ACLU of Michigan

What ACLU of Michigan does

ACLU of Michigan is a state-level nonprofit civil liberties organization affiliated with the national American Civil Liberties Union, founded in 1955 and headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. It operates two legal entities: the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (Union), which conducts nonpartisan legislative and grassroots advocacy, and the American Civil Liberties Union Fund of Michigan (Foundation), which receives tax-deductible contributions for legal programs and special projects. The organization employs 101-250 staff and serves a base of more than 500,000 active members and supporters across the state, providing impact litigation, legal representation, complaint intake, and educational programming on constitutional rights issues including immigrants' rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, reproductive freedom, and First Amendment protections.

The organization's core offerings center on legal and advocacy services rather than a technology product. Key offerings include a Know Your Rights education program (with statewide in-person and virtual townhalls), an online complaint filing and legal intake system, strategic impact litigation, nonpartisan legislative advocacy, grassroots organizing campaigns, and a publications program producing reports and position papers. The underlying technology stack is conventional for a digital advocacy nonprofit: a web platform (aclumich.org), email marketing systems, online donation processing, and a case management / legal intake system. There is no proprietary technology product, SaaS offering, or AI component disclosed in the source data.

ACLU of Michigan's business model is a contribution-driven nonprofit model. Revenue streams consist of tax-deductible donations to the ACLU Fund of Michigan (one-time gifts, memorial/honor gifts) and recurring annual membership dues of $35 or more, which confer membership in both the state and national ACLU organizations. Distribution is direct-to-consumer and direct-to-supporter via the website, email, social media, and community events, supplemented by a separate sub-brand, The Nancy Katz & Margo Dichtelmiller LGBTQ+ Project. Strategic partnerships with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, the national ACLU, other state ACLU affiliates, and institutional plaintiffs (University of Michigan, Wayne State University) support coalition litigation and donor list sharing. The organization is not publicly traded and does not pursue M&A; growth is programmatic and member-driven.

Name

ACLU of Michigan

Legal name

American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan

Website

https://aclumich.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ACLU of Michigan is a Detroit-based nonprofit civil liberties organization affiliated with the national ACLU, providing impact litigation, legal intake, advocacy, and Know Your Rights education to more than 500,000 Michigan members and supporters across issues including immigrants' rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, and reproductive freedom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE), Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

Keywords

• Civil rights advocacy
• Legal aid services
• Constitutional law
• Immigration legal services
• Voting rights protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The ACLU of Michigan raises funds through tax-deductible donations to the ACLU Fund of Michigan, one-time gifts, memorial/honor gifts, and recurring membership dues. These contributions support litigation, advocacy, public education efforts, and special projects.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership in the ACLU of Michigan, priced at $35 or more, covers one year of membership dues and includes membership in both state and national ACLU organizations. Membership dues support non-partisan legislative and grassroots advocacy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACLU of Michigan is a nonprofit civil liberties organization that provides free legal representation, impact litigation, and legal referrals for civil rights cases; runs Know Your Rights educational resources and statewide townhalls; operates an online complaint intake system; and conducts nonpartisan legislative advocacy and grassroots organizing on issues including voting rights, immigrants' rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive freedom.

Product overview

ACLU of Michigan is a civil rights nonprofit organization offering legal services, advocacy campaigns, and educational resources. The organization does not operate a technology product in the traditional SaaS sense. Its core offerings consist of: legal representation and impact litigation for civil liberties cases; the Know Your Rights Townhall program providing educational events on constitutional rights; an online complaint filing system for legal intake; advocacy and organizing campaigns combining litigation, communications, and grassroots organizing; and publications including reports and educational materials. The organization focuses on defending constitutional rights including First Amendment freedoms, equality, privacy rights, and fundamental fairness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Nancy Katz & Margo Dichtelmiller LGBTQ+ Project: The only legal organization headquartered in Michigan fighting for the equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and their families through strategic litigation, education, and public policy work.

Products and services

• Legal Representation and Impact Litigation Free legal representation, impact litigation, and constitutional challenges for civil liberties cases affecting Michigan residents, with legal referrals handled through the organization.
• Online Complaint Filing (Legal Intake) Digital intake system at intake.aclumich.org allowing individuals to file legal complaints and request legal assistance from the ACLU of Michigan.
• Know Your Rights Townhall Statewide in-person and virtual townhall events educating Michigan communities about their constitutional rights, including rights during protests and immigration enforcement encounters.
• Know Your Rights Educational Resources Educational resources and information guides helping individuals understand their constitutional rights, including materials for immigrants' rights, protests, and encounters with law enforcement.
• The Nancy Katz & Margo Dichtelmiller LGBTQ+ Project Dedicated program of the ACLU of Michigan delivering strategic litigation, public policy advocacy, and education on equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and their families in Michigan.
• Advocacy and Organizing Campaigns Nonpartisan legislative and grassroots advocacy campaigns combining litigation, strategic communications, and on-the-ground organizing to protect civil liberties on issues such as voting rights, immigrants' rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive freedom.
• Publications and Reports Educational materials, reports, position papers, and public education resources covering civil liberties issues and legal matters.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ACLU of Michigan and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC) are coalition partners in immigrants' rights work, frequently co-filing lawsuits, letters to ICE, and advocacy documents. Together they have challenged ICE detention practices, advocated for bond hearings, protected courthouse access for immigrants, and filed litigation regarding North Lake Processing Center conditions.
• ACLU National (American Civil Liberties Union)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ACLU of Michigan is an affiliated organization of the American Civil Liberties Union, Inc. and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Inc. The organizations share personal information, coordinate advocacy efforts, pool resources for litigation, and jointly pursue civil liberties goals. The national organization provides support for state-level advocacy and coordinates nationwide campaigns.
• Other ACLU State AffiliatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ACLU of Michigan collaborates with other state and local ACLU affiliates around the United States on shared advocacy goals, litigation strategies, and policy campaigns through the ACLU Organizations network.
• Nonpartisan Organizations (List Sharing)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe ACLU of Michigan participates in list exchanges and data sharing with other nonpartisan nonprofit organizations to grow its donor base and supporter network, reaching like-minded individuals who may be interested in supporting civil liberties advocacy.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Immigration Law Center: A national organization dedicated to advancing the rights of immigrants through litigation, policy advocacy, and communications. Comparable because immigrant rights litigation and ICE detention advocacy is a documented core activity of ACLU of Michigan.
• Southern Poverty Law Center: A national civil rights organization combining impact litigation, policy advocacy, and education on civil liberties and discrimination issues. Comparable as a multi-issue legal advocacy nonprofit with similar fundraising mechanics and donor constituencies.
• Lambda Legal: A national legal organization focused on LGBTQ+ civil rights impact litigation and policy advocacy. Directly comparable because the Nancy Katz & Margo Dichtelmiller LGBTQ+ Project at ACLU of Michigan operates in the same substantive legal space and competes for similar donor funding.
• Michigan Immigrant Rights Center: Michigan-based legal services and advocacy organization for immigrants and a documented coalition partner that co-files litigation and townhalls with ACLU of Michigan. Directly comparable mission, geography, and operating model.
• NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund: A national civil rights legal organization pursuing impact litigation and advocacy on voting rights, criminal justice, and economic justice. Directly comparable structure, mission, and donor base to ACLU of Michigan's civil-liberties docket.
• Human Rights Campaign: The largest national LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization, combining lobbying, electoral work, and public education. Operates in the same donor constituency that supports ACLU of Michigan's LGBTQ+ Project and competes for issue-aligned giving.
• Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF): A national Latino civil rights legal organization focused on impact litigation, advocacy, and education. Comparable multi-issue civil rights legal advocacy model and donor base, with overlapping voter protection and immigration priorities.

Emerging players

• American Constitution Society: A national progressive legal organization promoting constitutional law scholarship, judicial engagement, and legal policy. Comparable insofar as it operates in the broader constitutional-law advocacy space, but with a more elite/professional focus rather than mass-membership litigation.

Broad incumbents

• American Civil Liberties Union (National): The parent affiliate organization with which ACLU of Michigan shares brand, infrastructure, donor lists, and coordinated legal strategy. Operates a much broader national portfolio but uses state affiliates as the on-the-ground delivery mechanism for litigation, lobbying, and grassroots organizing.

Regional players

• ACLU of California (ACLU SoCal / ACLU NorCal): Sister ACLU state affiliates in California that operate the same affiliate model in a different geography. Comparable for legal advocacy, membership pricing structure, and parent affiliate relationship, but do not directly compete in Michigan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACLUofMichigan
• Facebookfacebook.com/ACLUofMichigan

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 of Michigan