The Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and public interest law firm based in Durham, North Carolina. Founded in August 2007, SCSJ is a multidisciplinary organization composed of lawyers, social scientists, community organizers, and media specialists. The organization operates as a nonpartisan legal and advocacy entity dedicated to supporting communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities across the South in dismantling systems of structural racism and oppression.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.5M
+4.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$298K
+20.9% YoY
Grant Count
30
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-3.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: SCSJ partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities across the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights. Through an intersectional and interdisciplinary approach, the organization combines legal advocacy, litigation, research, and strategic communications to expand access to justice for all.
Primary Focus Areas:
Voting Rights: Protecting minority voting rights and strengthening meaningful opportunities for effective civic participation. Work includes defending the Voting Rights Act through fair redistricting and minimizing elections administration practices that threaten free democratic participation, such as photo ID requirements, restrictions on voter registration and early voting, and election day voter challenges.
Criminal Justice Reform: Challenging racial discrimination at all stages of the criminal justice system and its impact on racial and ethnic minority communities. Through its Justice System Reform (JSR) initiative, SCSJ works to end the school-to-prison pipeline, ensure police accountability, end racial profiling and mass incarceration, eliminate unfair collateral consequences of involvement with the criminal legal system, and challenge systemic racial discrimination.
Environmental Justice: Advancing environmental justice and advocacy, supporting community-driven efforts.
Human Rights: Ending discrimination against immigrants and the mistreatment of undocumented persons.
Grantmaking
SCSJ engages in grantmaking activities with typical awards ranging from $5,500 to $522,933. The organization's grant-making focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services. Total giving reported was $298,000 based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing.
Ready to take the next step with Southern Coalition for Social Justice?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
SCSJ operates throughout the southern United States, with current work in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Mississippi. The organization defines the South as encompassing Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The organization's work is grounded in deep, trust-based relationships with community-based organizations across the region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $19,528,240
- Total Revenue: $5,865,439
- Total Expenses: $4,919,171
Previous Year Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $18.6M
- Total Revenue: $4.41M
- Total Expenses: $4.4M
- Total Liabilities: $381k
Staffing: The organization employs approximately 30 people across multiple departments including legal, research, marketing, communications, and consulting functions.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,528,240 | $18,622,649 | $18,648,922 |
| Revenue | $5,865,439 | $4,414,000 | $6,106,263 |
| Expenses | $4,919,171 | $4,402,390 | $5,476,326 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $440,325 | $447,141 | $133,486 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
124 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include A Bella Lafemme Society ($11,500), Aliefvotes ($10,000), American Muslim Advisory Council ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BELLA LAFEMME SOCIETY BATON ROUGE, LA | SOLVE SPARK GRANT | $11,500 |
| LEX V LIVED EXPERIENCE VOICES LLC CASTLE HAYNE, NC | JSR CLEAN SLATE | $6,000 |
| ALIEFVOTES HOUSTON, TX | SOLVE SPARK GRANT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN MUSLIM ADVISORY COUNCIL NASHVILLE, TN | SOLVE SPARK GRANT | $10,000 |
| BLACK CLERGY COLLABORATIVE OF MEMPHIS MEMPHIS, TN | SOLVE SPARK GRANT | $10,000 |
| EL PASO CIVIC EDUCATION ORGANIZATION EL PASO, TX | SOLVE SPARK GRANT | $10,000 |
| EQUAL GROUND EDUCATION FUND ORLANDO, FL | SOLVE SPARK GRANT | $10,000 |
| FARMWORKERS SELF-HELP INC DADE CITY, FL | SOLVE SPARK GRANT | $10,000 |
| HANCOCK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP ATHENS, GA | SOLVE SPARK GRANT | $10,000 |
| HARRIET TUBMAN FREEDOM FIGHTERS JACKSONVILLE, FL | SOLVE SPARK GRANT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Executive Director: Ryan Roberson, Esq.
- Founder: Anita Earls (2007-2017)
- Research Director: Christopher Ketchie
- Communications Director: Melissa Boughton
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LISA JONES | DIRECTOR | 0.6 | — |
| GARY TRAYNOR | DIRECTOR | 0.6 | — |
| SUSAN PRICE | DIRECTOR | 0.6 | — |
| DR ANDRA GILLESPIE | DIRECTOR | 0.6 | — |
| RYAN ROBERSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & DIRECTOR | 40 | $182,102 |
| MELISSA BOUGHTON | COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR | 40 | $104,562 |
| MITCHELL BROWN | SENIOR COUNSEL, VOTING RIGHTS | 40 | $105,644 |
| JACOB SUSSMAN | CHIEF COUNSEL, JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM | 40 | $152,914 |
| JEFFREY LOPERFIDO | CHIEF COUNSEL, VOTING RIGHTS | 40 | $131,480 |
| ANNE HARVEY | CHIEF COUNSEL, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | 40 | $132,680 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
SCSJ has been active in funding grassroots organizing efforts across the South, directing resources to southern grassroots groups to engage and empower voters. The organization has also been involved in significant criminal justice advocacy, including work related to death row commutations and broader justice system reform initiatives.
Funding Heads to Southern Grassroots Groups, Empowers Voters | SCSJSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Southern Coalition for Social Justice fund?
**Mission Statement:** SCSJ partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities across the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights. Through an intersectional and interdisciplinary approach, the organization combines legal advocacy, litigation, research, and strategic communications to expand access to justice for all. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Voting Rights:** Protecting minority voting rights and strengthening meaningful opportuniti…
How do I apply for a grant from Southern Coalition for Social Justice?
SCSJ engages in grantmaking activities with typical awards ranging from $5,500 to $522,933. The organization's grant-making focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services. Total giving reported was $298,000 based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing.
Where does Southern Coalition for Social Justice make grants?
SCSJ operates throughout the southern United States, with current work in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Mississippi. The organization defines the South as encompassing Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The organization's work is grounded in deep, trust-based relationships with community-based organizations across the region.
What size grants does Southern Coalition for Social Justice award?
In 2024, Southern Coalition for Social Justice awarded 30 grants totaling $298K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Southern Coalition for Social Justice's EIN?
Southern Coalition for Social Justice's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0688375. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Southern Coalition for Social Justice's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Hillbrook Gkp Iii Foundation Inc
GREENSBORO, NC
Assets
$32K
Grants
1
Total Given
$2K
Rotary Club of Salisbury Charities
SALISBURY, NC
Assets
$39K
Grants
1
Total Given
$50K
Ihope Foundation
GREENSBORO, NC
Assets
$10K
Grants
1
Total Given
$20K
Flow Foundation Inc
WINSTONSALEM, NC
Assets
$395K
Grants
53
Total Given
$1.5M
Orange County Partnership for Young
HILLSBOROUGH, NC
Assets
$477K
Grants
18
Total Given
$2.1M
North Carolina Baptist Hospital
WINSTONSALEM, NC
Assets
$2.8B
Grants
17
Total Given
$634K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Southern Coalition for Social Justice on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Southern Coalition for Social Justice to a real strategy.