Southern Environmental Law Center
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.
Key facts about Southern Environmental Law Center
In short: Southern Environmental Law Center gave $67K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), top state North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 52-1436778
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $67,250
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- Average grant
- $16,813
- Median grant
- $16,750
- Total assets
- $280,923,159
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (35% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Next open deadline
- January 31, 2027 (Glynn D. Key 1L Summer Intern Fellowship)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$280.9M
+8.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$67K
-74.6% YoY
Grant Count
4
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-87.3% YoY
How Southern Environmental Law Center gives
- Giving grew 124% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
About Southern Environmental Law Center
Based on IRS filings
Southern Environmental Law Center is a public charity, based in Charlottesville, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $280.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $67K. Net investment income was $7.6M.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Southern Environmental Law Center
Ready to take the next step with Southern Environmental Law Center?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2022) to $337K (2023). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $67K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was North Carolinians for Passenger Rail ($24K). Together the top 4 received $67K.
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 19 (84%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolinians for Passenger Rail Raleigh, NC | Lobbying for NC Passenger Rail | $23,750 |
| Conservation Alabama Birmingham, AL | Lobbying for Alabama Statewide Public Transporation Needs Assessment | $20,000 |
| Asian American Advocacy Fund Inc Norcross, GA | Purchase and distribution of yard signs in support of county transit referenda | $13,500 |
| Virginia Wilderness Committee Lexington, VA | Grant to support work in george washington and jefferson national forests | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $280,923,159 | $259,911,032 | $213,324,163 |
| Revenue | $58,167,590 | $62,847,748 | $53,489,044 |
| Expenses | $50,454,619 | $43,104,630 | $40,519,983 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,644,738 | $4,838,418 | $6,106,880 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS October 6, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Southern Environmental Law Center is led by Hayley M. Parrish, Assis. to Executive Director & Board Administrator since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 19 of 49 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Hayley M. Parrish
Assis. to Executive Director & Board Administrator
Secretary → Assistant to Executive Director & Board Administrator, 2024
Assistant to Executive Director & Board Administrator → Assis. to Executive Director & Board Administrator, 2025
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$101K (2020) → $110K (2025)
Dj Gerken
President & Executive Director
Director of Programs → President & Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$173K (2022) → $321K (2025)
Laura D. Gates
Chair of the Board
Trustee → Chair of the Board, 2023
On filings since 2020
11 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gilbert Rogers
Director & Ga Officer
Director of Ga O → Director & Ga Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$153K (2020) → $190K (2025)
Holly L. Hueston
Director Finance, Administrator & Treasurer
Treasurer → Director of Finance & Administrator, 2024
Director of Finance & Administrator → Director Finance, Administrator & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$168K (2020) → $80K (2025)
Nat Mund
Director of Federal Affairs
Legislative → Legislative Director, 2022
Legislative Director → Director of Federal Affairs, 2025
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$161K (2020) → $203K (2025)
Sarah Francisco
Director & Va Officer
Director of Va O → Director & Va Officer, 2022
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$155K (2020) → $192K (2025)
Erin Malec
Director of Communications
Dir.of Communications → Director of Communications, 2022
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$155K (2021) → $216K (2025)
Mary Maclean Asbill
Director & Nc Officer
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$160K (2023) → $177K (2025)
Geoff Gisler
Program Director
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$158K (2024) → $175K (2025)
Allen M. McCallie
Trustee
Chair → Chair of the Board, 2022
Chair of the Board → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
B. Clayton Rolader
Trustee
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy S. Brown
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles W. Patrick Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deaderick C. Montague
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dell S. Brooke
Trustee
Vice President → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward M. Miller
Trustee
Vice President → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. Stephen Dockery III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James G. Hanes III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jean C. Nelson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joel B. Adams Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Simpkins
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie G. Price
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura B. Fjeld
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcia A. Angle
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melanie P. Grinney
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melvin T. Davis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas F. Taft Sr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy B. Brown
Trustee
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William H. Schlesinger
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William L. Want
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Zakiya A. Seymour
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phyllis Dk Hildreth
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah H. Kennedy Kennard
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald A. Holzworth
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heath P. Terry
Trustee
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Davis
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clay Haynes
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Derb Carter
Senior Advisor & Senior Attorney
Director of Nc O → Senior Attorney, 2022
Senior Attorney → Senior Advisor & Senior Attorney, 2024
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$224K (2020) → $252K (2025)
John Suttles
Deputy Director
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$207K (2020) → $256K (2025)
David Carr
General Counsel & Treasurer -
General Counsel → General Counsel & Treasurer -, 2025
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$162K (2021) → $194K (2025)
Trip Pollard
Senior Attorney
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$178K (2024) → $191K (2025)
Alys Campaigne
Climate Initiative Leader
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$195K (2025)
Cali Busch
Controller & Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$42K (2025)
Chandra Taylor
Environ. Justice Initiative Leader
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$179K (2025)
Christie Wiggans
Finance & Invest. Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$95K (2025)
Deborah Murray
Senior Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$187K (2025)
Katie Shevlin
Chief Development Officer
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$228K (2025)
C. Grey McLean
Vice Chair of the Board
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Vice Chair of the Board, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Frank Holleman (2020–2024) — Senior Attorney
- Former: Jeffrey M. Gleason (2020–2024) — Former Officer
- Former: Marie Hawthorne (2020–2024) — Former Key Employee
- Former: Nathaniel Mund (2023–2024) — Director of Federal Affairs
- Former: Chandra Taylor-Sawyer (2024) — Environ. Justice Initiative Leader
- Former: Barry A. Brock (2020–2023) — Director & Al Officer
- Former: Dj Gerken - Program (2023) — Director, Then Executive Director & President
- Former: Jeffrey M. Gleason - Ed (2023) — President & Then Spec. Advisor
- Former: Marion A. Cowell Jr. (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Nancy Hanes White (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Stephen E. O'Day (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Susan S. Mullin (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Gil Rogers (2022) — Director & Ga Officer
- Former: Austin Gerken (2020–2021) — Program Director
- Former: Oliver Pollard (2020–2021) — Senior Attor
- Former: Frederick S. Middleton III (2020) — Former President
- Former: James Holman (2020) — Senior Attor
- Former: Nimrod We Long III (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $321K, to DJ Gerken (President & Executive Director). 19 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Southern Environmental Law Center
How much does Southern Environmental Law Center give each year?
Southern Environmental Law Center gave $67K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $265K across 2 grants.
What is Southern Environmental Law Center's typical grant size?
Southern Environmental Law Center's median grant in 2025 was $16,750, and its average grant was $16,813, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Southern Environmental Law Center give grants?
Southern Environmental Law Center's top state is North Carolina, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Alabama (30%) and Georgia (20%).
Does Southern Environmental Law Center give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Southern Environmental Law Center's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Southern Environmental Law Center?
Southern Environmental Law Center reported $280.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $58.2M.
What is Southern Environmental Law Center's EIN?
Southern Environmental Law Center's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1436778. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Here's the math on researching Southern Environmental Law Center by hand.
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Southern Environmental Law Center down — hundreds of funders to go?