We are sick and tired of all the mailings. We have received easily 20 mailings in the past four months, 10 in December alone. Such a waste of money and resources. Seldom a week goes by without our receiving at least one fund raising mailing.
Be clear. We have donated before, and support your work but your fund raising techniques need modification. We will not donate again until they do.
The notion that SPLC is being considered may say more about Great NonProfits than the organization. A cursoory review of its highly checkered history is a good place to start. It seems certain that you have not done this homework so now is a good time to save yourselves embarrassment.
You may be familiar with their "Hate Maps" that include many, many completely legitimate organizations. Perhaps you have heard of Ayan Ali Hirsi? If not, she is worth a look-up. SPLC's fundraising is truly impressive; however the funds don't seem to go much beyond the paychecks of the managers. They have nothing at all to do with poverty or the law and if they really ever did, those days are long gone.
Do yourselves a favor and disappear this nomination.
They are dishonest and extreme in both their views and actions. They are a hate group, themselves and extremist in their attacks on Christians, especially Catholics
I donate all profits from the book I published in 2021 called "Walking with the King" by Linda Katuna Harvey in honor of my dad. It took me a long time to review the many organizations that would honor the beliefs and courage of my dad, Irving Katuna. He was in the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march and met Martin Luther King, Jr. He reached his own mountain top and asked for this book to be written all his life. He missed reading the first draft by three days. I can't think of a more worthy organization to connect my dad to the civil rights movement as a lasting legacy. Thank you, SPLC, for all you do.
If the Southern Poverty Law Center lived up to what it's name implies, it would provide a useful service by providing legal assistance for those who cannot afford lawyers. Instead, it inhibits the dialogue on Race Bill Clinton called for, and which we need to have.
The vast majority of those on the SPLC's Hate list have never broken the law and never advocated law breaking. They have only expressed opinions SPLC does not like, and facts SPLC wishes were not true.
It is tragic that SPLC has blacklisted PJTN, but it calls them out as guilty of antisemitism, into the light where we can all see that they are the real hate group. No stars for this demonic sham.
I've been donating to your organization quite often since you won your judgement against the KKK several years ago ! My friend Herb died a week ago and his wife my lovely and very dear friend Lilian, mentioned your group as being worthy of support ! I couldn't agree more and have mentioned your agency in a note I sent out to our friends, all of whom were horrified by what happened recently in Charlottesville.
So I, and hopefully many others will be sending donations in memory of this fine human being, to his beloved widow, before his memorial service in a few weeks.
Am counting on your association to do your magic against these awful neo nazi and others who are polluting our democratic and compassionate nation. Many thanks,
Renee Schleifer
The fundraising practices of Southern Poverty Law Center are disrespectful and disingenuous. While I believe in the work they do, I have asked to be removed from their mailing list due to their aggressively rude practices (such as asking me for donations after I just made one). Despite 10 YEARS of asking to be removed from their lists,I am still receiving appeals asking for money. Not newsletters or substantive program pieces; just more requests for money. As a fundraiser myself, I find this to be a completely disrespectful way to handle donors. When someone asks you to take them off your list, you should respect that donor's wishes. Period. For an organization so large, they should be able to handle the small detail of a mailing list update, especially after multiple requests. Just goes to show they don't actually care about their donors. I give my money elsewhere, where the organization actually notices.
Review from Guidestar
If there was such a thing as negative stars, it would be appropriate for this propaganda and pocket lining fraud. The main activity is to raise funds, much of which end up in the pockets of Dees and Cohen. They have struck paydirt with their "Hate Map" and their "Guide to Anti-Muslim Extremists" which include many names that are not hate groups or extremists of any kind; they just have views that SPLC doesn't like.
For years, GuideStar could not/ would not rate SPLC as a charity. It is now succumbing to extreme Progressive pressure, much to its shame.
Review from Guidestar
Wow. Turns out this is a huge financial enterprise, with over $300 million in assets. Do they give it away to help those in need? No--they pay huge salaries, have a beautiful building, and engage in lies to get funding. They focus on what they view as right wing hate groups (here's a quote from their website--"Hatewatch is a blog that monitors and exposes the activities of the American radical right") but ignore left wing hate groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace, which is actually a German and non-Jewish funded organization working to destroy Israel, the only safe place in the middle east for members of the LBGTQ community. The road to hell is paved with good intentions--and these are about the best hell pavers. Intentions matter not at all--it is results that matter, and these folks are mostly evil. Hitler thought he was doing good--and these folks do as well. They have enough money to do severe damage to good people--please do not give them more.
Review from Guidestar
Read it for yourself - the FBI , a dysfunctional organization itself, removed the SPLC from their resources because of concerns raised by many Civil Rights groups....not conservatives, or republicans - but this group's own Colleagues. Questions that need to be asked are - show us the list of actual people who were helped with the $15 million operating budget (besides the lawyers on staff) and how much annually does Cohen take home as director?
http://dailycaller.com/2017/02/03/exclusive-fbi-removed-splc-and-adl-from-civil-rights-resources-pages-because-of-a-number-of-concerns/
Review from Guidestar
I have researched this organization and what groups it represents and groups it labels as hate groups . And I must say I have never seen such a hateful, bigoted, and racist organization as this one . The only diversity they are concerned with is color of your skin . And diversity of ideas or opinions is stamped out and labeled hateful if they do not parrot theirs . That this is a tax exempt hate mongering group is a disgrace .
Review from Guidestar
This is actually a ZERO STAR REVIEW - It’s appalling that this outfit claims to be the nation’s self-appointed arbiter of the definition of a “Hate Group”. In other words, if you don’t fit into their agenda on social issues, then you are “hateful”- Nonsense! They use the "hate group" label indiscriminately--groups that simply affirm marriage as one man/one woman--the definition that has been virtually uniform in all of human civilization for thousands of years, are condemned as “hate groups”. This is pure propaganda, and frankly, the definition of hate itself. If you don’t agree with them, you’re hateful. The fact that Guidestar posts “warnings” at the top of certain Christian pages as if the SPLG is a neutral and impartial arbiter that judges others based on a generally agreed upon standard of what "hate" actually is, and approved by the vast majority of Americans is pure drivel. The fact that Guidestar promotes this biased assessment says more about their own bias than it does about the alt-left anti-Christian SPLC. Upon reviewing their 990s that are publicly filed, and with only a handful of employees, the SPLC is sitting on hundreds of millions of dollars in assets. Hardly the definition of a “non-profit”. They should be disqualified from even being rated by Guidestar.
I have followed this organization for 20+ years, have donated for 10+ years. Been to a few events.
I teach social psychology at a college, and their information and reporting is a resource like no other. Their social justice work is amazing. They find new kinds of abuse - juvenile detention in Alabama, attacks on teachers brought from the Philipines on phony promises, private companies capitalizing on fear to prey on undocumented immigrants -- just amazing.
I don't think they are paying attention to the job applicants. I have applied many times to positions that I am qualified, and they keep posting these same positions over and over. Obviously if someone keeps applying then they not only want to work for your organization but also need the chance. For an organization that has "poverty" in the name, they certainly aren't helping people get out of poverty.
Signed up for a one time donation then they turned it into a reoccuring monthly one. Have tried to call them multiple times to have it stopped with no success, no one seems to be around to answer the phone. Left messages and emailed them, but still no response back. Just called a different dept and they said the donations dept was out for lunch for 2hrs??? Sounds like the funds are being used well.
All of us are bombarded by fund raisers with requests for donations. For years I tried to give even a small amount to as many as I could, with compassion and empathy, but as I studied the actual work accomplished by several I supported, I was dismayed by the high administrative salaries and lack of real results. I am now a firm supporter of the Southern Poverty Law Center. I know they are genuinely committed to equal rights and equal justice for all. I see it in the thousands of cases they represent as attorneys, and am grateful for the difference they make to the lives of so many. They help us keep the dream of democracy alive with the work they do daily.
I have been a donor to the "Teaching Tolerance" program for 20 years now, and this organization is second to none. Mr. Dees is a true American hero for his dedication and work that goes into running the SPLC. If not for the SPLC, who?
Love this non profit. They stand up for the poor in our society who would otherwise not have an advocate on their side. Fighting poverty capitalism, racial injustice, hate groups and the many ways the immoral and unjust far right has perverted our way of governance for the benefit of corporations is just part of the reason I support this non profit . Keep up the good work!
Before donating you should review the 990s that are publicly filed; as of 2011 this outfit--with only a handful of employees--is sitting on about 250 million dollars in assets.... That is a disproportionate cash position and given that their income covers expenses, you wonder just what that quarter billion dollars is doing? Substantively, they use the "hate group" label indiscriminately--groups that simply affirm marriage as one man/one woman--the definition that has been virtually uniform in western civilization--are condemned as hate groups. This is pure propaganda, worse because many of their charges have been directly rebutted yet they never retract their false statements.
In response to Mr. Bandler, I believe the induction to the Direct Mktg Hall of Fame slur is misleading. Because Mr. Dees was inducted to this group means he excelled at has marketing skills, along with his contributions to society. There is a huge difference between efforts a non-profit makes in seeking donations to fund their cause and those who pay exorbitant fees to a FOR-profit fund raising group. Too many kind folks donate via a for-profit fund raiser, unknowingly giving most if not all of their money to them instead of the non-profit. The SPLC does excellent work on behalf of so many who need it most. I am grateful for Mr. Dees' consistent dedication along with everyone else there.
I've contributed since 1975 and think this organization is one of the most effective civil rights organizations around. It goes directly after hate organizations as well as teaching tolerance
Review from CharityNavigator
There's no other organization in the US that has fought hatred and racism and exposes the hate mongers as effectively as SPLC. I would give them 6 stars if possible.
Review from CharityNavigator
I am so proud to be a donor to the SPLC. The SPLC has a solid record of real activism against hate in America. Unlike other civil liberties organizations that simply publicize hate and injustice, the SPLC is not afraid to take action. It has worked within the law to shut down white supremacist organizations and is currently in the courts battling a Minnesota school district that has turned a blind eye to anti-gay bullying despite an alarming number of suicides among its students. The SPLC's decision to brand several prominent Religious Right organizations as "hate groups" for their false and demonizing propaganda against gays/lesbians has put those organizations on the defensive. The SPLC takes a stand against all hate, whether it is directed against minority groups or majority groups. It has also remained independent and refuses to be co-opted by a major political party.
Review from CharityNavigator
I have donated to Southern Poverty Law Center since 1974, and have been both inspired and humbled by their unfailing devotion to social justice and their incredible bravery in the face of overt and frightening attacks, including at one time the firebombing and destruction of their offices. SPLC has saved many lives, defended many unjustly accused, used legal means to disassemble many neo-Nazi, racist, and other extremist groups, and served as a source of information when even the government had no knowledge of extremists. They also have the wonderful campaign of "Teach Tolerance" in the schools. After Oklahoma City the feds got much of the information that led to arrests from SPLC. Founder Morris Dees and others have put their lives on the line many times, and serve as inspirations to new generations of volunteers and staff, who are brave and steadfast in their devotion to justice for all.
Review from CharityNavigator
I first supported Morris Dees and his organization many years ago. He and the Center have uncovered, prosecuted and brought down many many extremely violent racist individuals and groups. They go up against the toughest groups in the country and don't back down. They send out free materials including curriculums, books, videos and magazines with high quality anti-discrimination strategies and lessons to any teacher or school group that asks. They have been bombed, set on fire, threatened and attacked for what they do. I feel that they are one of the main organizations standing between us and anarchy. I am grateful for what they do and and happily support them as much as I can.