Southern Poverty Law Center

Southern Poverty Law Center

The Southern Poverty Law Center was founded in 1971 in Montgomery by Morris Dees, Joseph J. Levin Jr., and Julian Bond. It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on civil rights litigation and tolerance education. The endowment supplies operating support for its core legal and advocacy work. The portfolio allocates 34.55 percent to private equity and holds positions in Tiger Global Private Investment Partners IX, BPV-III Cayman X Limited, and BPV-III Cayman XI Limited. Domestic public equities total $60 million while offshore investments in the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, and Bermuda reach $30.7 million. Real assets include the headquarters building in Montgomery and the Atlanta Westside Campus under development. Geographic exposure centers on the United States with additional holdings in the Cayman Islands. The organization maintains 365 professionals and additional offices in Atlanta and Decatur. It owns the Civil Rights Memorial Center and operates the SPLC Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) entity established in 2018 that received $3.375 million in grants. In July 2025 Bryan Fair became interim CEO after Margaret Huang resigned. The endowment structure separates the 501(c)(3) investment pool from the 501(c)(4) advocacy arm, allowing distinct regulatory treatment of grants and lobbying activity while both entities share the same board oversight.