The ACLU of Nevada was formed in 1966 and is the state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the nation’s largest civil liberties and civil rights organization with more than 1.5 million members nationwide. We work to defend and advance the civil liberties and civil rights of all Nevadans via an integrated advocacy model that uses public engagement, public policy, and strategic litigation for the betterment of our community.

Our public engagement efforts help educate Nevadans on civil liberties and civil rights, including through our Know Your Rights trainings and through thoughtful community programming that often has a direct impact on people’s lives. Our public policy efforts help advance civil liberties and civil rights at the state, regional, and local levels.  Our strategic litigation efforts see us use the courts as a means of seeking justice. 

Structure

The ACLU of Nevada is comprised of two separate corporate entities: the ACLU of Nevada, Inc. and the ACLU of Nevada Foundation. It is necessary that the ACLU of Nevada have two separate organizations in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This website collectively refers to both entities as “ACLU of Nevada.”

The ACLU of Nevada Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Gifts made to the Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and therefore, federal law limits the amount to which it may engage in legislative advocacy and lobbying activities. Foundation gifts fund our litigation and public education efforts The ACLU of Nevada, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, and gifts to it are not tax-deductible. The ACLU of Nevada, Inc. is the “member” organization. When a donor chooses to join the ACLU, their membership dues are not tax-deductible. ACLU of Nevada, Inc. monies fund our lobbying work--important work that cannot be supported by tax-deductible funds. Our social media work is exclusively owned by our 501(c4) entity.