ACLU

What ACLU does

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit civil liberties organization headquartered at 125 Broad Street, New York, with a national footprint of 1,800+ staff and 50+ independent state and territorial affiliates, including ACLU of Tennessee (incorporated 1970, Nashville). Its core function is constitutional rights defense delivered through three integrated motions: (i) impact litigation in federal courts including the U.S. Supreme Court, (ii) legislative advocacy and lobbying across issue verticals, and (iii) grassroots mobilization via petition drives, email campaigns, rallies (e.g., the 'No Kings' protests), and celebrity-amplified campaigns. Issue verticals span Free Speech, Immigrants' Rights, Criminal Legal Reform, Democracy & Voting, LGBTQ+ Equality, Gender Equality, Privacy/Surveillance/Technology, Religious Freedom, and Police Accountability.

Core service products are non-transactional and provided pro bono: Know Your Rights educational resources, a Legal Assistance Request System, an Advocacy Tools Platform for constituent action, a Court Cases Database (82+ cases for ACLU-TN alone), Legislative Advocacy Resources tracking state bills, and the 'More Than A Game' campaign. Underlying technology consists of digital organizing platforms, case management systems, secure donation processing, encrypted supporter communications, and a published Data Governance Framework with eight privacy principles. ACLU-TN does not build AI systems; instead it litigates and advocates against facial recognition and surveillance AI, with documented casework on at least 15 wrongful arrests tied to facial recognition.

The business model is donation-funded: individual contributions, recurring memberships, major gifts, direct mail, digital fundraising, merchandise sales through the ACLU store, and ticketed events (galas, educational programs). Pricing is non-applicable — legal representation through the ACLU Foundation is provided at no cost. The customer base is not a paying one in the traditional sense; instead, ACLU serves individual litigants, member-donors, coalition partners, and the broader public as beneficiaries of precedent-setting litigation and Know Your Rights education.

Name

ACLU

Legal name

American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, Inc.

Website

https://aclu-tn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The ACLU is a non-profit civil liberties organization with 1,800+ staff and 50+ affiliates that provides pro bono impact litigation, legislative advocacy, and Know Your Rights education across free speech, voting, LGBTQ+ equality, immigration, criminal justice, and privacy issues for individuals, coalitions, and the broader U.S. public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Rights Legal Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Offices of Lawyers (54111), Other Legal Services (54119), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy (BPADAGAK), Legal Literacy & Public Legal Education (Know Your Rights) (EDAAAFAI)

Keywords

• Civil liberties advocacy
• Constitutional rights litigation
• Legal aid services
• Nonprofit advocacy
• Civil rights education

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Individual donations, membership fees, and major gifts from supporters. The ACLU generates revenue through direct mail, digital fundraising campaigns, online donations, and membership drives. The organization is a nonprofit that depends on public support.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of ACLU-branded merchandise including apparel, accessories, and promotional items through the ACLU store.
3. Events: Revenue from ticketed events, including fundraiser events, galas, and educational programs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The ACLU provides free legal representation in constitutional rights cases through its Foundation entity, conducts legislative advocacy and lobbying for civil liberties protections, delivers public education through Know Your Rights guides, and operates grassroots organizing campaigns. The organization litigates cases in federal and state courts including the U.S. Supreme Court on issues spanning free speech, immigrants' rights, criminal legal reform, LGBTQ+ equality, voting rights, and privacy. Services are provided at no cost to clients and are funded through donations, membership fees, and fundraising events.

Product overview

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and its Tennessee affiliate operate as civil rights advocacy organizations offering legal services, educational resources, and advocacy platforms rather than traditional technology products. The core offerings include: Know Your Rights educational resources helping individuals understand constitutional protections; a Legal Assistance Request System for seeking representation in civil liberties cases; an Advocacy Tools Platform enabling supporter engagement through petitions and legislative contact; a searchable Court Cases Database documenting legal challenges across issues including Criminal Legal Reform, Democracy & Voting, LGBTQ+ Equality, Privacy, and Religious Freedom; and the More Than A Game Campaign supporting transgender rights. These services function as interconnected components of ACLU's civil liberties defense mission, combining legal advocacy, public education, and grassroots organizing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Know Your Rights Resources Educational resources provided by ACLU-TN to help individuals understand their constitutional rights in various situations including interactions with law enforcement, voting, and other civil liberties contexts.
• Legal Assistance Request System
• Advocacy Tools Platform
• Court Cases Database
• Legislative Advocacy Resources

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 years of civil liberties advocacy and litigation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• Lambda LegalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-counsel in LGBTQ+ rights litigation including challenges to gender-affirming care bans and anti-drag laws. Lambda Legal and ACLU collaborate on Supreme Court cases affecting transgender rights.
• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital rights advocacy partnership on surveillance, privacy, and technology civil liberties issues. Joint litigation and advocacy on facial recognition, government data collection, and encryption.
• National ACLU Affiliates NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner50+ state and territorial affiliates sharing resources, coordinated campaigns, and state-level advocacy. National ACLU coordinates with affiliates on litigation strategy and messaging.
• Amnesty InternationalflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint human rights campaigns including the 2026 World Cup travel advisory warning international visitors about U.S. immigration enforcement. Led coalition of 120 rights organizations.
• NAACPflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCivil rights coalition partner on racial justice issues, voting rights, and criminal justice reform. Joint advocacy against discriminatory policies.
• Ballard SpahrcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm co-counsel in LGBTQ+ litigation including challenges to anti-LGBTQ+ ordinances in Murfreesboro and other Tennessee cases.
• Horwitz Law PLLCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNashville-based litigation firm specializing in First Amendment law and civil rights, serving as co-counsel in drag performer free speech cases.
• Southern Poverty Law CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-plaintiff in litigation challenging Tennessee's Universal Voucher Program in Young v. Lee, arguing the law unconstitutionally diverts public funds to private schools.
• Education Law CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-plaintiff in Young v. Lee challenging Tennessee's voucher program on education equity grounds.
• League of Women VoterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-plaintiff in lawsuit blocking Trump administration database combining Social Security numbers and citizenship status, protecting voting rights.
• Fight for the FuturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in opposition to Meta's facial recognition features for smart glasses. Joint letter with 70+ organizations demanding abandonment of the technology.
• Center for Democracy & TechnologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivacy advocacy partner opposing FCC burner phone regulations and government surveillance programs. Joint advocacy on digital rights.
• National Center for Youth LawmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-filer of FOIA lawsuit demanding transparency on treatment of pregnant unaccompanied immigrant youth in federal immigration custody.
• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMajor law firm co-counsel in L.W. v. Skrmetti challenging Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
• Bruce SpringsteenflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMusic artist who partnered with ACLU and immigration rights organizations at every tour stop, highlighting detention conditions and advocating for policy changes.
• Elliot PageflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerActor starring in 'More Than A Game' national public awareness campaign supporting transgender youth ahead of Supreme Court sports participation cases.
• Megan RapinoeflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerSoccer star featured in 'More Than A Game' campaign supporting transgender youth participation in sports.
• Sue BirdflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerBasketball legend featured in 'More Than A Game' campaign defending transgender people's civil rights and freedoms.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aclutn
• Facebookfacebook.com/ACLUTN

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACLU