SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER INC
PO BOX 548, MONTGOMERY, AL · IRS data through FY2025
Revenue, expenses and net assets
Revenue Expenses Net assets
| Tax year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $149,576,773 | $127,910,803 | $886,648,000 |
| FY2024 | $129,063,290 | $128,982,970 | $786,768,246 |
| FY2023 | $169,857,376 | $122,131,443 | $711,333,304 |
| FY2022 | $140,350,982 | $111,043,025 | $686,956,930 |
| FY2021 | $132,750,377 | $106,617,578 | $769,727,566 |
| FY2020 | $132,918,576 | $97,409,030 | $587,803,614 |
| FY2019 | $117,034,012 | $88,428,653 | $543,144,050 |
| FY2018 | $121,975,162 | $74,970,297 | $492,493,365 |
| FY2017 | $136,373,624 | $59,784,321 | $449,834,593 |
| FY2016 | $58,176,499 | $45,799,486 | $328,395,092 |
| FY2015 | $54,267,891 | $45,371,841 | $315,353,067 |
| FY2014 | $54,420,509 | $42,414,311 | $314,748,132 |
| FY2013 | $42,742,124 | $40,026,789 | $291,204,881 |
| FY2012 | $40,418,368 | $38,237,350 | $256,554,758 |
Where the revenue came from
| Source | Amount | % of revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Contributions & grants | $127,336,336 | 100% |
| Program service revenue | $123,759 | 0% |
Where the money was spent
| Category | Amount | % of expenses |
|---|---|---|
| Program services | $89,933,665 | 70% |
| Management & general | $19,305,103 | 15% |
| Fundraising | $18,672,035 | 15% |
What the numbers show
- Contributions & grants made up 100% of total revenue in FY2025.
- Program services accounted for 70% of functional expenses, management & general 15%, and fundraising 15%.
- 70% of functional expenses went to program services in FY2025. That is higher than 6.7% of 179 Crime & Legal-Related organizations nationwide (too few in AL for a state comparison).
- Net assets covered about 83.2 months of expenses at the end of the reporting year. That puts it in the 95th percentile among 79 Crime & Legal-Related organizations in AL.
- Total revenue was higher than 100% of 79 Crime & Legal-Related organizations in AL.
- Total revenue rose from $40,418,368 in FY2012 to $149,576,773 in FY2025, Revenue increased in 8 and decreased in 5 of 13 year-over-year comparisons.
- Revenue covered expenses in each of the 14 reported years, FY2012 to FY2025.
- The highest revenue on record here is $169,857,376 in FY2023.
- Net assets grew from $256,554,758 to $886,648,000 between FY2012 and FY2025.
- Contributions and grants made up 96% of revenue in FY2012 and 85% in FY2025.
- Donations are generally tax-deductible (public charity).
Figures compared against other organizations of the same NTEE program area in the same state. See the methodology page for how these are calculated and the guide to reading nonprofit financials for their limits.
About this organization
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.
IRS status
| Ruling year | 1971 |
| Subsection | 501(c)(3) |
| Classification | Public charity |
| Program area (NTEE) | I83Z — Crime & Legal-Related |
| Donations | Donations are generally tax-deductible (public charity). |
Source: Internal Revenue Service — Exempt Organizations Business Master File (downloaded September 20, 2026), Statistics of Income extracts, Form 990 e-file data, Publication 78 and the Automatic Revocation list. Figures are as reported by the organization; IRS processing may adjust them. This is not a charity rating and not tax advice. Confirm deductibility in IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
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