The American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) (formerly known as the American Alliance for Equality) is a legal membership organization that claims to advocate against “distinctions and preferences made on the basis of race and ethnicity.” ¹

Activities

Established in 2021, the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) claims to use legal tactics such as filing lawsuits and amicus briefings against organizations, business, and government-connected entities that allegedly use “racial and ethnic classifications and preferences in our nation’s public policies.”  ^{2 1}

On January 21, 2025, the AAER announced it was challenging Illinois Senate Bill 2930, which went into effect on January 1, 2025 and would require nonprofit organizations in the state to allegedly gather and disclose demographic data about their staff and board members. AAER claimed that this requirement for information would include disclosure on individuals’ personal details such as sexual preferences, race and ethnicity, and transgender status. AAER also claimed in its challenge that gathering and disclosing such data would violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments, including the constitutional right to protection from state-ordered racial discrimination. ³

In April 2025, the AAER announced it was requesting for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to launch investigations into the Lagrant Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and the Creative Capital Foundation over claims that the groups were involved in using racially discriminatory practices that exclude white Americans from opportunities and benefits by offering scholarships, mentorships, and other funding exclusively to applicants who identify as racial or ethnic minorities. AAER further claimed that such practices would violate Supreme Court precedent governing nonprofits and longstanding public policy. ^{4 5}

Funding

The American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While AAER does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from Students for Fair Admissions ($1.126 million in 2023) ⁶ and the 85 Fund ($225,000 in 2023). ⁷

The AAER is also supported by membership dues. A lifetime membership to AAER is $10 as of 2025. ¹

Leadership

Board of Directors

Edward Blum is the president of American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER). Blum also works as the president of Students for Fair Admissions, the president of the Project on Fair Representation. Blum is also a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute as well as a contributor to the Federalist Society. ⁸

Richard Fisher is the treasurer of the board of AAER. Fisher is a former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, a former vice chair of the strategic advisory firm Kissinger McLarty Associates, and a former deputy United States Trade Representative. Fisher is senior advisor to Barclays, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and an honorary fellow of Hertford College at Oxford University. Fisher sits on the boards of Warner Brothers Discovery and Tenet Healthcare, and formerly sat on the boards of AT&T, PepsiCo, and EDS. ⁹

Kenny Xu is the secretary of the board of AAER and the executive director of Davidsonians for Freedom of Thought and Discourse. Xu is a former president of Color Us United, a former development officer at Young America’s Foundation, and a former donor relations intern at the Heritage Foundation. ¹⁰

1. “Home.” American Alliance for Equal Rights. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://americanallianceforequalrights.org/.
2. “Our Cases.” American Alliance for Equal Rights. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://americanallianceforequalrights.org/our-cases/.
3. “American Alliance for Equal Rights Files Lawsuit Challenging Illinois Law Requiring Race and Sex Disclosure for Nonprofits.” American Alliance for Equal Rights, January 23, 2025. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://americanallianceforequalrights.org/american-alliance-for-equal-rights-files-lawsuit-challenging-illinois-law-requiring-race-and-sex-disclosure-for-nonprofits/.
4. “American Alliance for Equal Rights Files Request to IRS to Examine Racial Practices at Three Tax-Exempt Foundations: Gates Foundation, Lagrant Foundation and Creative Capital Foundation.” PR Newswire, April 1, 2025. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-alliance-for-equal-rights-files-request-to-irs-to-examine-racial-practices-at-three-tax-exempt-foundations-gates-foundation-lagrant-foundation-and-creative-capital-foundation-302417428.html.
5. Lindquist, Spencer. “Bill Gates Foundation, Other Nonprofits Could Lose Tax-Exempt Status Over Anti-White Discrimination.” DailyWire, April 2, 2025. https://www.dailywire.com/news/bill-gates-foundation-other-nonprofits-could-lose-tax-exempt-status-over-anti-white-discrimination
6. Students for Fair Admissions, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2023, Schedule I, Part II.
7. The 85 Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2023, Schedule I, Part II.
8. “Edward J. Blum.” The Federalist Society. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://fedsoc.org/contributors/edward-blum.
9. “Richard Fisher.” CNBC. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://www.cnbc.com/richard-fisher/.
10. “Kenneth Xu.” LinkedIn. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-m-xu/.