Mal Warwick

Partners for the Future will ensure that the Southern Poverty Law Center is there to help the victims of injustice and intolerance in the future by extending their support beyond their own lifetimes. The SPLC’s long-term financial strength will be built in significant part by charitable bequests and other planned gifts.

Background

The Southern Poverty Law Center, based in Montgomery, Alabama, is a nonprofit civil rights organisation dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society.

Founded by civil rights lawyers Morris Dees and Joseph Levin Jr in 1971, the SPLC is internationally known for tracking and exposing the activities of hate groups. Their innovative ‘teaching tolerance’ programme produces and distributes – free of charge – documentary films, books, lesson plans and other materials that promote tolerance and respect in American schools.

The SPLC was founded to ensure that the promises of the civil rights movement became a reality for all. Since it was started, SPLC has won numerous landmark legal victories on behalf of the exploited, the powerless and the forgotten. 

Influence/impact:

SPLC’s work is made possible by the generosity and commitment of thousands of supporters across the USA. Their lawsuits have toppled institutional racism in the southern states, bankrupted some of the nation’s most violent white supremacist groups and won justice for exploited workers, abused prison inmates, disabled children and other victims of discrimination.

SPLC also have a monthly giving scheme – Friends of the Center. Their generosity helps the SPLC maintain a steady, reliable source of income to fund crucial efforts. Because the Friends’ support is so closely linked to SPLC’s success, they receive a special ‘insider’ view of the organisation’s work and no longer receive additional requests for donations.