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Southern Poverty Law Center Inc

EIN 63-0598743 · Montgomery, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER IS A CATALYST FOR RACIAL JUSTICE IN THE SOUTH AND BEYOND, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES TO DISMANTLE WHITE SUPREMACY, STRENGTHEN INTERSECTIONAL MOVEMENTS, AND ADVANCE THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE.

Income
$149.6 million
Spending
$127.9 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
79.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
459
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$530,740, president/ceo

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 79.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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

    10 of 10 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 October 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 (2)
  1. $39.8 million spent. LEGAL - THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER (SPLC) SEEKS JUSTICE BY SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF CIVIL RIGHTS ABUSES AND HATE CRIMES AND PROMOTING THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF GROUPS MOST AFFECTED BY BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION IN OUR SOCIETY: COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, IMMIGRANTS, GUESTS WORKERS, CHILDREN, THE POOR, AND THE LGBT COMMUNITY - BOTH IN THE DEEP SOUTH AND NATIONWIDE. ITS CASE DOCKET FOCUSES ON HOLDING HATE GROUPS ACCOUNTABLE FOR MURDERS AND OTHER VIOLENT ACTS COMMITTED BY THEIR MEMBERS; ENDING WORKPLACE EXPLOITATION OF IMMIGRANTS; CHALLENGING UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR DISCRIMINATORY LAWS AND POLICIES AFFECTING IMMIGRANTS, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND THE LGBT COMMUNITY; IN ADDITION TO WORKING TO REFORM JUVENILE JUSTICE, MENTAL HEALTH, AND EDUCATION SYSTEMS THAT FAIL CHILDREN AND ROUTINELY PUSH STUDENTS OUT OF CLASSROOMS AND INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMING AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO STUDENTS LIVING IN POVERTY. THE SPLC ATTORNEYS FOCUS ON THESE CRITICAL CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES FROM FIVE SPLC OFFICES IN THE DEEP SOUTH. THE CENTER HAS IDENTIFIED FOUR AREAS OF WORK THAT POSE THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVING ITS MISSION. THE CENTER HAS PRIORITIZED THESE AREAS OF WORK IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM IMPACT ON ITS GOALS, INCLUDING ERADICATING POVERTY AND RACIAL INCOME INEQUALITY, ENDING OVER-CRIMINALIZATION AND MASS INCARCERATION, STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY, AND COUNTERING WHITE SUPREMACY."
  2. $50.2 million spent. PUBLIC INFORMATION - THE SPLC'S PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION EFFORTS SEEK TO COMBAT HATE AND BIAS IN OUR SOCIETY, EXPOSE EXTREMISM, AND REDUCE DISCRIMINATION AND INJUSTICE. THE SPLC PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT HATE GROUPS AND OTHER EXTREMISTS, THEIR ACTIVITIES, AND THEIR CRIMES TO THE PUBLIC, LAW ENFORCEMENT, POLICYMAKERS, HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE MEDIA WITH THE GOAL OF PREVENTING HATE AND EXTREMISM FROM ENTERING THE MAINSTREAM. THE SPLC ALSO SEEKS TO FOSTER EQUALITY IN THE CLASSROOM AND SUPPORT TOLERANCE EDUCATION BY PROVIDING AWARD-WINNING, ANTI-BIAS MATERIALS TO MORE THAN 200,000 TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE. THE SPLC EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ON THE STRUCTURAL CAUSES, AND IMPACTS OF INEQUALITY AND USES A MULTIFACETED APPROACH OF COMMUNITY EDUCATION, MOBILIZATION, MEDIA AND LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TO COMBAT BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MINORITIES, IMMIGRANTS, THE POOR, THE LGBT COMMUNITY AND OTHER VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. ALL OF THE SPLC'S WORK IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 November 6, 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 October 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 August 1971.

    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 November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.