The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 1971 and headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama. The organization operates as a public interest law firm dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry while seeking justice for vulnerable populations. The SPLC employs 473 staff members and operates five offices across the Deep South, with a national reach in its civil rights work.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$822.2M
+9.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
-35.9% YoY
Grant Count
19
+11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$94K
-42.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: 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.
Primary Program Areas:
The organization focuses its legal, advocacy, and public education efforts on four major areas:
- Protecting Voting Rights and Civic Engagement — Supporting democratic participation across the Deep South
- Eradicating Poverty in Southern Communities — Addressing economic justice and worker exploitation
- Dismantling White Nationalism and Protecting Democracy — Holding hate groups accountable and countering extremism
- Decriminalizing and Decarcerating Black and Brown People — Reforming juvenile justice, mental health, and education systems
Legal Work: The SPLC's case docket focuses on supporting victims of civil rights abuses and hate crimes, with particular emphasis on communities of color, immigrants, guest workers, children, the poor, and the LGBTQ community. The organization challenges unconstitutional or discriminatory laws and policies, holds hate groups accountable for violent acts, ends workplace exploitation of immigrants, and works to reform systems that disproportionately harm African-American and Latino students and communities.
Grantmaking
The SPLC operates a grantmaking program focused on civic engagement and voting rights. The organization has awarded grants through its **Vote Your Voice Initiative**, which strengthens democracy across the Deep South:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The SPLC maintains a primary focus on the Deep South while conducting civil rights work nationwide. The organization operates five offices across the Deep South region and extends its advocacy and legal work nationally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (Fiscal Year Ending October 2024):
- Total Revenue: $129.1 million
- Total Expenses: $129.0 million
- Total Assets: $822.2 million
- Total Liabilities: $35.4 million
- Endowment: $731.9 million (composed primarily of board-designated funds to support future work)
- Program Spending: Approximately 73.9% of total expenses directed to program services
Funding Sources: The SPLC's work is supported primarily through donor contributions. The organization does not receive or use government funds.
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since August 1971. Tax identification number: 63-0598743. All contributions, grants, and bequests are tax deductible.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $822,198,315 | $749,083,798 | $723,488,477 |
| Revenue | $129,063,290 | $169,857,376 | $140,350,982 |
| Expenses | $128,982,970 | $122,131,443 | $111,043,025 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $22,235,604 | $57,270,695 | $31,203,684 |
| 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
121 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Bryan Fair serves as Interim President & CEO.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN BAYNES-DUNNING | CHAIR | — | — |
| JOSH BEKENSTEIN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ROBERT FOX | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| PAM HOROWITZ | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JAMES HUGHES JR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JINI KOH | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ISABEL RUBIO | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MINJON THOLEN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CHARLES V TAYLOR JR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| VERNA WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CLEVELAND CHRISTOPHE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| KATHERYN RUSSELL-BROWN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| EMERY WRIGHT | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MARGARET HUANG | PRESIDENT/CEO | 40 | $466,934 |
| ERIKA MITCHELL | TREASURER/CFO | 40 | $225,020 |
| KIMBERLY BALLARD | SECRETARY/GENERAL COUNSEL | 40 | — |
| ANN BEESON | CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER | 40 | $249,191 |
| DERWYN BUNTON | CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER | 40 | $264,277 |
| SHANNON FARLEY | INTERIM CHIEF OF STAFF | 40 | $210,108 |
| CHERRY GAMBLE | CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER/INTERIM CHIEF OF STAFF | 40 | $240,721 |
| SYBIL HADLEY | GENERAL COUNSEL | 40 | $242,869 |
| ARUN KANDEL | CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER | 40 | $239,894 |
| SETH LEVI | CHIEF PROGRAM STRATEGY OFFICER | 40 | $251,745 |
| LASHAWN WARREN | CHIEF POLICY OFFICER | 40 | $256,191 |
| TWYLA WILLIAMS | CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER | 40 | $237,861 |
| JULIAN TEIXEIRA | CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER | 40 | $190,894 |
| REBECCA LATIN | INTERIM CHIEF OF STAFF | 40 | $161,050 |
| SUSAN CORKE | DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE PROJECT | 40 | $213,394 |
| BACARDI JACKSON | DEPUTY LEGAL DIRECTOR | 40 | $219,895 |
| SCOTT MCCOY | DEPUTY LEGAL DIRECTOR | 40 | $218,237 |
| NATALIE KELLY | DIRECTOR OF LEGAL MANAGEMENT | 40 | $216,696 |
| JALAYA LILES | DIRECTOR OF LEARNING FOR JUSTICE | 40 | $211,977 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The SPLC has launched new grant cycles through its Vote Your Voice Initiative to strengthen democracy across the Deep South, with recent announcements regarding grant opportunities for civic groups and community organizations working on voting rights and civic engagement.
SPLC\u2019s Vote Your Voice Initiative Launches New Grant Cycle to Strengthen\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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