SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER

As filed

Subsection

03

Classification

1000

Street

120 GARRETT ST STE 400

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

• ENERGY: 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.

  Expenses $17,069,914 · Grants $16,166

• 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.

  Expenses $9,086,592 · Revenue $238,574

• 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.

  Expenses $4,193,528 · Grants $57,250

• WETLANDS AND COASTS: GOALS - TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE WETLANDS AND HIGH PRIORITY COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SOUTH FOR THE BENEFIT OF WILDLIFE, MARINE LIFE, AND PEOPLE. IN PURSUIT OF THESE GOALS, SELC LITIGATES CASES TO PROTECT WETLANDS, WILDLIFE, AND MARINE LIFE, SAFEGUARD COMMUNITIES FROM FLOODING, AND ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

  Expenses $3,766,928

• NATIONAL FORESTS AND PARKS: GOALS - TO ENSURE THAT SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN NATIONAL FORESTS ARE MANAGED PRIMARILY FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE, CLEAN WATER, RECREATION, SCENIC BEAUTY, AND TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, SHENANDOAH, AND OTHER NATIONAL PARK UNITS. SELC LITIGATES CASES TO PROTECT THESE FORESTS AND PARKS, PUBLIC RESOURCES THEREIN, AND ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS.

  Expenses $2,878,094 · Grants $10,000

• AIR: GOALS - TO ACHIEVE HIGH AIR QUALITY ACROSS THE REGION, WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON HEAVILY INDUSTRIALIZED COMMUNITIES. IN PURSUIT OF THESE GOALS, SELC LITIGATES CASES TO REDUCE HARMFUL AIR POLLUTION AND ENFORCE EXISTING PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTIONS AND TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

  Expenses $2,321,973

• WILDLIFE: GOALS - TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE SOUTH'S RICH BIODIVERSITY AND HABITATS. SELC LITIGATES CASES TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE REGION'S RICH BIODIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE HABITAT AND TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

  Expenses $1,927,873 · Revenue $319,259

• ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: GOALS - TO PARTNER WITH HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT ALL COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION HAVE CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, AND A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. SELC'S PROGRAM AREAS INCORPORATE CONSIDERATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK. SELC ACHIEVES THESE GOALS THROUGH ESTABLISHED PROGRAM AREAS, INCLUDING BY LITIGATING CASES TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE EFFORTS ARE EMBEDDED ACROSS VARIOUS PROGRAM AREAS AND SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S OVERARCHING MISSION.

  Expenses $281,801 · Grants $3,000

• CLIMATE: GOALS TO ENSURE PROTECTION OF A LIVABLE CLIMATE FOR PEOPLE AND ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SOUTH. SELC INCORPORATES CLIMATE CONSIDERATIONS, INCLUDING MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION, INTO ITS VARIOUS PROGRAM AREAS. SELC LITIGATES CASES TO PROTECT THE SOUTH FROM THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WHEN APPROPRIATE.

  Expenses $273,471

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

The first 25 listed. Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2024

  Revenue

  $58,167,590

  Expenses

  $50,454,619

  Contributions

  $49,880,755

  Grants paid

  $86,416

• 2023

  Revenue

  $62,847,748

  Expenses

  $43,104,630

  Contributions

  $57,046,360

  Grants paid

  $265,500

• 2022

  Revenue

  $53,489,044

  Expenses

  $40,519,983

  Contributions

  $45,327,569

  Grants paid

  $340,500

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $82,818,237

  Expenses

  $32,820,610

  Assets (EOY)

  $217,137,686

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $40,991,033

  Expenses

  $29,057,840

  Assets (EOY)

  $183,515,377

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $39,889,386

  Expenses

  $29,861,261

  Assets (EOY)

  $133,395,925

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $39,889,386

  Expenses

  $29,861,261

  Assets (EOY)

  $133,395,925

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $60,076,970

  Expenses

  $29,119,018

  Assets (EOY)

  $131,988,934

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $47,016,574

  Expenses

  $27,768,510

  Assets (EOY)

  $119,095,278

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $37,651,474

  Expenses

  $26,551,471

  Assets (EOY)

  $95,406,749

• 2015 · 990

  Revenue

  $35,398,817

  Expenses

  $22,279,867

  Assets (EOY)

  $79,294,547

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $39,032,095

  Expenses

  $20,811,748

  Assets (EOY)

  $67,930,031

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $39,032,095

  Expenses

  $20,811,748

  Assets (EOY)

  $67,930,031

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

• TIDES FOUNDATION

  $250,000

  2023 · FRONTLINE JUSTICE FUND CONTRIBUTION

• TIDES FOUNDATION

  $250,000

  2022 · FRONTLINE JUSTICE FUND CONTRIBUTION

• APPALACHIAN VOICES

  $50,000

  2022 · SUPPORT MIDDLE TN GAS FIGHT

• NORTH CAROLINIANS FOR PASSENGER RAIL

  $23,750

  2024 · LOBBYING FOR NC PASSENGER RAIL

• CONSERVATION ALABAMA

  $20,000

  2024 · LOBBYING FOR ALABAMA STATEWIDE PUBLIC TRANSPORATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT

• VIRGINIA WILDERNESS COMMITTEE

  $15,000

  2023 · GRANT FOR VWC TO SUPPORT WORK IN GEORGE WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON NATIONAL FORESTS

• VIRGINIA WILDERNESS COMMITTEE

  $15,000

  2022 · GRANT FOR VWC MT TREAS/FOREST

• ASIAN AMERICAN ADVOCACY FUND INC

  $13,500

  2024 · PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION OF YARD SIGNS IN SUPPORT OF COUNTY TRANSIT REFERENDA

• COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER MEMPHIS

  $12,000

  2022 · MEMPHIS COMMUNITY AGAINST POLLUTION DONATION/GRANT

• VIRGINIA WILDERNESS COMMITTEE

  $10,000

  2024 · GRANT TO SUPPORT WORK IN GEORGE WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON NATIONAL FORESTS

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

• FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS

  $29,462,000

  2023 · CHARITABLE GIFT

• FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS

  $26,472,000

  2024 · CHARITABLE GIFT

• FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS

  $26,425,500

  2022 · CHARITABLE GIFT

• CLIMATE IMPERATIVE FOUNDATION

  $1,373,182

  2023 · To support research, education, and outreach on the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy

• VANGUARD CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT PROGRAM

  $1,295,000

  2023 · FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE

• CLIMATE IMPERATIVE FOUNDATION

  $1,250,000

  2024 · ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $1,244,954

  2024 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• VANGUARD CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT PROGRAM

  $1,202,700

  2022 · FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE

• CHARLOTTESVILLE AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

  $1,107,500

  2022 · $500,000 FOR PREVENTING ANY NEW FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE IN VIRGINIA AND $500,000 AS YOUR WISDOM DICTATES, GENERAL FUND, GENERAL PROGRAM THAT ADVANCE THE MISSION,

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $855,355

  2023 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files