Non-profit

ACLU Fund of Michigan

Website:

aclumich.org

Location:

Detroit, MI

Tax ID:

23-7243421

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $3,675,895
Expenses: $4,788,420
Assets: $8,012,743

Formation:

1971

Type:

Public Interest Litigation

Executive Director:

Rana Elmir

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The American Civil Liberties Union Fund of Michigan (ACLU Fund of Michigan) is the charitable affiliate organization of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU of Michigan), a left-leaning activist organization and state-level arm of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). ACLU Fund of Michigan mainly engages in litigation and education while the ACLU of Michigan leads the organization’s lobbying and legislative work on the state level. 1

Background

The ACLU Fund of Michigan was formed in 1971. 2 Both the ACLU of Michigan and the affiliated ACLU of Michigan Fund claim more than 40,000 members in Michigan. 3

Issues

The ACLU Fund of Michigan has advocated for left-of-center policies, such as eliminating cash bail, expanding hate crimes legislation to include LGBT individuals, allowing transgender athletes born male to compete on women’s athletic teams, and comparing President Donald Trump’s ban on immigration from certain mostly Muslim-majority countries to Japanese internment camps during World War II. 4 5 6

Immigration

In May 2021, the ACLU of Michigan and other groups sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security urging Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to end collaborative efforts with local police departments on illegal immigration. 7 During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ACLU of Michigan sued ICE to release illegal immigrants in custody who may be at higher risk of COVID complications. 8

Crime

In 2020, the ACLU of Michigan filed an amicus brief with the Michigan Supreme Court over a shooting of a LGBT individual. 9 The ACLU’s brief argued for broadening the hate crime definition by asking the court to consider it a hate crime if the person was gay and the shooting was based on their gender status. 10

Election Administration

The ACLU of Michigan opposes voter protection measures that include requiring a photo ID to vote in person or to apply for an absentee ballot and prohibiting the use of pre-paid absentee ballots. 11 The proposed legislation would also limit the number of absentee ballot drop boxes and require security cameras on boxes. 12

Finances

In 2019, the ACLU Fund of Michigan reported $4,797,139 in revenue and $3,601,940 in expenses. 13 The previous year, the Fund raised $3,675,895 in revenue and reported $4,788,420 in expenses. 14 In 2019, volunteer attorneys provided 14,875 hours of pro bono work for the ACLU Fund of Michigan valued at $9,095,299. 15

In 2021, the ACLU Fund of Michigan received $316,320 from the Michigan Justice Fund to examine decisions made by prosecutors that impact racial minorities. 16 The ACLU of Michigan has also received grants from the Collaborative for Gender and Reproductive Equity, a group that funds left-wing organizations. 17

Leadership

Rana Elmir is the acting executive director of the ACLU of Michigan. 18 Previously, she spent eight years as the deputy director of the organization and eight years as the communications director. 19 Elmir also worked as director of programs and outreach at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and communications director for Life for Relief and Development. 20 Elmir has written that Trump’s ban on immigration from certain mostly Muslim-majority countries was the equivalent of Japanese-American internment during World War II. 21

David Noble was executive director of the ACLU of Michigan for two years until January 2021 when he left to work for the Biden administration. 22 Previously, Noble worked for the Obama administration as Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Presidential Personnel Office, Office of First Lady Michelle Obama, and as White House Liaison and Deputy Chief of Staff at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). 23 Noble previously worked for Obama For America and as executive director at National Stonewall Democrats. 24

References

  1. American Civil Liberties Union Fund of Michigan, Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019.
  2. American Civil Liberties Union Fund of Michigan, Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019.
  3. “ACLU of Michigan.” Crain’s Detroit Business. 2017. Accessed July 8, 2021. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/node/681981.
  4. ACLU of Michigan. Legal Docket Fall 2020. Accessed July 10, 2021. https://www.aclumich.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/2019-2020_legal_docket.pdf.
  5. Kaplan, Jay. “Why Michigan SB218 Should Be Voted Down.” ACLU of Michigan website. May 30, 2021. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://www.aclumich.org/en/news/allowing-young-trans-athletes-opportunity-thrive.
  6. Elmir, Rana. “What Japanese Incarceration Camps in WWII and Trump’s Muslim Ban Have In Common.” Detroit Free Press. February 1, 2021. https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2021/02/01/japanese-incarceration-camps-wwii-trumps-muslim-ban/4317163001/.
  7. Michigan Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights letter. May 3, 2021. Accessed July 10, 2021. https://www.aclumich.org/en/press-releases/michigan-coalition-immigrant-and-refugee-rights-and-aclu-call-secretary-mayorkas-end.
  8. Malam v. Adducci, 452 F.Supp.3d 643 (E.D. Mich. 2020)
  9. ACLU of Michigan. www.aclumich.org. Accessed July 10, 2021. https://www.aclumich.org/en/cases/protection-transgender-people-under-hate-crimes-statute.
  10. ACLU of Michigan. www.aclumich.org. Accessed July 10, 2021. https://www.aclumich.org/en/cases/protection-transgender-people-under-hate-crimes-statute.
  11. ACLU of Michigan. www.aclumich.org. Accessed July 10, 2021. https://www.aclumich.org/en/press-releases/aclu-denounces-voter-suppression-legislation-michigan.
  12. ACLU of Michigan. www.aclumich.org. Accessed July 10, 2021. https://www.aclumich.org/en/press-releases/aclu-denounces-voter-suppression-legislation-michigan.
  13. American Civil Liberties Union Fund of Michigan, Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019..
  14. American Civil Liberties Union Fund of Michigan, Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018..
  15. American Civil Liberties Union Fund of Michigan, Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019. Part II, 4a..
  16. “Groups Addressing Michigan Criminal Justice Inequities To Share $2 Million.” Detroit News. June 6, 2021. Accessed July 7, 2021. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/06/06/criminal-justice-inequities-michigan-two-million-grant/116853642/.
  17. Collaborative for Gender and Reproductive Equity website. Accessed July 12, 2021. https://cgre.org/grants.
  18. “Rana Elmir.” ACLU of Michigan. Accessed July 12, 2021. https://www.aclumich.org/en/biographies/rana-elmir.
  19. Rana Elmir LinkedIn profile. www.linkedin.com. Accessed July 12, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranaelmir/.
  20. Rana Elmir LinkedIn profile. www.linkedin.com. Accessed July 12, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranaelmir/.
  21. Elmir, Rana. “What Japanese Incarceration Camps in WWII and Trump’s Muslim Ban Have In Common.” Detroit Free Press. February 1, 2021. https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2021/02/01/japanese-incarceration-camps-wwii-trumps-muslim-ban/4317163001/.
  22. ACLU of Michigan. Accessed July 12, 2021. https://www.aclumich.org/en/news/aclu-announces-departure-executive-director-dave-noble.
  23. ACLU of Michigan. Accessed July 12, 2021. https://www.aclumich.org/en/biographies/dave-noble.
  24. David Noble LinkedIn profile. www.linkedin.com. Accessed July 12, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/noblensd/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: March - February
  • Tax Exemption Received: November 1, 1972

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2019 Mar Form 990 $3,675,895 $4,788,420 $8,012,743 $1,380,754 N $2,281,899 $1,176,309 $118,286 $338,585 PDF
    2018 Mar Form 990 $3,161,325 $3,185,231 $9,102,231 $1,202,150 N $2,445,468 $490,683 $54,827 $161,940 PDF
    2017 Mar Form 990 $4,524,440 $2,797,200 $8,931,222 $882,616 N $4,155,117 $185,168 $56,294 $164,628
    2016 Mar Form 990 $3,550,461 $2,573,365 $7,237,886 $1,426,957 N $3,061,048 $380,871 $54,743 $161,696 PDF
    2015 Mar Form 990 $3,034,153 $2,499,563 $6,062,189 $1,155,570 N $2,296,203 $635,608 $50,082 $107,864 PDF
    2014 Mar Form 990 $2,721,530 $2,039,320 $5,359,526 $544,478 N $2,234,368 $385,335 $42,962 $103,701 PDF
    2013 Mar Form 990 $2,078,885 $2,029,174 $4,914,028 $1,258,309 N $1,601,815 $96,587 $45,568 $116,454 PDF
    2012 Mar Form 990 $2,520,794 $1,797,671 $5,067,531 $1,232,006 N $2,250,972 $177,250 $33,426 $119,653 PDF
    2011 Mar Form 990 $2,126,802 $1,505,632 $4,010,624 $684,219 N $1,949,642 $100,382 $24,507 $98,522 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    ACLU Fund of Michigan

    2966 WOODWARD AVE
    Detroit, MI 48201-3035