American Civil Rights Institute

American Civil Rights Institute
Established1996
52-2004697 (EIN)
Key people
Ward Connerly
Revenue (2017)
$266,575[1]
Websitewww.acri.org

The American Civil Rights Institute is an American conservative non-profit organization that opposes affirmative action.[2] It was founded by Ward Connerly and Thomas L. "Dusty" Rhodes in 1996 in Sacramento, California.[3] As of 2017 it operates from a mailing address in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.[1] It has also been called the American Civil Rights Coalition.[4]

The organization's goals are diametrically opposed to those pursued by the majority of civil rights organizations.[5][6][7] It describes itself as "a national civil rights organization created to educate the public on the harms of racial and gender preferences."[3] It argues that programs intended to help minorities discriminate against non-miniority people.[8] Ward Connerly describes his work as "fiercely committed to the ideal of a color-blind America."[9]

The organization pays an unusually large amount of money to its executive, at times exceeding half the organization's total revenue. The American Conservative observed that "Connerly cashes in" on affirmative action, making millions of dollars.[2]

  1. ^ a b "American Civil Rights Institute". ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. 9 May 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Connerly Cashes In". American Conservative Magazine. 22 September 2008. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008.
  3. ^ a b "American Civil Rights". americancivilrights.org. Archived from the original on 11 August 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  4. ^ Bratton, Anna Jo (August 16, 2008). "Questions rise over money in ballot issue". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  5. ^ Drummond Ayres, B. Jr. (16 January 1997). "Foes of Affirmative Action Form a National Group". The New York Times.
  6. ^ Nicol, Donna J (17 February 2022). "Racism and the roots of conservative philanthropy in the US". Al Jazeera.
  7. ^ Brooks, Erinn (16 March 2017). "Examining the Reach of Color Blindness: Ideological Flexibility, Frame Alignment, and Legitimacy among Racially Conservative and Extremist Organizations". The Sociological Quarterly. 58 (2): 254–276. doi:10.1080/00380253.2017.1296340. S2CID 148879378.
  8. ^ Giegerick, Steve (May 21, 2003). "Colleges change summer program plans for minority students". The Ithaca Journal. Associated Press. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  9. ^ Connerly, Ward (2008). Lessons from My Uncle James. Encounter Books. ISBN 9781594032219.