ACLU of the District of Columbia

Civil Rights Legal Advocacyacludc.org

ACLU of the District of Columbia is a 65-year-old D.C.-based nonprofit legal organization providing free civil liberties representation, Know Your Rights education, impact litigation, and policy advocacy for D.C. residents and DMV-area immigrants, funded primarily by individual donations and memberships.

Company typePrivate
Founded1961
HeadquartersWashington, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What ACLU of the District of Columbia does

ACLU of the District of Columbia is a 501(c) nonprofit civil liberties organization founded in 1961 and headquartered at 529 14th Street NW in Washington, D.C., operating through two legal entities — the Union and the Foundation — under a unified mission to defend constitutional rights of District residents. The organization functions as the only ACLU affiliate specifically dedicated to D.C., delivering free legal representation, Know Your Rights education, legislative advocacy, impact litigation in federal and local courts, and amicus brief work on constitutional matters spanning First Amendment protest rights, immigrants' rights, voting rights, criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ rights, disability rights, and D.C. statehood/home rule advocacy. Its litigation track record includes securing preliminary and permanent injunctions in high-profile matters such as Escobar Molina v. DHS (warrantless immigration arrests), Accountability NOW v. Griess (First Amendment protest signs), and NVRA-based voting rights challenges.

The organization's core digital product is the acludc.org website, which serves as the primary delivery channel for Know Your Rights resources, legal help intake, advocacy action tools, case documentation, press releases, podcasts, and event registration. The underlying technology stack is a conventional content/advocacy platform (no proprietary AI, API, or SDK components disclosed), supplemented by email communications, social media channels, and in-person/virtual events. A 17-person staff executes the legal, policy, and advocacy functions, led by Legal Director Scott Michelman (a Harvard Law Shikes Fellow) and Policy Counsel Peggy Ramin.

The business model is donation-and-membership-driven: the primary revenue stream is recurring individual contributions and ACLU memberships, supplemented by one-time event ticket sales and law firm sponsorships (tiered Champion/Protector/Advocate) for the annual Bill of Rights Celebration, plus merchandise sales through an online store. Core services — legal help, KYR resources, advocacy actions — are provided free of charge. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via website, in-person legal intake, community events, and virtual trainings. Customer segments include D.C. residents, DMV-area immigrants, members/supporters, and educators/schools, with strategic partnerships anchored by the national ACLU, the Washington Lawyers' Committee, CASA, Amica Center for Immigrants' Rights, National Immigration Project, Covington & Burling, and a coalition of D.C. nonprofits focused on home rule.

ACLU of the District of Columbia firmographics

Firmographics

Name: ACLU of the District of Columbia
Legal name: American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia and American Civil Liberties Union Fund of the District of Columbia
Website: https://acludc.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1961
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: ACLU of the District of Columbia is a 65-year-old D.C.-based nonprofit legal organization providing free civil liberties representation, Know Your Rights education, impact litigation, and policy advocacy for D.C. residents and DMV-area immigrants, funded primarily by individual donations and memberships.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

ACLU of the District of Columbia industry classification

Industry

Product category: Civil Rights Legal Advocacy
NAICS: Human Rights Organizations (813311), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)
SIC: Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Legal Services (8111)
akta.pro primary industry: Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA)
akta.pro secondary industry: Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

Civil liberties advocacy
Legal aid services
Constitutional rights litigation
Immigrant rights advocacy
Nonprofit legal representation

Where ACLU of the District of Columbia is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Washington
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

ACLU of the District of Columbia business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

Donations and Membership: The organization generates revenue primarily through individual donations and membership fees. Supporters can become members, donate, and support through various ways including one-time and recurring contributions.
Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Bill of Rights Celebration event tickets priced at $51 (symbolic reference to D.C. as 51st state) with additional sponsorship tiers including Champion, Protector, and Advocate levels from law firms and individuals.
Merchandise Sales: Merchandise sales through the organization's online store to support advocacy and fundraising efforts.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
One time/ perpetual license	Pay-as-you-go	Bill of Rights Celebration Tickets

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

ACLU of the District of Columbia product offering

Product offering

Core offering

ACLU of the District of Columbia provides free legal representation, Know Your Rights training, impact litigation, and legislative advocacy to defend and expand civil liberties for D.C. residents. The organization also delivers community education resources, podcasts, reports, and an annual Bill of Rights Celebration event, all supported by donations, membership, and event sponsorships.

Product overview

ACLU of the District of Columbia is a civil liberties nonprofit organization that provides legal services, Know Your Rights resources, advocacy, and public education programs. The organization operates the acludc.org website as its primary digital platform for delivering information about civil rights issues, legal cases, events, reports, podcasts, and advocacy resources. The organization's core offerings include free legal help requests, Know Your Rights guides, legislative advocacy, court case documentation, and community events such as the annual Bill of Rights Celebration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Free Legal Representation and Help Requests Free legal representation and assistance provided directly to individuals with civil liberties concerns in Washington, D.C., through an intake process and case evaluation. Services cover constitutional rights violations, discrimination, protest rights, immigration enforcement, and other civil liberties issues.
Know Your Rights Training Programs Know Your Rights presentations and educational resources that teach D.C. residents, immigrants, and educators how to exercise their rights when interacting with police, law enforcement, or ICE during protests, civil disobedience, or in daily life. Includes Know Your Rights content for the DMV area (D.C., Maryland, Virginia).
Bill of Rights Celebration Annual Event Annual community fundraising and solidarity event featuring a happy hour, awards ceremony honoring civil liberties advocates, and a special exhibit of ACLU-D.C.'s historic fights. Tickets are $51 per person and the 2026 event celebrates the 65th anniversary. Supported by tiered sponsorships from law firms (Champion, Protector, Advocate levels).
ACLU-D.C. Membership Program Membership program allowing individuals to join ACLU-D.C. as members, with options for one-time and recurring donations, volunteering, and engagement on advocacy actions. Membership supports the organization's legal and advocacy work in the District of Columbia.
ACLU-D.C. Merchandise Store Online merchandise store selling ACLU-D.C. branded merchandise to support the organization's advocacy and fundraising efforts.

Quantifiable outcome

Won permanent injunction protecting Accountability NOW's right to display protest signs and 8647 flag under First Amendment
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use ACLU of the District of Columbia

Customer profile

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

ACLU of the District of Columbia technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

ACLU of the District of Columbia partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

American Civil Liberties Union (National)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe national ACLU organization with shared mission of defending constitutional rights. ACLU-D.C. works with national ACLU on federal litigation, policy advocacy, and shared resources for civil liberties protection across the country.
Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-counsel in litigation cases including Escobar Molina v. DHS challenging warrantless immigration arrests and cases defending D.C. autonomy.
CASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational immigration organization co-plaintiff in Escobar Molina v. DHS case challenging warrantless immigration arrests without probable cause in D.C.
Amica Center for Immigrants' RightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-counsel in litigation challenging immigration enforcement practices in D.C., including Escobar Molina v. DHS and amicus briefs on D.C. militarization.
National Immigration ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-counsel in litigation challenging federal immigration enforcement policies and practices in D.C.
Covington & Burling LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw firm co-counsel representing plaintiffs in Escobar Molina v. DHS, challenging warrantless immigration arrests in D.C.
Coalition of D.C. NonprofitscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition including Bread for the City, Children's Law Center, DC Appleseed Center, Disability Rights DC, Legal Aid DC, School Justice Project, Tzedek DC, and Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless supporting D.C. home rule and autonomy advocacy.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion-level sponsor of 2026 Bill of Rights Celebration, supporting ACLU-D.C.'s anniversary event honoring civil liberties advocates.
Sidley Austin LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion-level sponsor of 2026 Bill of Rights Celebration, supporting ACLU-D.C.'s 65th anniversary celebration.
Steptoe LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion-level sponsor of 2026 Bill of Rights Celebration, supporting ACLU-D.C.'s civil liberties advocacy work.
DentonsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProtector-level sponsor of 2026 Bill of Rights Celebration, supporting ACLU-D.C.'s civil rights work.
Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvocate-level sponsor of 2026 Bill of Rights Celebration, supporting ACLU-D.C.'s advocacy efforts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

ACLU of the District of Columbia competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

ACLU of the District of Columbia financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

ACLU of the District of Columbia leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

ACLU of the District of Columbia funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

ACLU of the District of Columbia M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about ACLU of the District of Columbia

What does ACLU of the District of Columbia do?

Is ACLU of the District of Columbia a public or private company?

ACLU of the District of Columbia is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was ACLU of the District of Columbia founded?

ACLU of the District of Columbia was founded in 1961. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is ACLU of the District of Columbia based?

ACLU of the District of Columbia is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.

How does ACLU of the District of Columbia make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Membership is the primary driver. The others are event Tickets and Sponsorships and merchandise Sales.

Does ACLU of the District of Columbia have an API?

No public API is recorded for ACLU of the District of Columbia.

What industry is ACLU of the District of Columbia in?

ACLU of the District of Columbia's product category is Civil Rights Legal Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAA, Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy, with a secondary code of BPAGAFAB, Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8600.