Founded 1920 · 1.7 Million Members · 54 Affiliates · All 50 States · 500+ Staff Attorneys
What It Costs, What You Get, the Tax Question Everyone Gets Wrong, & Why Right Now Matters
The ACLU has been the country’s most active civil liberties organization for over a century — defending the rights of people across the political spectrum, including many whose views the ACLU itself disagrees with. This guide covers membership costs, how to get your card, the critical tax deductibility distinction almost nobody understands, and what the organization is doing right now.
⚖️ What the ACLU Actually Does — The Two-Minute Version
The American Civil Liberties Union was founded on January 19, 1920, and has operated continuously ever since as an organization dedicated to defending the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights — regardless of who is being protected or which political party is in power. That last part is serious: the ACLU has defended the free speech rights of neo-Nazis, the religious liberty of evangelical Christians, and the rights of gun owners, as well as immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, and people of color. The organization pursues its mission through three tools: litigation (filing and arguing court cases), lobbying (advocating for legislation at the federal and state levels), and public education. Membership dues fund the lobbying arm; the ACLU Foundation funds the legal work. As of 2024, the ACLU has approximately 1.7 million members, operates through 54 state and territory affiliates, employs roughly 500 staff attorneys, and maintains a combined budget of $383 million. It receives no government funding — it sues the government, so it cannot.
📋 Key Facts — What You Need to Know Before Joining
Straight answers to the most frequently searched questions about ACLU membership — without the political noise.
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How much does ACLU membership cost? $35/year is the widely published minimum for most affiliates · Some affiliates (like Southern California) accept $25 · Monthly giving available from $5/month · Suggested higher tiers: $50, $75, $100+/yearThe standard ACLU membership minimum is $35 per year across most state affiliates, though the exact amount can vary slightly by affiliate. Southern California, for example, accepts contributions of $25 or more for membership. There is no maximum — members who contribute $1,000 or more annually join the Impact Society, the ACLU’s leadership donor circle. Monthly recurring giving is also available starting around $5/month through the national ACLU’s website. When you join, your dues split between the national ACLU and your state affiliate, supporting both national and local work simultaneously. The $35 figure is not a hard floor set by federal law — it is the organization’s suggested minimum, and some affiliates will accept smaller contributions at their discretion.
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What does ACLU membership include — what do you actually get? Membership card mailed to your home · Biannual member magazine · Updates on civil liberties issues · Invitations to local events and forums · Ability to participate in advocacy campaigns · The card itself has no legal power — it’s a symbol of supportACLU membership comes with tangible benefits: a physical membership card mailed to your home address, a bi-annual member magazine covering civil liberties issues and ACLU cases, email updates on policy and legal developments, and invitations to local affiliate events and forums where you can hear from ACLU attorneys and advocates. The “card-carrying member” phrase is cultural and symbolic — having the card does not give you any legal protections, priority access to ACLU legal services, or special hotline access. The ACLU provides legal representation based on the civil liberties importance of cases, not membership status. What the card represents, and what many members find meaningful, is a public and personal declaration of support for the organization’s mission — which is why “card-carrying ACLU member” has been a phrase in American political and cultural conversation for decades.
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Why are ACLU membership dues not tax deductible? The ACLU (the membership organization) is a 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofit · 501(c)(4) status allows unlimited lobbying, which disqualifies donations from being tax deductible · The separate ACLU Foundation is a 501(c)(3) — donations to it ARE tax deductibleThis confuses a lot of people, and the explanation is simple once you understand the IRS structure. The ACLU operates as two separate legal entities. The American Civil Liberties Union itself is a 501(c)(4) organization — a “social welfare” nonprofit designation that permits the organization to lobby legislators and advocate for or against specific laws without limit. This lobbying freedom is essential to the ACLU’s mission, but federal tax law says donations to 501(c)(4)s cannot be claimed as charitable deductions. The ACLU Foundation — a separate 501(c)(3) — funds the litigation and public education work. Donations to the Foundation are fully tax deductible if you itemize, and can also be made as a QCD from an IRA for those 70½ and older. Many supporters give to both: membership dues to the 501(c)(4) Union (for the card and to fund lobbying), and a separate tax-deductible gift to the 501(c)(3) Foundation (to support legal cases).
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Is the ACLU partisan — does it only help liberals? Officially nonpartisan · Has defended conservative causes including religious liberty, gun rights, and free speech for far-right groups · Has also challenged both Democratic and Republican administrations · The perception of liberal bias exists but the full case record is more complexThe ACLU’s stated mission is to defend the Constitution and Bill of Rights for everyone — and its case history backs that up more than many people realize. The ACLU has defended the rights of evangelical Christian groups to use school facilities on the same basis as secular groups. It has filed amicus briefs supporting gun owners’ rights in certain Second Amendment cases. It famously defended the right of the American Nazi Party to march in Skokie, Illinois in 1977 — a Jewish community with Holocaust survivors — on First Amendment grounds, a decision that cost the organization significant membership and funding. The organization has also challenged Democratic administrations on surveillance programs and civil liberties issues. That said, the ACLU’s current caseload does heavily reflect the civil liberties landscape of the moment: when an administration issues executive orders the ACLU believes violate the Constitution, it litigates. The perception of partisan alignment tends to track whichever party currently holds power and is being sued.
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Will the ACLU help me personally with a civil liberties issue if I’m a member? Membership does not grant legal representation · The ACLU takes cases based on civil liberties significance, not member status · Contact your state affiliate to report a civil liberties issue · Not every case can be taken · You may be referred to private attorneys or legal aidThe ACLU provides legal representation based on the constitutional significance and civil liberties importance of a case — not membership. If you have what you believe is a legitimate civil liberties violation (a government agency violating your free speech rights, illegal search and seizure, discrimination based on a protected characteristic), the right path is to contact your state ACLU affiliate directly. Each affiliate has a process for receiving and reviewing potential cases. Many cases the ACLU takes involve individual people — members and non-members — whose situations present broader constitutional questions the organization can argue in court. Cases that are fact-intensive individual disputes without broader policy implications are less likely to be taken, and you may be referred to a legal aid organization or private attorney. The ACLU national site at aclu.org/get-legal-help has a form for submitting civil liberties concerns and a directory to reach your state affiliate.
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How do I renew my ACLU membership or update my information? Online at aclu.org/renew · By mail using the renewal notice sent annually · By phone at 1-888-567-2258 (888-567-ACLU) · Monthly givers renew automatically · Annual members receive renewal reminders by email and mailAnnual ACLU memberships run for one year from the date of joining or last renewal. The ACLU sends renewal reminders by email and by mail as your membership approaches its expiration date. You can renew online at aclu.org, by responding to the mailed notice with a check, or by calling 1-888-567-ACLU (1-888-567-2258). If you set up monthly recurring giving through the ACLU’s website, your membership renews automatically each month and your card reflects active membership year-round without any action required from you. To update your mailing address, email, or payment information, log in to your account at aclu.org or call the membership line. If you’ve moved across states, it’s worth noting that your affiliate association updates automatically when you update your address, since part of your dues goes to your state affiliate.
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What is the ACLU Foundation and how is it different from the ACLU? ACLU Foundation = 501(c)(3) · Funds lawsuits, legal representation, and public education · Donations ARE tax deductible · Does NOT provide membership cards · ACLU membership org = 501(c)(4) · Funds lobbying · Donations NOT tax deductible · Provides membership and cardsMost people think of the ACLU as one organization — and functionally it operates as one, with shared staff, offices, and mission. Legally, however, it is two separate corporate entities that exist to comply with federal tax law. The American Civil Liberties Union (the 501(c)(4)) is the membership organization that funds legislative advocacy and lobbying. Donating to it makes you a card-carrying member but is not tax deductible. The ACLU Foundation (the 501(c)(3)) funds the actual courtroom work — filing and arguing cases, researching legal strategies, and public education. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible if you itemize (or through an IRA QCD for those 70½+), but do not make you a “member” or result in a membership card. The split is common among major advocacy organizations: the Sierra Club and its Sierra Club Foundation operate the same way, as does the NRA and NRA Foundation. Many committed supporters donate to both, getting the card and supporting lobbying with the 501(c)(4) contribution, and claiming a deduction for the Foundation gift.
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How do I cancel my ACLU membership? Annual memberships expire automatically — simply don’t renew · Monthly recurring giving: cancel online in your account portal or call 1-888-567-2258 · No cancellation fee, no penalty · Your card remains “valid” until the membership expiration dateCanceling an ACLU annual membership is straightforward — do nothing when the renewal notice arrives and the membership simply lapses. There is no contract and no cancellation fee. If you’ve set up monthly recurring giving, you need to actively cancel to stop the recurring charges: log in to your account at aclu.org to find the recurring giving management page, or call the membership line at 1-888-567-2258 and ask them to cancel the recurring contribution. For state affiliate memberships where you enrolled through a specific affiliate’s website rather than the national ACLU site, contact that affiliate directly to cancel recurring charges. The ACLU does not sell membership lists or share donor information with other organizations — this is part of their formal donor confidentiality policy.
💳 ACLU Membership Levels — What Each Tier Includes
All tiers include the membership card, magazine, and affiliate access. Higher contributions support more work and unlock additional engagement opportunities.
Standard Member
$35+/yr
Membership card by mail · Biannual magazine · Email updates · Advocacy alerts · Most common entry level across affiliates
Sustaining / Monthly
$5+/mo
All Standard benefits · Auto-renews monthly · No lapse risk · Predictable ongoing support preferred by the ACLU for staffing and planning
Impact Society
$1,000+/yr
All Standard benefits · Leadership Forum invitations · Conference calls with ACLU attorneys · Regional events · ACLU Insight Panel participation · Not tax deductible
⚠️ Important: ACLU Foundation Gifts vs. Membership Dues
None of the above membership tiers are tax deductible — they all go to the 501(c)(4) lobbying arm. If a tax deduction matters to you, make a separate gift to the ACLU Foundation at acluf.org or through the donation page at aclu.org. Seniors age 70½ and older can give up to $111,000 per year directly from an IRA (Qualified Charitable Distribution) to the ACLU Foundation — fully reducing taxable income without needing to itemize. Always verify with your tax advisor for your specific situation.
🔍 Questions People Don’t Always Know to Ask
Does the ACLU take cases for everyone, or only certain groups?
WHO THEY DEFEND
The ACLU takes cases based on constitutional principle, not the identity or political views of the person involved. This is what distinguishes it from advocacy groups that work only for specific constituencies. The ACLU has represented white supremacists asserting free speech rights, police officers claiming due process violations, religious conservatives fighting government interference with religious practice, and gun owners raising Second Amendment arguments — alongside the many cases involving marginalized communities that dominate the public perception of the organization. The practical test the ACLU uses: does this situation involve a genuine violation of rights protected by the Constitution or Bill of Rights? If yes, the identity and beliefs of the person involved are not determining factors. Whether any specific case gets taken depends on whether the ACLU has the legal resources and whether the case presents a civil liberties issue worth litigating — not on membership, political alignment, or public sympathy. Cases that establish legal precedents affecting large numbers of people generally receive priority over individual disputes.
⚖️ ACLU has defended conservatives, liberals, and everyone in between
📋 Case selection based on constitutional significance, not identity
📝 Submit a case: aclu.org/get-legal-help
📞 Contact your state affiliate directly for local issues
I’m a senior — does the ACLU work on issues that affect older Americans specifically?
SENIORS · OLDER AMERICANS
Yes, though the ACLU doesn’t have a dedicated “seniors division” — several of its active issue areas directly affect older Americans. The ACLU has been involved in cases and advocacy touching elder care and nursing home residents’ rights, opposing age discrimination in employment and housing, defending Social Security and Medicare from cuts that would affect retirees, advocating for voting rights accessibility for older and disabled voters, and more recently fighting AI and algorithmic decision-making that can discriminate against older adults in healthcare, housing, and government benefits. Voting rights cases the ACLU is currently pursuing — including challenges to proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration — directly affect older Americans who may have difficulty producing specific documents. The ACLU’s privacy work also matters enormously to seniors: surveillance of public spaces, warrantless access to medical records and financial data, and location tracking all disproportionately affect vulnerable populations including the elderly.
🗳️ ACLU fighting voter registration barriers that affect seniors
🤖 ACLU challenging AI discrimination in healthcare and benefits
🏥 Nursing home residents’ rights: ACLU state affiliates active in this area
🔒 Privacy and surveillance: ACLU fights warrantless data collection
I’ve been an ACLU member for years but stopped getting my card — what happened?
MEMBERSHIP CARD · RENEWAL
A few common reasons explain why long-time members stop receiving physical cards — and all of them are fixable. First, check whether your membership lapsed: annual memberships expire, and if a renewal notice went to an old address or email, you may have inadvertently let it lapse. Second, if you recently moved and updated your address late, there can be a delay of one to two billing cycles before the address update propagates to the card mailing system. Third, some states and some signup pathways default to e-card or digital membership confirmation without automatically mailing a physical card — check your email inbox for a confirmation that may have come in instead. To request a replacement membership card or confirm your membership status, the most reliable options are logging into your account at aclu.org or calling the ACLU membership line at 1-888-567-2258 (Monday through Friday, business hours). Membership cards are mailed from the national ACLU office, not from the Foundation — make sure the address on file is current.
📬 Card request: log in at aclu.org or call 1-888-567-2258
🏠 Update address: aclu.org account portal or phone
✅ Confirm active membership first — may need to renew
📧 Check inbox — some confirmations are digital only
How does my ACLU membership actually get used — where does the $35 go?
HOW MONEY IS USED
Your membership dues go to the ACLU 501(c)(4) — split between the national organization and your state affiliate — and fund three specific types of work: legislative lobbying, voter registration and civic engagement, and state-level political advocacy. Roughly half of your dues stay with your state affiliate to fund lobbying in your state legislature, legislative monitoring, and state-level advocacy campaigns. The other half goes to the national ACLU for federal lobbying, congressional testimony, and national advocacy campaigns. None of your membership dues fund lawsuits or legal cases — that work is funded by the ACLU Foundation, which receives donations separately. The ACLU publishes annual reports — accessible at aclu.org/publications — that document how funds were spent, cases filed, and legislative outcomes the organization contributed to. In 2025, the ACLU’s combined budget of $383 million supported over 2,175 staff across all affiliates, 550 attorneys, and the filing of more than 230 legal actions, with a reported 64% success rate in cases against the current administration.
🏛️ Dues fund: lobbying + state advocacy (not lawsuits)
⚖️ Lawsuits funded by: ACLU Foundation (501(c)(3) donations)
📊 Annual reports: aclu.org/publications
🤝 Both entities accept donations — support both to cover all three mission areas
Can I give ACLU membership as a gift to someone else?
GIFT MEMBERSHIP
Yes — gift memberships are available through the national ACLU website and through many state affiliate pages. A gift membership works the same as a regular membership: the person you give it to receives a membership card, the biannual magazine, email updates, and affiliate access. The card is sent to the recipient’s mailing address. To give a gift membership, visit aclu.org and look for the “Gift Membership” option, or visit your state affiliate’s membership page — most have a gift option in the checkout flow. You’ll provide the recipient’s name and mailing address. The ACLU also offers gift certificates that let the recipient choose their own donation level. Gift memberships start at the same $35 minimum as regular memberships. Keep in mind: like all ACLU membership dues, a gift membership is not tax deductible. If you want to give a tax-deductible gift in someone’s honor, a donation to the ACLU Foundation in their name is the correct vehicle — though it does not come with a membership card.
🎁 Gift memberships: aclu.org → Gift Membership option
📬 Card sent to recipient’s address — provide at checkout
💵 Minimum: $35 · Not tax deductible
🧾 Tax-deductible honor gift: donate to ACLU Foundation instead
Does the ACLU share or sell member information? Is my donation private?
PRIVACY · DONOR CONFIDENTIALITY
The ACLU maintains a formal donor and member confidentiality policy and does not sell or share member lists. As an organization built around privacy rights — having argued and won landmark cases on digital privacy, phone surveillance, and warrantless data collection — the ACLU applies those principles to its own data practices. The organization commits formally to handling donor information with respect and confidentiality, recording only information relevant for membership and fundraising purposes, and using security measures to protect that data. Donations to the ACLU do not need to be reported publicly by the donor (unlike contributions to political campaigns, which have disclosure requirements). The IRS does require nonprofits to disclose major donors above certain thresholds in their 990 filings — but those filings show institutional grants and very large gifts, not individual membership dues. If privacy is a concern and you want to give without creating a digital record, the ACLU accepts checks mailed to your state affiliate or the national office in New York.
🔒 ACLU does not sell or share member lists
✅ Formal confidentiality policy covers all donor data
📧 No public disclosure required for individual membership dues
📮 Prefer paper? Mail a check to your state affiliate — no digital record
📍 Find Your ACLU Affiliate & Local Events
The ACLU operates 54 state and territory affiliates across the country. Use the buttons below to find your local affiliate office, civil liberties events, and legal aid organizations near you.
🔑 Quick Reference — ACLU Key Links & Contacts
🌐 Join or renew: aclu.org/membership
📞 ACLU membership line: 1-888-567-2258 (M–F, business hours)
⚖️ Report a civil liberties issue: aclu.org/get-legal-help
🏛️ Find your state affiliate: aclu.org/affiliate-map
🧾 Tax-deductible gift (ACLU Foundation): aclu.org/give/aclu-foundation
📊 Annual reports & impact: aclu.org/publications
🎁 Gift membership: aclu.org/give/gift-membership
📬 National HQ: 125 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004
✅ 5 Things to Know Before You Join or Donate
- Membership dues ($35+/year) are NOT tax deductible — they go to the 501(c)(4) lobbying arm. If you want a tax deduction, make a separate gift to the ACLU Foundation at acluf.org or through aclu.org/give/aclu-foundation.
- Seniors age 70½ or older can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) of up to $111,000 per year from an IRA directly to the ACLU Foundation — reducing taxable income without itemizing. Verify with your financial advisor first.
- Membership does not grant legal representation. The ACLU takes cases based on their civil liberties significance. To report an issue, contact your state affiliate or use aclu.org/get-legal-help.
- Monthly giving ($5+/month) keeps membership active year-round without annual renewal notices. It’s the ACLU’s preferred giving method and makes budgeting easier for fixed-income members.
- You can support both entities — pay $35 for membership (lobbying arm, card) and give any additional amount to the Foundation (litigation arm, tax deductible). Many longtime supporters do both to cover all three aspects of the ACLU’s mission.
ACLU membership dues, benefit details, affiliate minimum contributions, and program availability are set by the American Civil Liberties Union and its state affiliates and may change. The $35 minimum reflects commonly published figures as of early 2026 — individual state affiliates may vary. Tax deductibility information reflects current IRS classifications and should be verified with a qualified tax advisor for your specific situation. IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution rules are subject to change by Congress. This page has no affiliation with, sponsorship by, or endorsement from the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU Foundation, or any ACLU affiliate. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. For current and authoritative information, visit aclu.org or call 1-888-567-2258.