Outlet profile

ACLU

U.S. progressive advocacy group (civil liberties litigation nonprofit)

Owned byNot owned by a company. It is a nonprofit membership organization made up of two main entities: the ACLU (a 501(c)(4) that lobbies and does political work) and the ACLU Foundation (a 501(c)(3) that litigates and educates). Both are governed by a national board, and state affiliates operate across the country.

FundingMember dues, plus donations and grants from individuals and private foundations. It says it takes no government funding. Its combined national budget is reported at about $383 million (2024), with about 1.7 million members. Contributions to the c3 Foundation are tax-deductible. It has drawn criticism and a Missouri complaint over some grants, including a $2 million unrestricted grant from the Switzerland-based Oak Foundation.

On the administrationbroadly critical

Background

The ACLU was founded in 1920 by Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman and others, in the aftermath of the post-World War I Red Scare, to defend free speech and due process. It became known for cases such as the 1925 Scopes trial and, later, school desegregation, abortion rights, and religious-liberty cases. It has historically defended speech for unpopular groups, including the Nazi march in Skokie (1977), and has also taken sides in many partisan-adjacent fights. Internal and outside critics, including some civil libertarians, say that in recent years it has moved toward progressive social-justice causes and away from some free-speech defenses. Conservative critics call it a left-wing partisan group, and have pointed to its funding and ballot-measure work, for example a 2026 complaint in Missouri alleging foreign-linked funds were used. Its funding grew sharply during Trump's first term, when donations surged after the 2016 election. Since January 2025 it has run what it calls its largest litigation campaign, with 110+ lawsuits against second-term administration actions on immigration, speech, and executive power, and it says it has won, delayed or diluted the administration's actions in over 70 percent of cases (a self-reported figure). It describes itself as nonpartisan, but it advocates for specific policies and opposes the administration on most issues.

Sources

Profile compiled 2026-10-18; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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