ACLU Maryland

What ACLU Maryland does

ACLU Maryland is a private nonprofit civil liberties organization founded on March 8, 1931, as the 10th state affiliate of the National ACLU, headquartered in Baltimore City, Maryland. The organization is structured as two affiliated corporate entities: the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, Inc. (a 501(c)(4) advocacy Union) and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Maryland, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) Foundation permitted to conduct litigation and public education). Its core offerings are not technology products but advocacy programs: a Legal Intake and Advocacy Platform accepting requests from Maryland residents, multilingual Know Your Rights resources (print cards and video content) covering constitutional rights during law enforcement and immigration enforcement encounters, Voter Empowerment resources, an original podcast (Thinking Freely), and Legislative Action Alerts enabling constituent advocacy to the Maryland General Assembly.

The organization serves Maryland residents broadly — approximately 42,000 of whom are dues-paying members — with explicit programmatic focus on immigrant communities, BIPOC communities, and other constituencies facing civil rights threats. Distribution is delivered through the website (aclu-md.org), email newsletters, social media, in-person and virtual Know Your Rights trainings (30+ sessions in neighboring Virginia alone), and coordinated regional advocacy with ACLU of DC and ACLU of Virginia across the DMV. Revenue is generated through annual membership dues starting at $20.00/year (non-tax-deductible, flowing to the Union), tax-deductible donations to the Foundation, and fundraising campaigns managed by a Development Director and two Donor Relations Officers.

ACLU Maryland's work spans four integrated practice areas: legal advocacy and litigation in state and federal courts, legislative advocacy in the Maryland General Assembly, community organizing with regional coalition partners (CASA, Brooklyn Defender Services, CATA, Maryland Latinos Unidos, RISE Coalition, Catholic Legal Immigration Network), and public education through multilingual content. Recent high-impact matters include federal court rulings against DOJ voter data demands, opposition to DHS plans for an immigrant internment facility in Western Maryland, successful blocking of a 287(g) agreement in Wicomico County, and joint litigation halting warrantless civil immigration arrests in the District of Columbia.

Name

ACLU Maryland

Legal name

American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, Inc.

Website

https://aclu-md.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACLU Maryland is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(4) civil liberties nonprofit and 10th state ACLU affiliate, serving Maryland residents through legal advocacy, litigation, legislative work, and multilingual Know Your Rights education on immigration, voting, and racial justice.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Liberties Legal Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

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), Legal Literacy & Public Legal Education (Know Your Rights) (EDAAAFAI), Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Public Defense & Legal Aid Services (BPAIAFAC)

Keywords

• Civil liberties advocacy
• Legal aid services
• Nonprofit legal representation
• Civil rights education
• Policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

New Baltimore

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The ACLU of Maryland generates revenue through annual membership dues at $20.00/year and up. Dues are not tax-deductible. Tax-deductible gifts may be made to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Maryland (ACLUF-MD), the organization's 501(c)(3) arm involved in litigation and public education.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies on donor support and fundraising campaigns to fund operations. The homepage features a 'Donate' call-to-action and various ways to give.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ACLU Maryland provides free civil liberties and civil rights services to Maryland residents, including direct legal representation and litigation through its Foundation arm, a Legal Intake program for case requests, multilingual Know Your Rights education, legislative advocacy at the Maryland General Assembly, and community organizing on issues including immigrants' rights, voting rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and criminal justice reform. The organization is funded by membership dues ($20.00/year and up) paid to its Union (501(c)(4)) entity and tax-deductible donations to its Foundation (501(c)(3)) entity.

Product overview

ACLU of Maryland is a civil rights and civil liberties nonprofit organization, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of advocacy programs, legal services, and public education resources rather than a unified software product or platform. The primary offerings include: a Know Your Rights program providing multilingual informational resources and videos explaining constitutional protections during law enforcement encounters; a Legal Intake system allowing Maryland residents to request legal assistance; Voter Empowerment resources helping residents exercise voting rights; an original Podcast (Thinking Freely) covering Maryland civil liberties issues; and Legislative Action Alerts enabling constituent advocacy to elected officials. These programs collectively serve the organization's mission of defending civil rights and civil liberties in Maryland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Know Your Rights Resources Multilingual informational resources and training materials explaining constitutional rights during interactions with law enforcement and immigration authorities, including printable KYR cards and video content in multiple languages. Designed for Maryland residents, particularly immigrant communities.
• Legal Intake and Advocacy Service Online request system that allows Maryland residents to submit requests for legal assistance and advocacy support from ACLU Maryland's legal team. Provided at no charge as part of the Foundation's charitable legal program.
• Voter Empowerment Resources Information and tools to help Marylanders understand and exercise their voting rights, including registration guidance and rights protection during elections. Aimed at Maryland voters statewide.
• Thinking Freely Podcast ACLU of Maryland's original podcast series featuring conversations on civil liberties issues affecting Maryland residents. Distributed as a content program rather than a paid product.
• Legislative Advocacy Program Program enabling supporters and Maryland residents to contact elected officials about civil liberties legislation under consideration in the Maryland General Assembly. Operates as a constituent advocacy service tied to legislative sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won federal court ruling temporarily halting administration's warrantless civil immigration arrests in DC
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACLU of DCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACLU of Maryland works in coordination with ACLU of DC to ensure people understand their rights, prepare for encounters with immigration authorities, and fight back against federal immigration enforcement. The affiliates jointly file lawsuits and conduct advocacy for the interconnected DMV region.
• ACLU of VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACLU of Maryland collaborates with ACLU of Virginia on regional immigration enforcement issues. The three affiliates work together on Know Your Rights workshops, lawsuits, and advocacy efforts spanning the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) region.
• Brooklyn Defender ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrooklyn Defender Services partnered with ACLU to create and distribute the 'We Have Rights' video series providing critical information to communities threatened by ICE enforcement. The videos are voiced in multiple languages by influencers and activists.
• CASA (National Immigration Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCASA, a national immigration organization, co-filed a lawsuit with ACLU-DC challenging the administration's policy and practice of making civil immigration arrests without a warrant.
• CASA (Community Advocacy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCASA is an organization committed to the well-being of immigrants. The organization is cited as a Latinx/e-led advocacy group that defenders can support through policy and law advocacy.
• Maryland Latinos UnidosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaryland Latinos Unidos is an organization that supports members of the Latinx/e and immigrant community by meeting urgent needs and building equitable infrastructure.
• Resources for Immigrant Support and Empowerment (RISE) Coalition of Western MarylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRISE Coalition of Western Maryland partnered with Sara Medrano to hold the Frederick County Sheriff's Office accountable for racist and xenophobic policing towards the Latinx/e community, resulting in a comprehensive agreement and damages.
• CATA (Farmworkers Support Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCATA is a farmworkers support committee founded by migrant farmworkers in New Jersey in 1979 that focuses on workers' rights, health and safety in the workplace, immigrant's rights, and food justice. Leila Borrero Krouse works with CATA on the Eastern Shore.
• Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLINIC provides Know Your Rights cards and resources in multiple languages for protecting immigrant communities from ICE enforcement.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ACLU of Virginia: Third DMV-region ACLU affiliate and direct strategic partner of ACLU of Maryland on immigration enforcement, voting rights, and criminal justice reform. Shares operational model, donor base characteristics, and joint legal strategy across the DMV.
• CASA: Mid-Atlantic immigrant advocacy organization co-litigating immigration enforcement cases with ACLU-MD and ACLU-DC. Direct peer on immigrant rights litigation, Know Your Rights community education, and Latinx community organizing in Maryland.
• Public Justice Center: Baltimore-based legal advocacy nonprofit pursuing systemic civil rights and economic justice litigation in Maryland. Overlaps with ACLU-MD on racial justice, criminal justice reform, and workers' rights impact litigation.
• Lambda Legal: National civil rights organization focused on LGBTQ+ rights and HIV discrimination, with active litigation in Maryland. Comparable on constitutional rights litigation and direct legal services, though specialized to LGBTQ+ civil liberties.
• ACLU of DC: Sister ACLU affiliate serving the District of Columbia and a core regional partner for ACLU of Maryland. Operates the same dual 501(c)(3)/(c)(4) structure, legal intake, and Know Your Rights programs and jointly litigates immigration cases with ACLU-MD in the DMV region.
• Maryland Legal Aid: Statewide nonprofit providing free civil legal services to low-income Maryland residents. Directly comparable on legal aid and client advocacy delivery, though focused on broader civil legal needs (housing, family, public benefits) rather than constitutional/civil liberties litigation.

Broad incumbents

• NAACP Legal Defense Fund: National civil rights legal organization with overlapping mandate on racial justice, voting rights, and criminal justice reform. A larger incumbent that litigates cases nationally, including matters affecting Maryland residents alongside ACLU-MD.
• Southern Poverty Law Center: National civil rights organization that litigates cases, tracks hate groups, and engages in education across the South and nationally. Comparable on impact litigation, policy advocacy, and public education, though with a wider geographic and thematic footprint than ACLU-MD.
• National ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union): Parent organization of ACLU of Maryland and 50+ state affiliates. Operates the same civil liberties mandate but at a national scale, providing brand, fundraising infrastructure, and shared amicus/legal resources to state affiliates like ACLU-MD.

Emerging players

• Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (now TurnAround): Maryland-based advocacy and direct services organization working on civil rights-adjacent issues including survivors' rights. Comparable on direct legal/client advocacy and public policy work in Maryland, though focused on a narrower issue area.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aclumd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ACLU Maryland