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Human and Civil Rights : Advocacy and Education

Southern Poverty Law Center

Advocating for justice and equality

86.00

400 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104
tel: (888) 414-7752   Web Site
EIN: 63-0598743

Board Leadership
Alan B. Howard
Chair

CEO
Richard Cohen
President

 
 
  Score
(out of 100)		 Rating
Overall Score & Rating 86.00
  Financial 80.44
  Accountability & Transparency 97.00
This rating was published 10/01/2016 and includes data from FY2015, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

80.44

Accountability & Transparency

97.00

This rating was published 10/01/2016 and includes data from FY2015, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity’s total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 64.6%
  Administrative Expenses 13.2%
  Fundraising Expenses 22.1%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.22
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 7.31
  Program Expenses Growth 5.8%
  Liabilities to Assets 6.8%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Southern Poverty Law Center on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Southern Poverty Law Center on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Southern Poverty Law Center (AL) 86.00
OneAmerica (WA) 86.15
National Immigration Forum (DC) 95.45
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MA) 88.14
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (NY) 94.39

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) was founded in 1971 as a small civil rights law firm. Today, SPLC is internationally known for its tolerance education programs, its legal victories against white supremacists and its tracking of hate groups. Throughout its history, SPLC has worked to make the nation's Constitutional ideals a reality. The SPLC legal department fights all forms of discrimination and works to protect society's most vulnerable members, handling innovative cases that few lawyers are willing to take. The SPLC Intelligence Project monitors hate groups and tracks extremist activity throughout the U.S. To combat the causes of hate, SPLC in 1991 established Teaching Tolerance, an educational program to help K-12 teachers foster respect and understanding in the classroom.

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $44,802,984
   Federated Campaigns $165,019
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $44,968,003
   Program Service Revenue $257,244
Total Primary Revenue $45,225,247
   Other Revenue $9,042,644
TOTAL REVENUE $54,267,891
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $29,520,112
   Administrative Expenses $6,069,263
   Fundraising Expenses $9,782,466
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $45,371,841
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $8,896,050
   
Net Assets $315,353,067

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Public Information and Education $15,373,145 52.1%
Supporting Victims of Civil Rights Abuses $14,146,967 47.9%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2015-10 10/01/2016 86.00
2014-10 06/01/2016 84.59
 
CN 2.0
2014-10 10/01/2015 86.11
2013-10 10/01/2014 88.12
2012-10 06/01/2013 86.09
2011-10 06/01/2012 89.57
2010-10 09/20/2011 86.84
 
CN 1.0
2009-10 09/01/2010 70.03
2008-10 10/01/2009 78.82
2007-10 04/01/2009 85.48
2006-10 06/01/2008 88.57
2005-10 06/01/2006 82.57
2004-10 05/01/2005 69.78
2003-10 08/01/2004 66.82
2002-10 04/15/2003 73.91
2001-10 10/15/2002 74.95
2000-10 04/15/2002 71.31

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 63-0598743
Name in IRS Master File SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER INC
NTEE Code I83
NTEE Classification Public Interest Law, Litigation
NTEE Type Crime, Legal-Related
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (59) Other school related activities
(430) Defense of human and civil rights
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date August, 1971
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End October
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • October, 2015
  • October, 2014
  • October, 2013
  • October, 2012
  • October, 2011

The data displayed in this profile is provided by the IRS for free in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

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Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$333,296 0.73% Richard Cohen President, CEO
Other Salaries of Note
$337,146 0.74% Morris Dees Chief Trial Counsel

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) was founded in 1971 as a small civil rights law firm. Today, SPLC is internationally known for its tolerance education programs, its legal victories against white supremacists and its tracking of hate groups. Throughout its history, SPLC has worked to make the nation's Constitutional ideals a reality. The SPLC legal department fights all forms of discrimination and works to protect society's most vulnerable members, handling innovative cases that few lawyers are willing to take. The SPLC Intelligence Project monitors hate groups and tracks extremist activity throughout the U.S. To combat the causes of hate, SPLC in 1991 established Teaching Tolerance, an educational program to help K-12 teachers foster respect and understanding in the classroom.

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Southern Poverty Law Center (AL) 86.00
National Council of La Raza (DC) 91.36
Futures Without Violence (CA) 96.56
Center for Individual Rights (DC) 93.39
American Jewish Committee (NY) 87.20

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

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Charity Contact Info

Southern Poverty Law Center
400 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
tel: (888) 414-7752
EIN: 63-0598743

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Alan B. Howard
Chair

CEO

Richard Cohen
President

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