Tonight at a big gala on Ellis Island, the American Civil Liberties Union will celebrate raising $407-million in a five-year campaign that far exceeded the advocacy group’s original goal of $250-million.
The ACLU initially planned to raise $100-million in cash and $150-million in bequests and other planned gifts by the time the organization turned 90 this year. But, despite the bad economy, the charity has ended up with more than $150-million in cash and over $250-million in planned-gift pledges, thanks to a series of challenge gifts and other big donations.
ACLU officials said that the new money will go to affiliates in states where resources have been scarce and to build the capabilities of its national headquarters.
Among some of the notable gifts:
* The financier Robert W. Wilson made a cash donation to match a portion of each new bequest or other planned-giving pledge, up to $10,000 per pledge. Mr. Wilson’s challenge attracted $217-million in new planned-gift pledges, which he matched with $6-million.
* Many donors under age 50 contributed to the campaign, with 40 percent of donations of $10,000 or more coming from people younger than 50.
* Several families united to make multi-generational contributions. For example, Eleanor Friedman, a longtime ACLU supporter whose father was president of the organization’s Northern California affiliate in the 1950s, arranged for nine family members aged 19 to 29 to give. All told, the family contributed more than $2.5-million.
* Irwin Jacobs, who made a fortune by founding a wireless company, and his wife, Joan, made a $13-million contribution that will help strengthen 25 state affiliates in Arizona, Florida, Texas, and elsewhere. As a result, the affiliates’ annual subsidy from ACLU headquarters has been increased from $165,000 to $250,000.
