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Southern Environmental Law Center

EIN 52-1436778 · Charlottesville, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER IS TO PROTECT THE BASIC RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, AND A LIVABLE CLIMATE; TO PRESERVE OUR REGION'S NATURAL TREASURES AND RICH BIODIVERSITY; AND TO PROVIDE A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.

Income
$58.2 million
Spending
$50.5 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
54.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
267
Volunteers
43
Highest pay
$385,302, president & executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 54.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 28 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (9)
  1. $17.1 million spent. ENERGY: GOALS TO PROMOTE AND SECURE A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY POLICY ACROSS THE SOUTH THAT PROTECTS THE PEOPLE AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE REGION, ENHANCES THE ECONOMY, AND MINIMIZES THE HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ECONOMIC HARM OF ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND AIR POLLUTION, INCLUDING GREENHOUSE GASES. IN PURSUIT OF THESE GOALS, SELC LITIGATES CASES TO REDUCE FOSSIL FUEL USE AND AIR POLLUTION, PROMOTE CLEAN ENERGY, AND REDUCE CONSUMERS' ENERGY BILLS AND TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
  2. $9.1 million spent. WATER: GOALS - TO PROTECT AND RESTORE WATER QUALITY AND WATER FLOW TO ENSURE SURFACE AND GROUND WATERS IN OUR REGION CAN MEET LONG-TERM HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL NEEDS. IN PURSUIT OF THESE GOALS, SELC LITIGATES CASES TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER AND WATERWAYS FROM POLLUTION AND TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
  3. $4.2 million spent. LAND AND COMMUNITY: GOALS - TO PROMOTE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, PROTECT NATURAL/RURAL AREAS, REDUCE REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS/POLLUTANTS THROUGH SMARTER GROWTH/SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. SELC LITIGATES CASES BENEFITING CITIZENS BY ENFORCING EXISTING LAWS.
  4. $3.8 million spent. WETLANDS AND COASTS: GOALS - TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE WETLANDS AND HIGH PRIORITY COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SOUTH FOR THE BENEFIT OF WILDLIFE, MARINE LIFE, AND PEOPLE. IN PURSUIT OF THESE GOALS, SELC LITIGATES CASES TO PROTECT WETLANDS, WILDLIFE, AND MARINE LIFE, SAFEGUARD COMMUNITIES FROM FLOODING, AND ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
  5. $2.9 million spent. NATIONAL FORESTS AND PARKS: GOALS - TO ENSURE THAT SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN NATIONAL FORESTS ARE MANAGED PRIMARILY FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE, CLEAN WATER, RECREATION, SCENIC BEAUTY, AND TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, SHENANDOAH, AND OTHER NATIONAL PARK UNITS. SELC LITIGATES CASES TO PROTECT THESE FORESTS AND PARKS, PUBLIC RESOURCES THEREIN, AND ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS.
  6. $2.3 million spent. AIR: GOALS - TO ACHIEVE HIGH AIR QUALITY ACROSS THE REGION, WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON HEAVILY INDUSTRIALIZED COMMUNITIES. IN PURSUIT OF THESE GOALS, SELC LITIGATES CASES TO REDUCE HARMFUL AIR POLLUTION AND ENFORCE EXISTING PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTIONS AND TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
  7. $1.9 million spent. WILDLIFE: GOALS - TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE SOUTH'S RICH BIODIVERSITY AND HABITATS. SELC LITIGATES CASES TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE REGION'S RICH BIODIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE HABITAT AND TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
  8. $281,801 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: GOALS - TO PARTNER WITH HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT ALL COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION HAVE CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, AND A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. SELC'S PROGRAM AREAS INCORPORATE CONSIDERATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK. SELC ACHIEVES THESE GOALS THROUGH ESTABLISHED PROGRAM AREAS, INCLUDING BY LITIGATING CASES TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE EFFORTS ARE EMBEDDED ACROSS VARIOUS PROGRAM AREAS AND SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S OVERARCHING MISSION.
  9. $273,471 spent. CLIMATE: GOALS TO ENSURE PROTECTION OF A LIVABLE CLIMATE FOR PEOPLE AND ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SOUTH. SELC INCORPORATES CLIMATE CONSIDERATIONS, INCLUDING MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION, INTO ITS VARIOUS PROGRAM AREAS. SELC LITIGATES CASES TO PROTECT THE SOUTH FROM THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WHEN APPROPRIATE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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