Southern Poverty Law Center Inc
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is based in Montgomery, Alabama. Founded in 1971, it works through legal, community-based, and advocacy efforts to advance racial justice, challenge white supremacy and institutional racism, and protect civil rights. Its filing lists its filing type as 990T.
Key facts about Southern Poverty Law Center Inc
In short: Southern Poverty Law Center Inc gave $1.0M across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $56K), top state Alabama. 89% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 63-0598743
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,012,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- Average grant
- $56,250
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 89% first-time grantees (16 of 18, 2025)
- Total assets
- $921,762,979
- Primary geography
- Alabama (45% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$921.8M
+12.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
-43.3% YoY
Grant Count
18
-5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
-40.1% YoY
Is Southern Poverty Law Center Inc open to new grantees?
89%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 18 grantees (89%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $37K; repeat grants $213K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $213K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission stated on the filing is to be “a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond,” working with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance human rights. The SPLC’s website describes work in strengthening democracy and voting rights, eliminating poverty and economic inequality, dismantling white supremacy, and ending unjust imprisonment. It also describes legal and community-based efforts to address discrimination, abuse, and exploitation.
The 2025 grants included general-purpose support as well as grants with purposes such as partner engagement, Selma community revitalization, and the Sammy L. Younge Jr. Legacy Learning Center. Among the grantees, Ignite Alabama describes its mission as promoting economic growth in rural and distressed communities, while the Center for Responsible Lending says it promotes financial fairness and economic opportunity and works to end abusive lending practices. The ACLU of Alabama Foundation says it works to protect and expand Alabamians’ civil liberties and civil rights; Justice in Motion says it protects migrant rights by ensuring justice across borders.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the SPLC reported 18 grants totaling $1,012,500. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $350,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest grant was $350,000 to American University for a partner engagement grant. Other large awards included $100,000 each to Equal Justice Initiative and Alabama Post Conviction Relief Project for general purposes, and $75,000 to Ignite Alabama for Selma community revitalization.
Review Cycle
with three funding opportunities for eligible nonprofits in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The initiative supports voter education, civic engagement, and voting access, and the SPLC describes its approach as sustained, year-round engagement and investment in community organizations. The available information does not state an application deadline or provide application materials or restrictions beyond the stated geography and focus.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The SPLC says it works across the Deep South, with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi as priority states. Its 2025 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Alabama (45%) and Washington, D.C. (41%), followed by New York (6%), North Carolina (5%), and Illinois (2%). The 2026 Vote Your Voice grant cycle is directed to nonprofits in the five priority states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $209K (2022) to $3.3M (2020). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American University ($350K). Together the top 10 received $870K.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 54 grants of 89 (61%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American University Washington, DC | Partner Engagement Grant | $350,000 |
| Equal Justice Initiative Montgomery, AL | General Purpose Grant | $100,000 |
| Alabama Post Conviction Relief Project Inc Montgomery, AL | General Purpose Grant | $100,000 |
| Ignite Alabama Birmingham, AL | Selma Community Revitalization | $75,000 |
| Tuskegee Human & Civil Rights Multicultural Ctr Tuskegee, AL | General Purpose Grant | $50,000 |
| Center for Responsible Lending Durham, NC | General Purpose Grant | $50,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama Foundation Inc Montgomery, AL | General Purpose Grant | $50,000 |
| Tuskegee Macon County Community Foundation Inc Tuskegee Institute, AL | Sammy L. Younge Jr. Legacy Learning Center Grant | $45,000 |
| Selma Dallas County Childrens Policy Council Foundation Selma, AL | General Purpose Grant | $25,000 |
| National Immigration Law Ctr Washington, DC | General Purpose Grant | $25,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The IRS filing data reports the following figures by filing year:
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $921,762,979 | $149,576,773 | $127,910,803 | $1,012,500 |
| 2024 | $822,198,315 | $129,063,290 | $128,982,970 | $1,785,000 |
| 2023 | $749,083,798 | $169,857,376 | $122,131,443 | $2,785,400 |
The SPLC’s financial information page says its work is supported primarily by donor contributions and that it receives or uses no government funds.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $921,762,979 | $822,198,315 | $749,083,798 |
| Revenue | $149,576,773 | $129,063,290 | $169,857,376 |
| Expenses | $127,910,803 | $128,982,970 | $122,131,443 |
| Net Investment Income | $21,806,431 | $22,235,604 | $57,270,695 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 29, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 11, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Karen Baynes-Dunning as chair; James Hughes Jr. and Jini Koh as co-vice chairs; and Josh Bekenstein, Robert Fox, Pam Horowitz, Isabel Rubio, Minjon Tholen, Charles V. Taylor Jr., and Verna Williams as directors.
Southern Poverty Law Center Inc is led by Margaret Huang, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 16 of 27 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Margaret Huang
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$323K (2021) → $473K (2025)
Bryan Fair
Interim President & CEO
Director → Interim President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Baynes-Dunning
Chair
Interim President, CEO, Director & Treasurer → Director & Treasurer, 2022
Director & Treasurer → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
$354K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Efren Olivares
Director of Strategic Litigation & Advocacy
Deputy Legal Director → Director of Strategic Litigation & Advocacy, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$178K (2022) → $235K (2025)
Pam Horowitz
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Isabel Rubio
Director
Director & Secretary-Incoming → Director & Secretary, 2023
Director & Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Josh Bekenstein
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Minjon Tholen
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Verna Williams
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Robert M. Fox
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Charles V. Taylor Jr.
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
James M. Knoepp
Former Senior Supervising Attorney
General Counsel → Senior Supervising Attorney, 2021
Senior Supervising Attorney → Former Senior Supervising Attorney, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$149K (2019) → $247K (2025)
Seth Levi
Chief Program Strategy Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$205K (2020) → $260K (2025)
Cherry Gamble
Chief Development Officer
Chief Development Officer → Chief Development Officer & Interim Chief of Staff, 2024
Chief Development Officer & Interim Chief of Staff → Chief Development Officer, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$171K (2021) → $268K (2025)
Twyla Williams
Chief Human Resources Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$196K (2021) → $248K (2025)
Sybil Hadley
Former General Counsel
General Counsel & Secretary → General Counsel, 2024
General Counsel → Former General Counsel, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$155K (2022) → $223K (2025)
Arun Kandel
Chief Information Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$232K (2023) → $248K (2025)
Erika Mitchell
Treasurer, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer → Treasurer & CFO, 2024
Treasurer & CFO → Treasurer, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$225K (2024) → $262K (2025)
Lashawn Warren
Chief Policy Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$249K (2023) → $263K (2025)
Derwyn Bunton
Chief Legal Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$264K (2024) → $273K (2025)
Julian Teixeira
Chief Communications Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$191K (2024) → $256K (2025)
Kimberly Ballard
Secretary & General Counsel
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$193K (2025)
Scott McCoy
Deputy Legal Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$218K (2024) → $224K (2025)
Anjali J. Nair
Former Associate Director & Sifi Management Throug
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$282K (2025)
Peter M. Isbister
Former Senior Lead Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$237K (2025)
James B. Hughes Jr.
Co-Vice Chair
Director → Co-Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Jini Koh
Co-Vice Chair
Director → Co-Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (41)
- Former: Katheryn Russell-Brown (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Emery Wright (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Bacardi Jackson (2021–2024) — Deputy Legal Director
- Former: Jalaya Liles (2022–2024) — Director of Learning for Justice
- Former: Susan Corke (2022–2024) — Director of Intelligence Project
- Former: Ann Beeson (2023–2024) — Chief Program Officer
- Former: Cleveland Christophe (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Natalie Kelly (2023–2024) — Director of Legal Management
- Former: Shannon Farley (2023–2024) — Interim Chief of Staff
- Former: Rebecca Latin (2024) — Interim Chief of Staff
- Former: Bennett Grau (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Karol Mason (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Lecia Brooks (2020–2023) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Nancy Abudu (2021–2023) — Interim Director of Strategy
- Former: Daniel McGregor (2022–2023) — Former Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Amy Sadler (2023) — Interim Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Melvina Ford (2023) — Former Interim Chief Legal Officer
- Former: Tia Gordon (2023) — Former Chief Communications Officer
- Former: Teenie Hutchison (2019–2022) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Corey Wiggins (2020–2022) — Director & Secretary-Outgoing
- Former: Elizabeth Grossman (2022) — Interim Chief Legal Officer
- Former: Elden Rosenthal (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Lida Orzeck (2019–2021) — Director & Treasurer
- Former: Richard Cohen (2019–2021) — Outgoing President & CEO
- Former: Erik Olvera (2020–2021) — Chief Communications Officer
- Former: Kathryn Kendell (2021) — Co-Interim Legal Director
- Former: Kim Anderson (2021) — Co-Interim Legal Director
- Former: Samuel Brooke (2021) — Deputy Legal Director
- Former: David Dinielli (2019–2020) — Deputy Legal Director
- Former: Heidi Beirich (2019–2020) — Director-Intel Project
- Former: James McElroy (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Lisa Graybill (2019–2020) — Deputy Legal Director
- Former: Marsha Levick (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Maureen Costello (2019–2020) — Director of Teaching Toler
- Former: Rhonda Brownstein (2019–2020) — Outgoing Legal Director
- Former: Will Little (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Ed Lord (2020) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Ellen Sudow (2019) — Director
- Former: Howard Mandell (2019) — Director
- Former: Morris Dees (2019) — Co-Founder
- Former: Wendy Via (2019) — Chief Development & Communications
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $473K, to Margaret Huang (President/CEO). 16 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 548, Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: (334) 956-8200
Website: https://splcenter.org
Frequently asked questions about Southern Poverty Law Center Inc
How much does Southern Poverty Law Center Inc give each year?
Southern Poverty Law Center Inc gave $1.0M across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 19 grants.
What is Southern Poverty Law Center Inc's typical grant size?
Southern Poverty Law Center Inc's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $56,250, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Southern Poverty Law Center Inc that year got $37K on average.
Where does Southern Poverty Law Center Inc give grants?
Southern Poverty Law Center Inc's top state is Alabama, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were District of Columbia (41%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (4 grants), Montgomery, AL (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Southern Poverty Law Center Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 61% of Southern Poverty Law Center Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Southern Poverty Law Center Inc's largest grantees?
Southern Poverty Law Center Inc's largest 2025 grantees include American University ($350,000), Equal Justice Initiative ($100,000) and Alabama Post Conviction Relief Project Inc ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Southern Poverty Law Center Inc?
Southern Poverty Law Center Inc reported $921.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $149.6M.
What does Southern Poverty Law Center Inc fund?
The mission stated on the filing is to be “a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond,” working with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance human rights. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Southern Poverty Law Center Inc?
Southern Poverty Law Center Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check splcenter.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Southern Poverty Law Center Inc's EIN?
Southern Poverty Law Center Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 63-0598743. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Southern Poverty Law Center Inc by hand.
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Southern Poverty Law Center Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?