Southern Environmental Law Center
Southern Environmental Law Center reported $58.2 million in revenue and $50.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.85 went to program services, $6.47 to management and general costs and $10.68 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 85.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $385,302 (PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 105 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 46% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $50MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $58MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.8% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.5% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 10.7% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.11 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 85.8% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 1.0% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $385,302 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.76% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 105 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 62.1 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 27 of 28 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEnergy: goals to promote and secure a sustainable energy policy across the south that protects the people and natural resources of the region, enhances the economy, and minimizes the health, environmental, and economic harm of energy development and air pollution, including greenhouse gases. In pursuit of these goals, selc litigates cases to reduce fossil fuel use and air pollution, promote clean energy, and reduce consumers' energy bills and to enforce existing laws and regulations
Water: goals - to protect and restore water quality and water flow to ensure surface and ground waters in our region can meet long-term human and ecological needs. In pursuit of these goals, selc litigates cases to protect drinking water and waterways from pollution and to enforce existing laws and regulations
Land and community: goals - to promote vibrant communities, protect natural/rural areas, reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions/pollutants through smarter growth/sustainable transportation systems. Selc litigates cases benefiting citizens by enforcing existing laws
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $321,468 | $0 | $63,834 | $385,302 |
| SENIOR ADVISOR & SENIOR ATTORNEY Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $252,098 | $0 | $46,584 | $298,682 |
| DEPUTY DIRECTOR Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $256,257 | $0 | $34,067 | $290,324 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $227,893 | $0 | $50,202 | $278,095 |
| DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $215,939 | $0 | $24,821 | $240,760 |
| SENIOR ATTORNEY Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $190,553 | $0 | $47,926 | $238,479 |
| DIRECTOR, VA OFFICE Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $192,201 | $0 | $43,362 | $235,563 |
| CLIMATE INITIATIVE LEADER Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $194,511 | $0 | $35,946 | $230,457 |
105 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Southern Environmental Law Center (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.9M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b28 · 27 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5267
- Volunteers Part I, line 643
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ENERGY FUTURES GROUP INC Prepare testimony in multiple proceeding | $362,066 |
| PORCARO STOLAREK METE PARTNERS LLC Onsite support & managed it services | $317,180 |
| BUILD CONSULTING LLC It strategy & operations consulting | $315,202 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 12 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
127 private foundations reported grants to Southern Environmental Law Center totaling $6.0M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Southern Environmental Law Center's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Southern Environmental Law Center, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Southern Environmental Law Center spent in FY2025, $82.85 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Volunteers of America National ServicesEden Prairie, MN · revenue $58M · programs 95.9% · FY2025
- Carolina Family Health CentersWilson, NC · revenue $58M · programs 94.0% · FY2025
- J N Pew Jr Charitable TrustPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $57M · programs 91.9% · 2024
- Senior CARE ConnectionSchenectady, NY · revenue $58M · programs 97.1% · 2024
- Family Guidance CentersGlenview, IL · revenue $57M · programs 75.8% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Southern Environmental Law Center's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Southern Environmental Law Center reported that 82.8% of its $50.5 million in expenses went to program services, 6.5% to management and general and 10.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Southern Environmental Law Center pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Southern Environmental Law Center reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 was $385,302, for the role of PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Southern Environmental Law Center get its money?
Of $58.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, 85.8% came from contributions and grants and 1.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Southern Environmental Law Center a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1436778 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, object 202502799349301500 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202403179349301840 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202302989349300040 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202203189349317135 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202113169349308306 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 (amended), object 202121179349301637 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1436778: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.