ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio
Keeping America Safe and Free

About the ACLU of Ohio

Updated 04.30.08 The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio is headquartered at the Max Wohl Civil Liberties Center in midtown Cleveland, supported by a staff of 16, as well as numerous interns, law clerks and volunteers.

The building was purchased and renovated in 2001, and now provides a comfortable home with the flexible space and technology that our staff needs to support our leaders, volunteers and activists across the state.

The ACLU has chapters and working groups throughout Ohio to promote the efforts of the ACLU in their communities.

The ACLU of Ohio is an affiliate of the national ACLU.

Founded in 1920, the ACLU is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization with affiliates in all 50 states dedicated to defending and expanding the civil liberties of all Americans.

The national ACLU includes more than 500,000 members in all 50 states, making it our country's foremost advocate of individual rights.

The ACLU of Ohio has nearly 30,000 members and supporters statewide.

We are supported by annual dues and contributions from supporters, as well as grants from private foundations. We do not receive any government funding.

Through education, litigation, and lobbying the ACLU seeks to preserve civil liberties for each new generation.

Dealing with such issues as freedom of speech/censorship, due process, the right to privacy, discrimination, separation of church and state, search and seizure, and voting rights, the ACLU works daily in the courts and in communities to defend the individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States.

Because the ACLU has a limited budget and staff, it is impossible to represent every person whose civil liberties have been violated. Instead, the organization tries to select cases which will impact the greatest number of people - those cases which have the potential to break new ground or establish new precedents to strengthen the freedoms all of us enjoy.


Mission Statement
The mission of the ACLU of Ohio is to aid in maintaining and extending constitutional and other fundamental rights, liberties, privileges, and immunities, and to take all legitimate action in furtherance of that object without political partisanship.


ACLU of Ohio -- 501(c)(4) and
ACLU of Ohio Foundation -- 501(c)(3)
The ACLU is composed of two non-profit corporations, both of which have the same purpose and interlocking governing structures.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio ("the Union") is a 501(c)(4) membership organization. Funded primarily by the dues of its members, it engages in membership, grassroots organizing and lobbying activities to promote civil liberties. Dues and other contributions to the ACLU of Ohio are not tax-deductible.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Foundation ("the Foundation") engages in education and litigation. It has been granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service, making contributions to the Foundation tax deductible. The Foundation is funded primarily by generous donations from ACLU supporters.
 

Annual Report 2005-2006

Strategic Plan 2003-2008

Resources for Historians and Researchers

Board of Directors

Biographical statements of recently selected board members

Jobs & internships

Chapters and working groups

Staff profiles and photos

Frequently asked questions

Benson A. Wolman  1936 - 2007