Frequently Asked Questions

The ACLU of New Jersey reviews each of the thousands of requests we receive for legal assistance each year, but limited staff and resources mean we cannot respond to most of them. Even if our office doesn’t pursue your complaint, it doesn't mean your complaint is without merit. 

The fastest way to receive a response is to fill out our online form. You can also mail your request to: 

Intake Mail Manager 
ACLU-NJ 
P.O. Box 32159 
Newark, NJ 07102 

For more information about the types of cases we choose, how to submit a request for assistance, and what information to include in your request, please visit our Request Assistance page.

The ACLU-NJ's work to protect the enduring values of freedom and equality is based on a three-pronged approach: litigation, public education, and lobbying. 

To support all three advocacy tools and to comply with federal tax law, it is necessary to have two organizational entities: the ACLU-NJ and the ACLU-NJ Foundation. Fully funding both is vital to protecting civil liberties in New Jersey and across the country. 

The ACLU-NJ is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation. Membership gifts to it are not tax-deductible and fund our legislative advocacy and lobbying – important work that cannot be supported by tax-deductible funds. You can become a card-carrying member of the ACLU-NJ by donating here.

The ACLU-NJ Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Foundation gifts fund our litigation and public education efforts. Gifts to the ACLU-NJ Foundation are fully tax-deductible to the donor – you can make a tax-deductible donation here.

Many donors choose to make their larger tax-deductible gifts to the ACLU-NJ Foundation, but also continue to make smaller gifts to the ACLU-NJ in order to maintain their membership status with the ACLU-NJ and to support our important lobbying efforts. 

Gifts to the ACLU-NJ Foundation, which supports our litigation and public education efforts, are fully tax-deductible to the donor – you can make a tax-deductible donation here.

Membership dues to the ACLU-NJ, which go toward supporting our lobbying efforts in Washington, DC, and Trenton, are not tax-deductible – you can become a member by donating here.

Yes! You can support the ACLU-NJ's work in a variety of ways including: 

• Matching Gifts 
• Stock, Securities, and Mutual Funds 
• Workplace Giving 
• Individual Retirement Account Qualified Charitable Distribution 
• Bequests, Estates, and Planned Giving 

For more information on how to support the ACLU-NJ, please visit Other Ways To Give.

The ACLU-NJ Foundation Tax Identification Number (EIN) is 22-2010593. 

For media inquiries, send us an email or leave a voicemail on the ACLU-NJ press line at 973-854-1707. Please include your name, your outlet, your contact information, details about your story, and deadline. 

The ACLU-NJ works on the most pressing civil rights issues of our time, and the people who do that work have unique insights into the current state of justice. 

Staff members, trustees of our board, and other advocates who perform the work of the ACLU-NJ may be available to speak about the organization’s work on civil rights and civil liberties. We also provide non-partisan trainings and issue briefings on organizing and political advocacy, including: 

• Know Your Rights While Protesting 
• Advocacy 101: How to advocate for an issue with the state government 
• Lobbying 101: How to hold a lobby meeting and engage elected officials 
• How to read a New Jersey Legislative Bill  

We invite you to request a speaker from our organization using this form. Due to increased demand, we request that you provide us with advance notice of approximately eight weeks. While we may not be able to provide a speaker for every event, we will do our best to refer you to another organization or provide relevant resources.  You can expect a response within seven business days. 

The majority of ACLU-NJ's publications can be found digitally here. To request a hard copy of a ACLU-NJ publication, please send us an email.

Complete our Communication Preferences form to change your preferences regarding information you’ve shared for paper mail, phone, and data-sharing. Please see Your Choices for an overview about what options you have in sharing your information with the ACLU. 

Sign up here to join our email list, where you can stay informed about current issues and campaigns, upcoming events, and learn how you can get more involved in the fight to protect and expand civil liberties. 

The ACLU is a nationwide organization with staffed affiliate offices for all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The ACLU files cases in both state and federal courts and conducts on-the-ground advocacy. As an ACLU affiliate, the ACLU of New Jersey works to defend against civil liberties and civil rights violations that happen in the state of New Jersey. Our office is located in Newark, NJ.

We have never been affiliated with any party, and that lack of affiliation has always been a cornerstone of our mission. The ACLU and the ACLU of New Jersey are nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations dedicated to defending and extending civil liberties for all people in this country. We do not receive any government funding. Member dues as well as contributions and grants from private foundations and individuals pay for the work we do.

Yes! The ACLU-NJ offers internship opportunities throughout the year for college students, law students, and graduate students. You can view current opportunities here.