BGBESPOKE GRANTSFind your funders free →
Grant funders / New York / American Civil Liberties Union

American Civil Liberties Union

New York, New York  ·  EIN 136213516  ·  Private foundation

Based in New York, New York, American Civil Liberties Union has awarded $95.7M across 337 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2025. Its largest grant on record went to ACLU Foundation of Texas. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.

$15.0M
Annual giving (FY2021)
$735.1M
Total assets
337
Grants tracked
2025
Most recent grant

What American Civil Liberties Union funds

American Civil Liberties Union's giving carries a documented focus on higher education.

Higher Education

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for American Civil Liberties Union, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
ACLU Foundation of Texas
AFFILIATE PROGRAM
Houston, TX$2.4M2025
ACLU Foundation of Florida
AFFILIATE PROGRAM
Miami, FL$2.3M2025
ACLU Foundation of Louisiana
Affiliate Program
New Orleans, LA$2.0M2024
ACLU Foundation of West Virginia
AFFILIATE PROGRAM
Charleston, WV$1.7M2025
ACLU Foundation of Florida
Affiliate Program
Miami, FL$1.7M2023
Citizens Not Politicians
BALLOT INITIATIVES
Columbus, OH$1.6M2025
ACLU Foundation of Alabama
Affiliate Program
Montgomery, AL$1.5M2024
ACLU Foundation of Florida
Affiliate Program
Miami, FL$1.5M2024
ACLU Foundation of Tennessee
AFFILIATE PROGRAM
Nashville, TN$1.4M2025
ACLU Foundation of Georgia
Affiliate Program
Atlanta, GA$1.4M2024
ACLU Foundation of Virginia
AFFILIATE PROGRAM
Richmond, VA$1.3M2025
ACLU Foundation of Arkansas
AFFILIATE PROGRAM
Little Rock, AR$1.3M2025
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom
BALLOT INITIATIVES
St Louis, MO$1.1M2025
Arizona for Abortion Access
BALLOT INITIATIVES
Phoenix, AZ$1.1M2025
ACLU of North Carolina
Charitable
Raleigh, NC$1.1M2024

American Civil Liberties Union giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2018$5.9M
2020$6.0M
2021$14.9M
2023$16.0M
2024$24.4M
2025$28.4M

How to apply for funding from American Civil Liberties Union

American Civil Liberties Union's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at aclufoundation.org.

Is American Civil Liberties Union the right funder for your nonprofit?

This page shows what American Civil Liberties Union has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.

Match my nonprofit to funders →

Frequently asked questions about American Civil Liberties Union

Does American Civil Liberties Union accept grant applications?
American Civil Liberties Union's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
What does American Civil Liberties Union fund?
American Civil Liberties Union's grants focus on higher education. Recent recipients include ACLU Foundation of Texas, ACLU Foundation of Florida, ACLU Foundation of Louisiana. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does American Civil Liberties Union give in grants?
American Civil Liberties Union reported $15.0M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2021). Across all years in our data it has awarded $95.7M over 337 grants.
Where is American Civil Liberties Union located?
American Civil Liberties Union is based in New York, New York. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 136213516.
How can I find foundations similar to American Civil Liberties Union?
Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like American Civil Liberties Union, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.

Find more funders like American Civil Liberties Union

Foundations similar to American Civil Liberties Union

Other New York grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

About this profile. This page is built from American Civil Liberties Union's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with American Civil Liberties Union. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.