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Executive Director Abdi Soltani and
Board Chair Adam Bailey
Photo by Michael B. Woolsey 

We THE PEOPLE

When our nation’s founders wrote the Constitution, “We the People” excluded enslaved Black people, Native people, and all women. Throughout our history, countless laws restricted who was considered “We the People.” But, our history also includes significant struggles to expand the meaning of “We the People.” 

Today, ACLU NorCal continues to ask: Who is included in “We the People”? Who deserves the full protection of our Constitution and its ideals?

In this annual report you’ll find examples of how we work to answer those questions.

We know that “We the People” includes:

Dez Martinez—a formerly unhoused woman who translated love and knowledge of her “street family” into fierce advocacy for the rights of unhoused people. Dez successfully challenged Fresno’s ordinance barring her from filming and offering assistance during the city’s encampment sweeps.

Jay Hockley, Sr.—a formerly incarcerated person who channeled his experience and knowledge of prison life to advocate for the rights of currently and formerly incarcerated people. Jay was a key leader in a campaign to secure the voting rights of people on parole.

Roman C. Rain Tree—an Indigenous leader who led the campaign to rename Sq**w Valley in Fresno County, in honor of his mother and Yokuts ancestors from what we today call the Central Valley and surrounding foothills. Roman built powerful support to pass state legislation banning “Sq**w Valley” from all place names, and to secure federal action removing a slur from his ancestral lands and renaming it “Yokuts Valley.”

We the People also includes you. As someone who lives in this country, as an ACLU member and donor, as a person who supports other organizations and causes financially and politically, you embrace and embody an inclusive, expansive, and bold vision of “We the People.”

Roman says, “Yokuts means ‘the people.’” We raise up the work that our supporters and partners like Dez, Jay, and Roman do every day to ensure our values of equality, freedom, and justice encompass everyone.

With gratitude for all you do,
Abdi Soltani, Executive Director & Adam Bailey, Chair of the Boards

Read THE full letter from our Board Chair & ED

LAND Acknowledgment

The ACLU of Northern California exists on the occupied territory of over 100 tribes. This land acknowledgment, filmed on Coast Miwok land at Tomales Bay, was originally created with our partners at the Alliance for Felix Cove for our 2022 ACLU Partners for Justice event.

Stories From
The Central Valley

Nearly a decade ago, ACLU NorCal recognized the need to place greater emphasis on the Central Valley—taking on more cases and advocacy projects and opening our Fresno office. The stories below highlight the importance and impact of our partnerships with leaders in this area.

Voting: The Right to be Heard – Jay’s story

ACLU NorCal litigates, advocates, and educates to expand voting access for people impacted by the criminal legal system. Jay Hockley, Sr. of Initiate Justice shares the story of how he came to vote for the first time on parole in 2022.

Free Speech for the Unhoused – Dez’s Story

Advocates, organizers, and the media play a critical watchdog role during sweeps of homeless encampments. When the city of Fresno attempted to violate the rights of these observers, the ACLU sued. Dez Martinez, founder of We Are Not Invisible, shares her story of blocking an unconstitutional ordinance that put lives at risk.

Reclaiming Yokuts Valley – Roman’s Story

The state of California was founded on the forced removal, enslavement, and genocide of Indigenous peoples. Roman C. Rain Tree of Seeds of Sovereignty shares the story of how a years-long effort resulted in renaming his ancestral homeland from the former pejorative of “Sq**w-Valley” to “Yokuts Valley,” in honor of the Valley’s first inhabitants.

ACLU NORCAL
By the Numbers

48

Legal Actions

Together with our partners and plaintiffs, ACLU NorCal took on 48 new legal actions in 2022, adding to the 54 active cases from 2021. Check out our full legal docket.

80

Know Your
Rights Guides

We publish a range of Know Your Rights Guides on topics like voting, abortion access, and student rights. Guides are available in English and Spanish.

1789

Participants

ACLU NorCal offers many avenues for engagement and action. In 2022, 1,789 people participated in community organizing event, lobby visits, and activist trainings.

Legislative HIGHLIGHTS

Each year, the ACLU reviews every bill introduced in the California legislature, monitors several hundred, and sponsors a package of priority bills. These are three highlights of priority bills signed in 2022. Keep up to date on the ACLU Cal Action website.

Stop Pregnancy Criminalization
(AB 2223)

Despite existing law stating that losing or ending a pregnancy is not a crime, prosecutors were still charging people with homicide for pregnancy losses, disproportionately affecting Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. This bill clarifies that pregnant people and those who assist them shall not be held liable for their pregnancy outcomes. 

Ban Racist Place Names
(AB 2022)

For decades, Native American leaders and organizations have advocated for the removal of the word “sq**w,” a racist and misogynistic slur that was used by early California settlers. This bill creates a process for eliminating racially offensive place names, prohibiting the s-word for geographic features and place names in California. 

Racial Justice Act for All
(AB 256)

The existing Racial Justice Act prohibits the state from seeking or obtaining a criminal conviction or imposing a sentence based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. With this bill, the Racial Justice Act now applies retroactively and prior racist convictions and sentences are to be overturned. 

Your support of the ACLU fuels the work in Northern California and nationwide. The ACLU works in each and every state. Hover over these states for selected highlights of some of the work you made possible in 2022. Visit aclu.org for more on work happening across the country.

MONTANA

Sued to protect same-day voter registration statewide and organized ballot collection on rural reservations.

California

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Oregon

Filed lawsuits on behalf of journalists and protesters injured by Portland law enforcement while documenting protests against police brutality.

Arizona

Secured court victory for medical and mental health care in Arizona’s 10 state prisons.

Minnisota

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Arkansas

Blocked state’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Florida

Blocked provisions of the Stop Woke Act that restricted teaching on race in higher education.

Georgia

Filed lawsuit against sweeping voter suppression legislation.

Ohio

Successfully sued state for partisan gerrymandering.

Michigan

Led and funded state ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights in state constitution.

Texas

Defended against the full-scale assault on civil liberties, including voting, abortion, and trans rights.

U.S.-Mexico Border

Continued to litigate family separation and helped reunite 550 families.

Arkansas

Blocked state’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Washington DC

U.S. Supreme Court – Filed amicus brief to keep Native families together in Indian Child Welfare Act case.

ACLU NorCal Issues & Impact

CRIMINAL
JUSTICE

Working to dramatically reduce incarceration, criminalization, and police abuse by ending unjust and oppressive laws, policies, and practices that target and disproportionately harm Black, Brown, and other marginalized communities.

DEMOCRACY & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Working to ensure that voting rights are protected, government agencies and elected officials are accountable, and that freedom of speech, press, and participation are defended against suppression.

GENDER, SEXUALITY & REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE

Working toward a California that is free of discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation and that respects, values, and supports all Californians’ decisions about intimate relationships and reproduction.

IMMIGRANTS’
RIGHTS

Working to support the many diverse immigrant communities in Northern California by addressing laws and practices that punish and target individuals for their immigration status, national origin, ethnicity, and race.

RACIAL &
ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Working to address the oppressive systems and unjust policies and repair the current and historic harms wrought by race-based segregation, discrimination, and deprivation of economic and other opportunities.

TECHNOLOGY &
CIVIL LIBERTIES

Working to build a world where technology serves the people–by enriching our lives, connecting us with opportunities, and supporting a just and equitable society–instead of the interests of the powerful and privileged.

READ ABOUT 2022 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Gold Chains: The Hidden History of Slavery in California – The Podcast

In 2022, we released two podcast episodes to dive deeper into our public education project on the Hidden History of Slavery in California. We’ve been unearthing the stories that were deliberately left out of the “free” state’s celebrated history to connect to today’s calls for justice.

Artwork courtesy of the Tom Feelings Collection, LLC

Listen to the podcast

Development & Financial Report

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP

ACLU NorCal believes in the power of partnership to drive meaningful, lasting change—and we’re deeply grateful for our partnership with you, our ACLU supporters. We know you share our goal to make “We the People” truly inclusive of everyone—and we believe that a community-centered approach to fundraising is necessary to get us there.

Community-Centric Fundraising is a movement led by fundraisers of color who have outlined ten core principles:

  1. Fundraising must be grounded in race, equity, and social justice.
  2. Individual organizational missions are not as important as the collective community.
  3. Nonprofits are generous with and mutually supportive of one another.
  4. All who engage in strengthening the community are equally valued, whether volunteer, staff, donor, or board member.
  5. Time is valued equally as money.
  6. We treat donors as partners, and this means that we are transparent, and occasionally have difficult conversations.
  7. We foster a sense of belonging, not othering.
  8. We promote the understanding that everyone (donors, staff, funders, board members, volunteers) personally benefits from engaging in the work of social justice – it’s not just charity and compassion.
  9. We see the work of social justice as holistic and transformative, not transactional.
  10. We recognize that healing and liberation requires a commitment to economic justice.

At ACLU NorCal, being community-centered begins with recognizing that much of the wealth in our country is built on stolen resources and exploitation. We work to dismantle white supremacy and provide opportunities to redistribute money towards repair, healing, and systemic change. We mobilize resources for the ACLU while also using our relationships, power, and privilege to build stronger movements overall.

We look forward to offering you more opportunities to partner with us by learning about the roots of systemic injustice, how it manifests today, and ways you can put your learning, power, and resources into action.

In solidarity,
ACLU NorCal Development Department

Read the full letter from our Development DepT.

ACLU NorCal’s effectiveness and impact depend upon our full community of stakeholders, which includes those contributing financial resources. The majority of funding for both the Foundation and the Union comes from individuals like you. We are deeply grateful for your support.

ACLU Foundation of Northern California

$ 27,308,919

FY 2021-22 SUPPORT & REVENUE

Annual and Special Contributions (44%)
$11,969,308
$11,969,308
Foundation Grants (<1%)
$153,269
$153,269
Bequests / Planned Gift Contributions (17%)
$4,661,471
$4,661,471
Court Awarded Attorney Fees (10%)
$2,755,377
$2,755,377
In-Kind Legal Contributions (25%)
$6,843,418
$6,843,418
Other Income (<1%)
$263,166
$263,166
Investment Income (2%)
$662,910
$662,910
Total : $ 27,308,919$ 27,308,919
$ 22,076,736

FY 2021-22 EXPENSES

Program Services (82%)
$17,985,790
$17,985,790
Fundraising (7%)
$1,559,983
$1,559,983
Management and General (11%)
$2,530,963
$2,530,963
Total : $ 22,076,736$ 22,076,736

ACLU of Northern California

8,409,249

FY 2021-22 SUPPORT & REVENUE

Memberships (74%)
$6,188,793
$6,188,793
Annual and Special Contributions (10%)
$834,533
$834,533
Grant from ACLU Foundation of N. California (7%)
$600,000
$600,000
Bequests/Planned Gift Contributions (9%)
$731,670
$731,670
Investment Income and Other (<1%)
$54,253
$54,253
Total : 8,409,2498,409,249
$6,785,976

FY 2021-22 EXPENSES

Program Services (80%)
$5,448,667
$5,448,667
Fundraising (5%)
$299,707
$299,707
Management and General (15%)
$1,037,602
$1,037,602
Total : $6,785,976 $6,785,976

Due to the generous support received in FY 2021-22, ACLU NorCal was able to fund our organizational budget and allocate $3 million to the national ACLU for grants to ACLU affiliates working to protect voting rights in battleground states.

READ THE FULL DEVELOPMENT & FINANCIAL REPORT

WAYS OF GIVING

There are many ways to help advance the work of the ACLU, and we welcome your continued financial support. You will find information on many ways to give now to ACLU NorCal, such as gifts of cash and by credit card, workplace giving, and gifts of stocks and securities, at www.aclunc.org/donate.

For information on ways to make a legacy gift to ACLU NorCal, such as through insurance and retirement accounts, gift annuities, charitable trusts, and estate plans, including sample bequest language, visit www.aclunc.org/donate/planned-giving.

For more information on any of these or other ways to support the ACLU, contact Director of Development Cori Stell at (415) 621-2493 or giving@aclunc.org.

TAKE ACTION

We recognize and support the interdependence of our communities by aligning fundraising practices with our goals for racial, economic, and social justice. We also use our opportunities and resources to build stronger movements—and we invite you to join us.

TAKE ACTION

In addition to this online Annual Report, we also published a companion print report, which includes more highlights and stories from 2022, as well as our heartfelt thanks to volunteers.

DOWNLOAD THE COMPANION ANNUAL REPORT
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