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ACLU News
Dear ACLU-AL Friend,
In light of the major funding loss that was reported in
the New York Times last week, I want to share a wonderful
posting on Salon.com about supporting the ACLU, which includes the
quote: “Over the past decade, there
has been no organization more important to the United States, the Constitution,
and basic political liberties than the ACLU.” There are some great links
embedded in the piece too. When you read it, I hope you will feel great about
being part of the ACLU – thanks for joining us to protect and promote our
freedoms!
Supporting the ACLU
By Glenn Greenwald
Salon.com
As The
New York Times reported, the ACLU this year, largely without
warning, lost its single largest source of funding as a result of the
financial crisis. The loss of that individual donor, who had been
contributing $20 million per year, was a major blow to the organization,
"punching a 25 percent hole in its annual operating budget
and forcing cutbacks in operations." That loss came on top of
substantial fundraising losses last year from the financial crisis and the
Madoff fraud, which had already forced the group to lay-off numerous
employees and cut back substantially on its activities. The lost donor made clear
yesterday that he continues to support the ACLU's work emphatically but
is simply now financially unable to continue his support.
It is not
hyperbole to say that, over the past decade, there has been no organization
more important to the United
States, the Constitution, and basic
political liberties than the ACLU. From the start of the Bush/Cheney
assault on core civil liberties -- when most organizations and individuals
were petrified of opposing any efforts justified by "terrorism" --
the ACLU was one of a small handful of groups which defied that climate
of fear by vigorously
and fearlessly opposing those erosions. Along with that same small
handful of civil liberties and human rights groups, the ACLU since then
has been at the center of virtually every fight against government incursions
into basic rights. They defend core Constitutional principles
regardless of party or ideology, and they continue to lead this fight
even now that Bush
is gone from office. As I detailed
here, their crucial efforts extend far beyond litigating
and lobbying,
as they have often been forced to fulfill
the investigative and oversight role intended for -- but abdicated by --
our national media and Congress. Indeed, most of what we know about
the Bush torture regime and other lawbreaking schemes is the result not of
newspapers or Congressional investigations but the ACLU.
I think
many people who are extremely supportive of the ACLU haven't previously
donated to them because of the perception that they're well-funded and that
there are other organizations with a greater need. That is why, despite
my consulting with them for the last couple of years, I've never suggested
that people donate to them before. But this is no longer true.
There is a genuine risk that this loss of funding can curtail vital
ACLU activities and force the loss of critical lawyers and other
personnel. The need for support is genuine and substantial,
and I really encourage anyone who supports the truly indispensable work
they do, and who is able to do so, to express that support through membership
or donation. That can be done here.
RELEASE: Largest Anonymous ACLU Donor Reveals Identity And Reaffirms
Support for Organization
In a statement reaffirming his support for the mission of the American Civil
Liberties Union, philanthropist David Gelbaum explained why his generous
financial contributions to the ACLU and two other charities will be greatly
reduced this year. Gelbaum's statement, which comes after years of anonymous
financial support to the organization, follows a New York Times article first
published online Tuesday night naming him as a major ACLU donor. Other
nonprofits significantly affected by Gelbaum's announcement are the
environmental group the Sierra Club Foundation and the Iraq Afghanistan
Deployment Impact Fund, a charity that provides services for American
military personnel and their families.
“David Gelbaum is one of America’s
greatest heroes – an unassuming man with a spectacularly generous spirit.
Every American should be grateful for his selfless commitment to improving
the lives of others demonstrated by this remarkable man,” said ACLU Executive
Director Anthony D. Romero. “While we’re clearly disappointed that his desire
to remain anonymous was breached, we remain eternally grateful for everything
he and his family have done to advance the cause of civil liberties for all
Americans.”
The following is
the text of Mr. Gelbaum's statement:
STATEMENT BY DAVID GELBAUM
FOR USE BY ORGANIZATIONS FACING LARGEST REDUCTIONS IN HIS DONATIONS
I understand that you have reached a point in your
relations with your supporters and the general public where it would be
important to reveal my identity as your largest anonymous donor.
The situation is this. For a number of years, your organization has
received very substantial charitable contributions from me. I am
willing to be publicly named now because my investments in alternative, clean
energy companies have placed me in a highly illiquid position as a result of
the general credit crisis in the American and world financial systems.
Consequently, and much to my regret, I will not be able to make donations of
this size starting in 2010 and continuing indefinitely. Several of the
largest organizations I have funded in the last five years have had to make
plans to wind down major areas of their work. These are programs I have
been proud to support, including the Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund
that serves the needs of service members and veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, the race and poverty
work of the ACLU Foundation, and the Military Families Outdoors program of
the Sierra Club Foundation. The future viability of these programs will
depend on the generosity of others.
I have consented to disclosure so that my charitable recipients will not be
constrained by donor confidentiality, may fully explain how these programs
were created and financed, and may ask others to step forward to help sustain
them in the future.
The three charities listed below will experience the greatest reductions,
compared to what I have given in the past. These are the amounts that I
provided to them in the period from 2005 to 2009, through a combination of
donor-advised funds, direct giving, and other philanthropic vehicles.
1. Iraq Afghanistan Deployment
Impact Fund at the California Community Foundation - $247 million
2. American Civil Liberties Union Foundation -
$94 million
3. Sierra Club Foundation -
$48 million
I request that you make known my support of all three organizations so that
everyone understands that the shift in my financial circumstances is the
cause of the reduction in giving, and not any disapproval or dissatisfaction
with the programs. To the contrary, I hope they will thrive with the
generous support of many other donors, large and small.
Here is a breakdown for ACLU program funding areas from 2005 – 2009:
1. Race and Poverty - 13,800,000
2. Affiliate Growth - 12,500,000
3. Drug Law Enforcement Reform - 10,700,000
4. Prisoners’ Rights - 7,000,000
5. Immigrants’ Rights - 6,500,000
6. Death Penalty Reform - 5,000,000
7. Voting Rights and Felon Re-enfranchisement
- 3,700,000
8. Women’s Rights – 3,500,000
9. Voting Rights - 3,400,000
10. Scholarships - 500,000
11. Youth Programs – 500,000
12. General Operating Expenses – 26,400,000
TOTAL = $
93,500,000
Tax deductible gifts may be sent to the ACLU of Alabama Foundation at 207 Montgomery St., Ste. 910, Montgomery, AL 36104. All gifts are shared with the national
ACLU. Thank you for your continued
support of civil liberties in Alabama!
Olivia Turner
Executive
Director, ACLU of Alabama
207 Montgomery Street, Suite 910, Montgomery, Alabama 36104
T: 334-262-0304 | F: 334-269-5666 |
info@aclualabama.org
www.aclualabama.org
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