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American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found reported $15.6 million in revenue and $12.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $78.22 went to program services, $12.76 to management and general costs and $9.02 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 70.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $271,757 (Executive Director). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 37% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $13MFor context, the median across 132 covered civil rights, social action & advocacy charities: $84.11 programs, $11.40 management, $4.49 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $16MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 78.2% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.8% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.0% | 4.4% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.11 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 70.1% | 94.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $271,757 | $321,771 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.11% | 1.81% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 58.6 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 of 6 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseLegal Program: The ACLU pursues impact litigation and files amicus briefs to uphold the Constitution and advance civil rights and civil liberties for all Washingtonians. We pursue cases that will effect widespread change, particularly those that impact communities historically most affected by racism and other forms of injustice in our society, whether in the areas of the criminal legal system, immigration rights, voting rights, LGBTQIA2S rights, unlawful surveillance, or access to health care
Policy Advocacy Program: The ACLU works to educate policy makers and stakeholders, promote policies that advance civil liberties, and oppose those that are harmful to equity and freedom. We work to implement long-term, systemic change for all people. We provide legal and policy guidance to agencies and government bodies to ensure that constitutional rights are protected and upheld. Signature programs include technology & liberty; campaign for smart justice; youth policy; immigration and policing; and access to health care
Communications Program: Educating the public is critical to defending civil liberties across the state. We engage the media to develop articles, frame issues, and influence opinions. We provide expert speakers on a wide range of civil liberties topics to schools and community groups, including know your rights trainings to support impacted communities ability to stand up for themselves. Through our member and public events, speakers bureau, and student outreach, the Communications Department rallies supporters, attracts new audiences, and empowers grassroots and other groups to promote civil…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Director Officer, 25.30 hrs/week | $152,365 | $71,701 | $47,691 | $271,757 |
| Deputy Director Key employee, 25.70 hrs/week | $152,388 | $71,712 | $26,238 | $250,338 |
| IAD Director Key employee, 25.70 hrs/week | $137,235 | $64,581 | $31,595 | $233,411 |
| Finance Director Officer, 25.70 hrs/week | $109,227 | $51,400 | $46,297 | $206,924 |
| Communications Director Key employee, 22.50 hrs/week | $101,644 | $67,763 | $29,151 | $198,558 |
| Development Director Key employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $164,233 | $0 | $30,990 | $195,223 |
| Legal Director Key employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $169,343 | $0 | $21,341 | $190,684 |
| Policy Counsel Highest compensated employee, 22.50 hrs/week | $95,188 | $63,459 | $23,600 | $182,247 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b6 · 6 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 563
- Volunteers Part I, line 6100
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found totaling $15,069 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found spent in FY2025, $78.22 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All civil rights, social action & advocacy charities · Largest charities in Washington
Questions people ask
How much of American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found reported that 78.2% of its $12.9 million in expenses went to program services, 12.8% to management and general and 9.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 was $271,757, for the role of Executive Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found get its money?
Of $15.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, 70.1% came from contributions and grants and 0.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Found a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7076867 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, object 202630419349300638 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202540279349301654 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202440309349300734 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202320449349301317 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202220429349301442 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, object 202140399349301274 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7076867: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.