Southern Poverty Law Center Inc

The information for Southern Poverty Law Center Inc is as of the organization's most recent filing in October '22. This organization is located in Montgomery, AL. It has been in existence for 51 years, following its founding in 1971.

Organization Classification

The IRS classifies organizations according to the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system. The NTEE system helps the IRS assign a 3-character code to each organization to describe the organization's activities.

The Southern Poverty Law Center Inc's NTEE code is I83. The "I" tells us that the organization is classified under Crime & Legal-Related. The "83" tells us that the organization is involved in Public Interest Law. The NTEE describes Public Interest Law organizations as those primarily handling class action litigation and lawsuits related to issues of interest to the public in general rather than assisting individuals.

Every organization is also governed by a specific section of the Internal Revenue Code. This organization happens to fall under Section 3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS describes organizations under Section 3 as those engaged in Religious, Educational, Charitable, Scientific, Literary, Public Safety, Amateur Sports, or Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals work.

Perhaps the most accurate way to understand the goals of the organization is by examining its mission. The mission of the Southern Poverty Law Center Inc is to be 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.

Program Areas

Program Area 1: The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) focuses on seeking justice by supporting victims of civil rights abuses and hate crimes, as well as promoting the civil and human rights of groups most affected by bias and discrimination in our society. Their work includes holding hate groups accountable for violent acts committed by their members, ending workplace exploitation of immigrants, challenging unconstitutional or discriminatory laws and policies, and advocating for reform in juvenile justice, mental health, and education systems. The SPLC attorneys work from five offices in the Deep South and prioritize four areas of work to achieve their mission: eradicating poverty, decriminalizing and decarcerating black and brown people, protecting voting rights and civic engagement, and dismantling white nationalism and protecting democracy.

Program Area 2: The SPLC's public information and education efforts aim to combat hate and bias in society, expose extremism, and reduce discrimination and injustice. They provide information about hate groups and extremists to the public, law enforcement, policymakers, human rights organizations, and the media, with the goal of preventing hate and extremism from entering the mainstream. Additionally, the SPLC supports tolerance education in classrooms by providing anti-bias materials to teachers and schools nationwide. They educate the public on the structural causes and impacts of inequality and use various approaches, such as 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.

Organization Staffing

Southern Poverty Law Center Inc is run by Margaret Huang, who is the President/CEO. The organization has 421 employees, of whom 67 are paid more than $100k per year (according to the organization's most recent 990 tax filing). Supporting the paid staff are 72 volunteers.

Board Governance

The Southern Poverty Law Center Inc is a non-profit organization that appears to be well-governed based on the provided information. The organization has 13 voting members, all of whom are independent, indicating a diverse and unbiased decision-making process. The absence of potential conflicts of interest further strengthens the organization's governance structure, ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of the organization and its mission. The fact that the organization has not delegated management to an outside firm suggests that it maintains control over its operations and decision-making processes. This can contribute to a more efficient and effective governance structure, as the organization's leadership is directly involved in managing its affairs. The documentation of board meetings and committee meetings is an important aspect of good governance, as it ensures transparency and accountability. The organization's commitment to documenting these meetings indicates a strong emphasis on open communication and decision-making processes. Furthermore, the presence of policies such as a conflict of interest policy, whistleblower policy, and document retention policy demonstrates the organization's commitment to ethical practices and compliance. These policies help to prevent potential conflicts and misconduct, ensuring that the organization operates with integrity. Lastly, the organization's practice of substantiating and reviewing leadership and officer salaries, as well as providing copies of the 990 to the board prior to filing, indicates a commitment to financial transparency and accountability. This ensures that the organization's financial resources are used appropriately and in line with its mission. Overall, the Southern Poverty Law Center Inc appears to be well-governed, with strong policies and practices in place to promote transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct.

Grant History

The Southern Poverty Law Center Inc has a grant history spanning over five years. In that time, they have awarded a total of 318 grants, with an average check size of $27,278. The organization has an average of 64 grants awarded each year. The majority of their grants, 318 in total, have been awarded in the Crime & Legal-Related sector. In terms of geographical distribution, the organization has awarded grants in various states, with the highest number of grants awarded in Mississippi (43), followed by Alabama (26) and Florida (26).

Organization Growth

The Southern Poverty Law Center Inc has experienced significant growth over the given time period. Contributions and grants received increased from $45.0M in 2014 to $108.9M in 2021, indicating an increase in support from donors. Investment income also saw a notable increase, from $9.0M in 2014 to $31.2M in 2021, suggesting successful financial management and growth in investments. Other revenue also increased from $81.5K in 2014 to $169.1K in 2021. Total revenue grew from $54.3M in 2014 to $140.4M in 2021, demonstrating overall growth in the organization's financial resources. Employee salaries increased from $17.2M in 2014 to $34.8M in 2021, indicating the need for additional staff to support the organization's growth. The number of total employees also increased from 296 in 2014 to 421 in 2021, and the number of volunteers grew from 22 in 2014 to 72 in 2021. Overall, these indicators suggest that the Southern Poverty Law Center Inc has experienced significant growth over the given time period.