The Southern Poverty Law Center, known for its massive fundraising and influential "Hate Map," has pleaded not guilty to 11 criminal fraud charges

Secretly routing money to fake entities to pay informants inside the KKK, Aryan Nations, and National Alliance, even funding cross burnings, robes, and a figure tied to the deadly 2017 Charlottesville rally.

The SPLC calls the case vindictive and seeks dismissal of the charges. It says its work has prevented harm.

The SPLC is known for its successful fundraising campaigns. According to its most recent publicly available IRS filing, it had gross receipts in tax year 2023 of $339.3 million and assets of $822.2 million.

The FBI severed its relationship with the SPLC in October 2025 after conservatives criticized the group for including slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s organization on its list of hate groups.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, known for its massive fundraising and influential "Hate Map," has pleaded not guilty to 11 criminal fraud charges. Prosecutors allege the group misused over $4.1 million in donor funds—secretly routing money to fake entities to pay informants… pic.twitter.com/v9GHXGmqpI

— Matthew Vadum (@MattVadum)July 8, 2026