High Admin Costs?
Posted by PAB  |  November 2, 2009 5:51:13 AM

Not many charities have to provide bodyguards to their leadership because of perpetural death threats against them and their families. Or fortify their building to protect their staff from bombings by those who they work to expose. Hate groups are real in this country and dangerous. The election of a black President and high levels of non-white immigration has refueled the militia movement and antigovernment groups that seek to incite and provoke violence. Don't forget that before 9/11 the worst terrorist attack in the country was carried out by one such person, an American, at the Oklahoma City federal building. If you ever have an opportunity to hear Morris Dees speak I think you will see a person who is sincere, humble and committed to this work, in spite of the constant threat to him and his family.

Confronting racism
Posted by BeForKids  |  October 28, 2009 1:19:12 PM

NEMA1, you misunderstood "opt-out". It means they won't give your name to other organizations.

Fundraising is more of a challenge when you are tackling America's dark side. It's easy to collect money to save cute baby seals or hungry children. But most white Americans can't face their own racism, and deny it even exists or at most is simply peripheral. But it is systemic, and embedded throughout our society, and the extremists move easily in this environment. And getting funding to confront it is challenging. It intrudes on people's comfort zones.

SPLC is taking on a challenging and dangerous fight, one that would frighten me. And I support them.

SPLC supporter
Posted by BeForKids  |  October 28, 2009 1:18:57 PM

Yes, their fundraising expenses are high and so are administrative expenses. But most of the white majority in this country don't see a racism problem. But just try being black.

I suspect a considerable portion of SPLC administrative expenses are legal. Lawyers and courts are expensive. The SPLC is going after the hate groups with the legal system. It's made them a major target of hate groups, but it is also stripping them of their funds.

As far as I'm concerned, "cool cor" is hopelessly ignorant about the state of racism.

Alan Meyer, I agree that racism is a terrible cancer in our society, but the greatest problem is income inequality. Our GINI index is among the worst in the world.

I don't support inefficient charities, but this is one charity I willingly support. Their salaries are not out of line, their work is very important. And the schools that use their Teaching Tolerance educational materials give good feedback

No Longer a Supporter
Posted by NEMA1  |  August 11, 2009 6:11:58 AM

I had supported SPLC for several but no more. While I still applaud its principles and objectives, I was not aware of the extent of its resources and its outrageous fundraising ratio. While they may claim that they have an "opt out" policy, I tested it but continue to be barraged with their marketing. Now I've truly opted out!

Fundraising Expenses
Posted by NGN  |  August 4, 2009 5:51:38 AM

The objectives of the organization are wonderful and they get great results. However, at 17%, the fundraising expenses are out of line with other charities. Are they using professional fundraisers who are taking too big a cut out of the contributions?

SPLC is Courageous
Posted by Human Being  |  June 24, 2009 5:42:54 AM

One of the only charities that is not afraid to expose those who spread hate and their agenda.

Southern Poverty Law solicitation
Posted by Gwen & Stan  |  February 9, 2009 9:45:46 AM

We were tempted to donate because we strongly support SPL's mission and goals. I believe they've done good work. I don't really know whether hate crimes are on the upswing, but what really turned us off was the phoney "Certificate of Appreciation" and too much "stuff" in their most recent mailing. We will use the address labels because we believe that we all ought to "teach tolerance" and wish to spread that message.

Wasteful Fundraising Practice
Posted by Marty  |  January 5, 2009 7:09:43 AM

Although I have supported the SLPC, I am distressed that their solicitations to me have recently included return envelopes with first-class stamps affixed to them. If the stamps aren't used to return donation $$$, that postage goes down the drain. Donors can surely buy their own stamps, or alternatively the SLPC could used return envelopes saying that "postage will be paid by addressee". That might help reduce the organization's whopping 17.4% fundraising expenses.

Expense Ratio
Posted by Enkido  |  December 15, 2008 6:55:25 AM

Fighting hate is dangerous work. THe SPLC is one of the very vew charities that really is at war with some of its adersaries. They are constantly a target for bombings and other plots which drives signficant security costs for them. Given this, I think their overhead costs are really quite modest.

Beware of Racist Rhetoric
Posted by anita  |  November 20, 2008 6:56:28 AM

I totally support SPLC, morally and financially. In my own area racists who beat to death a man in Portland OR were punished, and in Idaho the Aryan Nation's hate-spewing compound is gone. SPLC did this. Alone we can't fight these people, but financially they can be destroyed, a most effective SPLC tactic. Ignore the racist rhetoric and support SPLC, I do!

SPLC = McCarthyism?
Posted by tom  |  August 20, 2008 6:39:34 AM

@Cool Cor: I think the claim that SPLC can be compared to McCarthy is entirely specious and accusations of partisan politics on their part lead me to conclude a degree of projection on your part.

Those concerned can see from this industry-respected website that the Southern Poverty Law Center is not listed among the low ranking organizations.

There are dishonest and pocket padding orgs out there, to be sure. You should definitely be concerned with how much of the money donated goes to the cause...fortunately CharityNavigator.org shows you how much the execs are taking home as a very relevant measure of the org's culture. Compare the SPLC to The American Cancer society or the very well respected Red Cross. The SPLC's CEO takes home significantly less.

It's not going to be credited as the most efficiently run charity out there but let's not forget that the SPLC are the people that almost single-handedly bankrupted the KKK. Please consider the positive effect of that kind of change in American culture when reading the below Swift Boat attack on this notable org.

re: Cool Car's comments
Posted by diane  |  August 19, 2008 5:39:29 AM

So what hate group do you belong to?

SPLC is the organization that stands up to the bully in the playground, isn't afraid to tattle on them, and works to help kids play well with others.

Beware the SPLC's Practices
Posted by cool cor  |  February 4, 2008 6:50:14 AM

The quest to "fight racism" should not mean any charity should avoid public scrutiny. The SPLC has frequently been criticized for its enormous administrative and fundraising expenses, lack of accountability and tendancy to amass huge sums of money to no apparent purpose. Recently, the organization has reclassified various "cultivation" mailings as "public education" to reduce their allocations to fundraising, thus resulting in improved ratings. However, people need to be aware that the SPLC's need to raise vast sums of money means that it must produce constant and on-going evidence that "hate" is on the rise. These are fundraising mailings reclocked as public education. The "Intelligence Report" put out periodically by SPLC plays fast and loose with facts in an endless quest to convince naive donors that there is a firestorm of "hate" spreading across the land. Lately, the SPLC's practices have caused journalists and others to think twice before using its information. In fact, the SPLC smear tactics -- under the guise of "teaching tolerance" in pursuit of some political agenda --appear to be functionally identical to those practiced by Senator Joseph McCarthy in his anti-communist campaign. Just substitute member of a "hate group" with member of the "communist party" and you will see the parallel in their work. The reputations of many innocent people are being maligned in this process. This is a dangerous practice to condone even if you agree with the substance of their partisan positions. The final criticism would be to suggest the SPLC does nothing to alleviate poverty. With nearly $200 million in the bank, did the SPLC spend any of that money to help poor Katrina victims, for example? This money-making machine really needs to be examined by Congress and the IRS to better ascertain its role as a charity.

Opposition to racism
Posted by Alan Meyer  |  December 31, 2007 7:38:55 PM

Racism is the greatest cancer in American social and political life. It's the tool of the most reactionary demagogues who exploit ignorance and frustration in the white community, and a principal source of fear and senseless violence in America.

SPLC is one of my favorite organizations because it directly fights racism on several fronts - education, lawsuits against people and organizations that violate the civil rights of others, and investigation and exposure of the most violent and dangerous individuals and organizations in the U.S.

I support them. I read their publications. I think our country is better off for their existence.

Thanks.