ACLU Vermont

What ACLU Vermont does

ACLU Vermont is the Vermont state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization paired with a 501(c)(3) Foundation, founded in 1967 and headquartered at 137 Elm Street in Montpelier. The organization defends constitutional and civil rights for Vermont residents through an integrated model that combines impact litigation, state-level policy advocacy, community organizing, public education, and strategic communications. It operates a portfolio of named campaigns including Smart Justice Vermont (criminal legal reform), Building a Firewall for Freedom (multi-issue response to federal overreach across immigration, trans rights, privacy, and economic justice), and Smarter Stops, Safer Roads (traffic enforcement reform), alongside Know Your Rights educational resources, a Share Your Story intake system, and direct legal representation through the Foundation.

Its service portfolio is built on standard nonprofit infrastructure — digital advocacy platforms, email marketing, petition tools, donor and case management systems — rather than proprietary technology. Operations are funded by a mix of individual donations, recurring memberships, foundation grants channeled through the national ACLU network, and event-based fundraising, with no fees charged to clients or members of the public. Vermont residents are the primary served population, with focused work on criminal justice-involved individuals, pregnant people facing state surveillance, immigrant communities, and other groups experiencing constitutional violations.

The organization is led by Executive Director James Lyall, Legal Director Lia Ernst, Advocacy Director Falko Schilling, and a small in-house legal team that supplements capacity through pro bono co-counsel arrangements (notably with Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP) and partnerships with national advocacy groups such as Pregnancy Justice. It also maintains a broad statewide coalition including multiple NAACP chapters, Black Lives Matter of Greater Burlington, Rights & Democracy, Vermont Women's March, and other grassroots partners, principally organized through the Smart Justice Vermont umbrella. Documented impact includes a 40% reduction in Vermont's prison population (2018-2023), a 96% reduction in traffic stops in Burlington following policy reform advocacy, the 2022 passage of the Bureau of Racial Justice Statistics, and a $150,000 settlement in a discrimination and excessive force case against the City of Burlington.

Name

ACLU Vermont

Legal name

American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, Inc.

Website

https://acluvt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACLU Vermont is a Montpelier-based nonprofit affiliate of the national ACLU that defends civil liberties and constitutional rights for Vermont residents through impact litigation, policy advocacy, community organizing, and public education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Rights Advocacy and Legal Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Digital Rights, Privacy & Free Expression Advocacy (BPAGAFAL)

Keywords

• Civil rights advocacy
• Constitutional litigation
• Legal aid services
• Policy reform campaigns
• Nonprofit advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpelier

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Membership: ACLU Vermont raises funds through individual donations and membership fees, both directly through their website and through the national ACLU's donation platform (action.aclu.org). Members receive communications and are engaged in advocacy campaigns.
2. Foundation Grants: As part of the ACLU network, Vermont receives support from foundation grants administered through the national ACLU and its affiliated foundation organizations.
3. Event-based Fundraising: The organization conducts events to engage supporters and raise funds for civil liberties advocacy in Vermont.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACLU Vermont is a nonprofit civil liberties organization that provides free legal representation, impact litigation, and policy advocacy for Vermont residents whose constitutional or civil rights have been violated. It complements legal work with statewide campaigns (e.g., Smart Justice Vermont, Firewall for Freedom, Smarter Stops Safer Roads), community organizing, and Know Your Rights education across issues including criminal legal reform, free speech, racial justice, reproductive freedom, immigrants' rights, and police reform.

Product overview

ACLU Vermont operates as a nonprofit civil liberties advocacy organization offering a portfolio of interconnected campaigns, legal services, and educational resources. The core offerings include the Smart Justice Vermont campaign for criminal justice reform, the Building a Firewall for Freedom campaign protecting against federal overreach, and the Smarter Stops Safer Roads initiative for traffic enforcement reform. Supporting services include Know Your Rights educational resources, a Share Your Story intake system for case identification, and direct legal representation services through the Foundation's litigation program. These programs work together to advance the organization's mission of defending constitutional rights through advocacy, organizing, and legal action.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smart Justice Vermont: A statewide campaign to transform Vermont's criminal legal system to be humane, equitable, and rooted in community-based solutions, with goals of reducing the prison population by at least half and combatting racial disparities.
• Firewall for Freedom

Products and services

• Smart Justice Vermont Statewide advocacy campaign aimed at reducing Vermont's prison population by at least half and combating racial disparities in the criminal legal system, through policy reform, impact litigation, and voter education.
• Building a Firewall for Freedom Multi-issue advocacy campaign protecting Vermonters from unlawful federal interference and abuse of power, with focus areas including immigrants' rights, smart justice, trans rights, privacy rights, and economic justice.
• Smarter Stops, Safer Roads Advocacy campaign calling for legislation to limit traffic stops to serious safety violations only, reducing discriminatory policing practices and unnecessary police interactions in Vermont.
• Share Your Story Intake Online intake form for Vermonters to share experiences of civil rights violations, enabling ACLU Vermont to identify potential cases, support victims, and build impact litigation.
• Legal Representation Services Free legal advocacy and litigation services provided by ACLU of Vermont Foundation, including court cases challenging constitutional violations and representation of clients in reproductive freedom, privacy, criminal justice, and civil rights matters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% reduction in Vermont prison population through Smart Justice campaign (2018-2023)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Black Lives Matter of Greater BurlingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in Smart Justice Vermont campaign representing constituencies most impacted by the criminal justice system. Joint advocacy for reducing incarceration and addressing racial disparities.
• Justice for AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in Smart Justice Vermont campaign working to end mass incarceration and challenge systemic racism.
• NAACP-BrattleborocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner representing local chapter of nation's oldest civil rights organization, focused on racial justice in criminal legal system.
• Rights & DemocracycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in Smart Justice Vermont campaign advocating for human rights and democratic values.
• The Root Social Justice Center - BrattleborocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in Smart Justice Vermont campaign, providing space and programming for social justice education and organizing.
• Rutland Area NAACPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner representing local NAACP chapter focused on racial justice advocacy in Rutland area.
• Vermont Women's MarchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner representing women's rights movement in Vermont, collaborating on reproductive freedom and gender justice issues.
• Vermonters for Criminal Justice ReformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner focused specifically on criminal justice reform policy and advocacy in Vermont.
• Windham County NAACPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner representing Windham County chapter of NAACP, working on racial justice in criminal legal system.
• Pregnancy JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-counsel in A.V. v. Vermont DCF case; national advocacy organization protecting the rights of pregnant and parenting people.
• Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-counsel in A.V. v. Vermont DCF case; major law firm providing pro bono legal representation.
• National ACLU OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organizations including American Civil Liberties Union Inc., American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc., and ACLU Voter Education Fund. Shares resources, legal expertise, donor base, and coordinates national advocacy campaigns.
• Other ACLU State AffiliatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of ACLU state and local affiliated organizations across the United States sharing best practices, litigation strategy, and coalition advocacy on civil liberties issues.
• VTDiggermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented by ACLU-VT in public records lawsuit against state; Vermont's independent nonprofit news organization focused on government transparency.
• Timothy Cornell (Cornell Dolan, P.C.)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-counsel with ACLU-VT representing VTDigger in public records litigation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ACLU of New Hampshire: Another New England ACLU state affiliate with the same organizational structure, mission, and operational model as ACLU Vermont, providing a directly comparable reference point for affiliate scale and effectiveness.
• Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG): Vermont-based nonprofit advocacy organization working on consumer protection, environmental issues, and good government. Comparable in operating model (membership-based, policy advocacy, public education) and Vermont-specific scope, though with different issue focus.
• Vermont Legal Aid: Vermont-based legal services organization providing free civil legal aid to low-income residents. Comparable to ACLU Vermont in serving vulnerable Vermont populations through legal representation, though with a broader economic-justice rather than constitutional-rights focus.
• ACLU of Massachusetts: Neighboring New England ACLU state affiliate operating the same structural model (501(c)(4) Union + 501(c)(3) Foundation), with comparable litigation, policy advocacy, and organizing functions serving Massachusetts residents on civil liberties issues.
• Disability Rights Vermont: Vermont-based nonprofit providing legal advocacy and rights protection for people with disabilities. Operates as both a membership/advocacy organization and a legal services provider within Vermont, closely mirroring ACLU Vermont's integrated model.
• Pregnancy Justice: National legal advocacy organization protecting pregnant people's rights. Co-counsel with ACLU Vermont in the A.V. v. Vermont DCF case and operates in the same reproductive rights litigation space with similar impact-driven legal strategies.
• Vermont NAACP State Conference: State-level NAACP conference operating in Vermont on civil rights advocacy and litigation. Coalition partner of ACLU Vermont with overlapping racial justice, criminal justice reform, and civil rights missions within the same state.

Broad incumbents

• Southern Poverty Law Center: National civil rights organization combining impact litigation, policy advocacy, and education on civil rights issues including criminal justice, immigrants' rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. A larger, more established peer operating similar integrated advocacy models.
• ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union): The national parent/umbrella organization of which ACLU Vermont is a state affiliate. Operates the same civil liberties mission at the national scale, sharing donor infrastructure, legal expertise, and campaign coordination with ACLU Vermont.

Emerging players

• Lambda Legal: National civil rights organization focused on LGBTQ+ rights litigation and advocacy. Comparable in litigation-driven impact strategy and civil rights mission to ACLU Vermont, though operating nationally rather than at the state level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACLUVermont
• Facebookfacebook.com/ACLUVermont
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acluvermont

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Vermont