Southern Environmental Law Center

Analysis

Southern Environmental Law Center is a registered charity in United States, based in Charlottesville, VA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 1986, 40 years ago. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending March 2024, Southern Environmental Law Center reported income of $62.8m and spending of $43.1m, leaving 31% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2020 to March 2024, income grew from $39.9m to $62.8m (+58%), an average of +12% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 102%. Over the whole period it spent 63% of the income it received.

Among 72,936 United States charities whose main cause is other charitable purposes and that reported income, Southern Environmental Law Center sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile, and in the 99th percentile within VA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Rural Health Care Inc ($62.7m), Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency Inc ($62.9m) and Blue Ridge Community Health Services Inc ($62.7m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending March 2024, revenue came from contributions and grants 91% and program service revenue 1.5% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $2.3m (5.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $21.4m. It paid $25k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $259.9m against liabilities of $13.7m, net assets of $246.2m. It reported 253 employees.