Founded in 1935, the AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF IOWA is the nation's fifth oldest state affiliate of the AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION. The ACLU-IA is a non-profit membership organization with over 3,500 statewide supporters and members. The ACLU-IA promotes and defends the values reflected in the Bill of Rights through public advocacy, lobbying and litigation.

The ACLU-IA is a nonpartisan organization that does not endorse or oppose candidates and does not contribute money to political campaigns. Rather, it relies solely upon the force of its moral arguments and the voices of its members to promote civil liberties in the state and federal legislatures.

As a private organization, the ACLU-IA is funded entirely with membership dues and donations -- it receives no government funding. Annual membership dues are $20 for an individual; $35 for a joint membership. Students and others on limited incomes may join for $5. Membership dues to the ACLU-IA are not tax deductible. Donations to the ACLU-IA FOUNDATION are tax deductable.

The ACLU-IA is dedicated to upholding the United States Constitution - particularly the First, Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments. It also supports and works for the improvement of civil rights statutes, open records/meetings laws, and statutory privacy protections. The ACLU-IA's work is focused on defending the rights to freedom of speech and association, the right to freedom of religion, the right to due process, the right to privacy, and the right to equal protection under the law. These rights are also protected by Article I of the Iowa Constitution.