American Civil Liberties Union Foundation

Mission

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is the nation's leading civil liberties organization. We are a nationwide, nonpartisan organization of approximately 500,000 members with staffed affiliates and chapters operating in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, all dedicated to preserving and defending the principles of liberty and equality, including those reflected in the Constitution and the nation's civil rights laws. Founded in 1920, we are recognized as the nation's premier defender of individual rights and fundamental freedoms. The ACLU's core program focuses on five fundamental rights: freedom of speech, expression and political association; freedom of religion; equality before the law; fair procedures when accused of misconduct; and personal privacy. The ACLU also has a series of special projects that focus on areas where these core rights are especially threatened: racial discrimination, voting rights, gender discrimination, reproductive freedom, discrimination based on sexual orientation, drug prohibition, discrimination against people with AIDS, immigrants' rights, prisoners' rights, the death penalty and the complex intersection between new technologies and traditional civil liberties (e.g., free speech and privacy on the Internet). This work is accomplished through litigation, legislation and education.

Programs

Services are provided through our nationwide network of affiliates in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.