LDF: Leading Our Nation’s Quest for Greater Equality and Justice for All Americans

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., (LDF) has been at the center of protecting the right to vote, and all civil rights, since 1940. Founded by Thurgood Marshall, LDF is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans.

Amidst the ongoing presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year has seen extraordinary events that have tested the foundations of our democracy. Immediately after the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol, and after a series of elections in which Black voters and other voters of color turned-out at historic rates, states across the nation began introducing legislation to suppress their voting rights and ballot access.

LDF has responded to these attacks on civil rights as we have for the past 81 years — by fighting for racial justice in the courts; at the local, state, and federal levels; and on the ground in communities across the country. Due to the courage and commitment of our clients, the generosity of our supporters, and the dedication and expertise of our staff and cooperating attorneys over the years, LDF has remained what it has always been: a pioneering force in our nation’s quest for equality.

We know that it is the ability to participate in the political process that unlocks so many of the other important civil rights issues. It increases the prospect for meaningful reforms in the criminal justice system. It expands the possibility of education equity. And it opens the doors of opportunity for fair housing practices and economic advancement.

LDF is continuing the fight to protect voting rights in 2021, and we will continue to do so every year, in every election going forward. We are uniquely positioned to navigate one of the most important moments for civil rights in our nation’s history. Join us in our fight to achieve equality for all by donating to LDF through your workplace giving program or through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #11104). For more about our work, please visit www.naacpldf.org.