American Civil Liberties Union Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133871360). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of American Civil Liberties Union Inc's spending goes to programs?
American Civil Liberties Union Inc directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is American Civil Liberties Union Inc located?
American Civil Liberties Union Inc is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 133871360.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does American Civil Liberties Union Inc have?
American Civil Liberties Union Inc has 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $247.9M in total revenue.
Is the ACLU financially stable?
Yes, despite some annual deficits (e.g., 202303 with $146.7M revenue vs $174.5M expenses), the ACLU maintains strong financial stability with substantial assets ($181.4M in 202303) significantly exceeding liabilities ($41.8M).
How has the ACLU's funding changed over time?
The ACLU has experienced significant growth in funding, with revenue increasing from $36.9M in 201403 to $146.7M in 202303, demonstrating strong and sustained donor support.
What is the trend in the ACLU's assets?
The ACLU's assets have grown substantially and consistently, from $27.5M in 201403 to $181.4M in 202303, indicating effective financial management and accumulation of resources.
Why is officer compensation reported as 0%?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is unusual for an organization of this scale and suggests that executive compensation might be reported elsewhere in the 990 or paid by a related entity, which warrants a deeper dive into the full tax documents.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for American Civil Liberties Union Inc showing financial trends over 12 years of public records:
Over 12 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2023), American Civil Liberties Union Inc's revenue has grown by 333.3%, moving from $33.9M to $146.7M. Total assets increased by 614.2% over the same period, from $25.4M to $181.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 447.1%, from $31.9M to $174.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), American Civil Liberties Union Inc reported a deficit of $27.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $41.8M in liabilities against $181.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 23.0%), resulting in net assets of $139.7M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $146.7M | $174.5M | $181.4M | $41.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $162.2M | $162.9M | $218.8M | $52.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $171.0M | $155.5M | $205.0M | $43.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $140.4M | $144.5M | $202.4M | $80.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $139.1M | $145.9M | $193.0M | $52.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $144.4M | $109.6M | $205.7M | $56.3M | — | — |
| 2017 | $155.8M | $66.4M | $166.2M | $47.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $42.8M | $38.6M | $88.0M | $58.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $50.6M | $42.0M | $83.8M | $60.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $36.9M | $37.0M | $27.5M | $38.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $34.7M | $36.9M | $23.9M | $51.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $33.9M | $31.9M | $25.4M | $45.9M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $146.7M, expenses of $174.5M, and assets of $181.4M (revenue -9.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $162.2M, expenses of $162.9M, and assets of $218.8M (revenue -5.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $171.0M, expenses of $155.5M, and assets of $205.0M (revenue +21.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $140.4M, expenses of $144.5M, and assets of $202.4M (revenue +0.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $139.1M, expenses of $145.9M, and assets of $193.0M (revenue -3.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $144.4M, expenses of $109.6M, and assets of $205.7M (revenue -7.3% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $155.8M, expenses of $66.4M, and assets of $166.2M (revenue +264.1% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $42.8M, expenses of $38.6M, and assets of $88.0M (revenue -15.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $50.6M, expenses of $42.0M, and assets of $83.8M (revenue +37.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $36.9M, expenses of $37.0M, and assets of $27.5M (revenue +6.4% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $34.7M, expenses of $36.9M, and assets of $23.9M (revenue +2.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $33.9M, expenses of $31.9M, and assets of $25.4M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for American Civil Liberties Union Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for American Civil Liberties Union Inc is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.