The ACLU, established in 1920, chartered the Montana affiliate in 1972. In 1980, an office was established in Billings, staffed part time. Since its inception, ACLU of Montana has impacted public education, litigation and legislation. In 1988, Scott Crichton was hired as the ACLU of Montana’s first full-time executive director. In 1989, the ACLU of Montana Foundation was incorporated with the Montana Secretary of State and was granted its 501c3 status from the IRS. In 1991, a full-time administrative assistant was hired. In 1997, the staff expanded to three employees with the addition of a staff attorney.

In 2003, the ACLU moved operations from Billings to Helena. An additional half-time position of intake coordinator was added the next year.

In 2006, the Montana affiliate was selected as one of five ACLU state affiliates for special consideration as part of the Strategic Affiliate Initiative (SAI) to provide additional resources and staffing. Montana was selected because we demonstrated a track record of being ambitious, accountable, collaborative, disciplined and strategic.

A business plan was developed that called for expanding the staff to include new full-time positions for directors of development, public policy and communications. It also added a full-time attorney. Those positions were filled in 2009. We have since added several new employees, including some funded by grant programs.

Today we have 11 full-time employees -- our executive director, legal director, staff attorney, paralegal/intake coordinator, development director and death penalty abolition organizer in Missoula; our public policy director, communications director and office manager in Helena; and an LGBT advocacy coordinator and LGBT organizer in the field.