Executive Salaries at the ACLU

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a 501 (c) (4) – a tax-exempt social welfare organization that engages in political and/or lobbying efforts to further its mission which means donations are treated as membership fees and, are therefore not tax deductible.

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU Foundation) is a 501 (c) (3) – a tax-exempt organization whose donations are tax deductible because their political and/or lobbying efforts are very limited.

Although both organizations are set up as different types of tax-exempt non-profits, they both operate out of the same office in New York City. So, when people talk about the ACLU, it is necessary to look at both organizations. In addition, it is important to note there are state affiliate offices nationwide that are separate tax-exempt organizations.

In very general terms, the ACLU raises about $150 million annually in “membership dues” and has about $150 million in net fund assets – think savings account – ($35 million of which was added in 2017).  The ACLU Foundation also raises about $150 million annually but has nearly $350 million in net fund assets – again, think savings account (a nearly $50 million increase in 2017 over the previous year). Both organizations raise significant sums, spend less than what they receive and have significant net fund assets, which some people may refer to as endowments.

ACLU

In 2017, the ACLU reported having 162 employees who were compensated $14.7 million, which equates to an average compensation of $91,000.  44 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 16 most highly compensated employees listed below (note:  the names in bold are on both the ACLU and the ACLU Foundation list with the name of the organization who paid the compensation in parenthesis):

• $604,611:  Dorothy M Ehrlich, Deputy Executive Director (ACLU)
• $561,188:  Anthony D Romero, Executive Director, CEO (ACLU)
• $436,653:  Geri E Rozanski, Director Affiliate Support, Advocacy (ACLU)
• $421,660:  Terence R Dougherty, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel (ACLU)
• $419,857:  David D Cole, National Legal Director  (ACLU Foundation)
• $393,162:  Michelle M Moore, Chief Communication Officer  (ACLU Foundation)
• $363,241:  Mark V Wier, Chief Development Officer (ACLU Foundation)
• $282,274:  Faiz R Shakir, National Political Director (ACLU)
• $270,083:  Kimberly P Trueblood, Chief of Staff (ACLU)
• $251,742:  Jennifer S Consilvio, Chief Financial Officer (ACLU)
• $241,826:  Eric J Vieland, Chief Corporate Counsel
• $236,384:  Jo-Anna Joseph, Director of Human Resources
• $234,230:  Geraldine L Engel, Deputy Director of Development
• $232,785: Karin Johanson, National Political Director (ACLU)
• $230,879:  Udi Ofer, Deputy National Political Director/Smart Justice
• $227,548:  Stephanie D Wecht, Deputy Chief Operating Officer

As illustrated above, 9 of the most highly compensated individuals on the list above are female while 7 are male. If just the employees compensated by the ACLU are considered (13), 8 are female while 5 are male.

ACLU Foundation

In 2017, the ACLU Foundation reported having 363 employees who were compensated $43.3 million, which equates to an average compensation of $119,000 although only 47 employees received more than $100,000. The 16 most highly compensated individuals are listed below (note:  the names in bold are on both the ACLU and the ACLU Foundation list with the name of the organization who paid the compensation in parenthesis):

• $604,611:  Dorothy M Ehrlich, Deputy Executive Director (ACLU)
• $561,188:  Anthony D Romero, Executive Director, CE (ACLU)
• $436,653:  Geri E Rozanski, Director Affiliate Support, Advocacy (ACLU)
• $421,660:  Terence R Dougherty, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel (ACLU)
• $419,857:  David D Cole, National Legal Director (ACLU Foundation)
• $393,162:  Michelle M Moore, Chief Communication Officer (ACLU Foundation)
• $363,241:  Mark V Wier, Chief Development Officer (ACLU Foundation)
• $317,854:  Dennis Parker, Director, Racial Justice Project
• $314,611:  Cecillia D Wang, Deputy Legal Director
• $312,202:  Jefferey P Robinson, Deputy Legal Director
• $310,043:  Louise Melling, Deputy Legal Director
• $284,485:  Judy Rabinovitz, Deputy Immigrants Rights Director
• $282,274:  Faiz R Shakir, National Political Director (ACLU)
• $270,083:  Kimberly P Trueblood, Chief of Staff (ACLU)
• $251,742:  Jennifer S Consilvio, Chief Financial Officer (ACLU)
• $232,785:  Karin Johanson, National Political Director (ACLU)

As illustrated above, 9 of the most highly compensated employees are female while 7 are male. If just the employees compensated by the ACLU Foundation (8), 4 are female and 4 are male.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2017) of the ACLU, click here.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2017) of the ACLU Foundation, click here.