American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and ACLU Foundation of Southern California: What is the Difference?
The ACLU of Southern California is composed of two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. Although both the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the ACLU Foundation of Southern California are part of the same overall organization, it is necessary that the ACLU of Southern California have two separate organizations in order for the ACLU of Southern California to do a broad range of work in protecting civil liberties. This web site collectively refers to the two organizations under the name "ACLU of Southern California."
Although there is some overlap in the work done by each organization, certain activities the ACLU of Southern California does to protect civil liberties must be done by one organization and not the other. This is primarily in the area of lobbying. As an organization that is eligible to receive contributions that are tax-deductible by the contributor, federal law limits the extent to which the ACLU Foundation of Southern California may engage in lobbying activities. Therefore, most of the lobbying activity done by the ACLU of Southern California and discussed in this web site is done by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. By contrast, most of the ACLU of Southern California’s litigation and public education efforts described in this web site are done by the ACLU Foundation of Southern California.
You may make a contribution to either the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, or the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, or both. A contribution to either organization will be used to support, promote and defend civil liberties. However, each organization will only use the funds contributed directly to it to carry out the specific activities it conducts as part of the overall ACLU of Southern California mission. A donor may make a tax-deductible gift only to the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. A donor who chooses to "Join" and become a card-carrying member of the ACLU of Southern California is making a contribution to the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. Membership dues and other gifts to the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California are not tax deductible.
To join and become a card-carrying member of the ACLU of Southern California, click here. To make a tax-deductible gift to the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, click here.
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