Federal indictments bring new scrutiny to SPLC practices and highlight the real‑world impact of its designations on nonprofit groups, including NCFM
Wisconsin Eagle/10338582

SAN DIEGO - WisconsinEagle -- These federal filings raise issues NCFM has identified for years regarding the accuracy and impact of SPLC designations."

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES, April 24, 2026 — The recent publicized federal indictments by the US Department of Justice involving the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) have raised questions about the organization's internal financial practices and the broader influence of its published classifications. [1][2] The SPLC has, for several years, listed the National Coalition For Men (NCFM) as a "male supremacist hate group," a characterization NCFM disputes and has formally challenged.[3][4][5][6]

"These developments reflect concerns NCFM has raised for many years regarding the accuracy and effects of SPLC classifications," said Harry Crouch, President of NCFM.[5][6]

Federal Case Overview

A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Alabama has charged the SPLC in United States v. Southern Poverty Law Center, Inc., Case No. 2:26‑cr‑00139, with multiple offenses, including wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering.[1]

According to the indictment, prosecutors allege that between 2014 and 2023 the SPLC directed more than $3 million to individuals associated with various extremist organizations. Federal filings state that these payments were made through undisclosed channels and were not reported to donors.[1] The SPLC has not yet entered a plea, and the case remains pending.[1]

Impact on NCFM and Its Supporters

NCFM, founded in 1977, is a nonprofit civil‑rights organization focused on gender‑neutral legal reform, public education, and litigation.[5] Despite this work, the SPLC has included NCFM on its "hate group" list.[3] NCFM has issued multiple cease‑and‑desist letters and requested correction or removal, asserting that the designation is inaccurate and harmful.[6] The SPLC has stated that its listings represent its opinions.[4][11]

NCFM reports that the SPLC's designation has had significant practical effects. Many philanthropic and corporate giving platforms—including Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, and employee‑giving programs at Microsoft, Google, and Apple—use SPLC lists as part of their compliance screening.[7] As a result, NCFM has experienced grant denials, donor‑advised fund restrictions, and removal from certain workplace‑giving portals.[7]

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Private companies such as PayPal and Eventbrite have also used SPLC classifications in their risk‑assessment processes, leading to account limitations or event cancellations.[8][9] NCFM states that these outcomes occurred without an opportunity to review or contest the underlying SPLC characterization.[6][11]

Historical Note

NCFM points out that the SPLC previously recognized the civil‑rights work of NCFM's late Vice President, Marc Angelucci, Esq., by including his name on its Wall of Tolerance.[8][10] NCFM cites this as an example of earlier acknowledgment that differs from later SPLC descriptions of the organization.[3][5][6]

Commitment to Transparency and Civil‑Rights Advocacy

NCFM states that its operations continue to focus on lawful advocacy, education, and litigation conducted through standard nonprofit governance and public reporting requirements.[5][12] The organization asserts that the issues raised in the federal indictment align with concerns it has expressed regarding the SPLC's methodology and the influence of its designations on donors, partners, and the public.[1][2][3][4][7][8][9][11]

"We encourage a careful review of the facts as they emerge," said Crouch. "NCFM remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the civil‑rights work we have carried out for nearly five decades."[5][12]

Call for Review

NCFM encourages policymakers, media, donors, and the public to evaluate the SPLC's classifications in light of the pending federal case and to consider the broader implications of relying on such designations in compliance systems, philanthropy, and public discourse.[1][2][3][4][7][8][9][11][12]

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End notes & references

[1] United States v. Southern Poverty Law Center, Inc., Case No. 2:26‑cr‑00139 (M.D. Ala. filed 2026).
Citation format for a pending federal criminal case; underlying filings accessible via PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), U.S. Courts.

[2] SPLC financial‑practice and governance controversies (background).
Bob Moser, "The Reckoning of the Southern Poverty Law Center," The New Yorker, March 21, 2019.
Megan Bobowski, "SPLC President Resigns Amid Workplace Culture Investigation," NPR, March 23, 2019.

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Additional governance coverage in the Montgomery Advertiser (2019–2021).

[3] SPLC "Hate Map" and listing of NCFM.
Southern Poverty Law Center, "Hate Map," SPLC.org (interactive listing of designated "hate" and "extremist" groups, including "male supremacist" category).

[4] SPLC description of its designations as opinion.
Southern Poverty Law Center, "Defending against hate and extremism, SPLC safeguards democracy, civil rights," October 4, 2025 (SPLC states that designating organizations as "hate groups" is its opinion and protected speech).

[5] NCFM mission, history, and activities.
National Coalition For Men, "About NCFM" and mission statement, NCFM.org (founded 1977; gender‑neutral legal reform, public education, and litigation focus).

[6] NCFM challenges to SPLC classification.
National Coalition For Men, "NCFM Responds to SPLC Hate Group Label" and related statements and correspondence, NCFM.org (cease‑and‑desist demands, requests for correction/removal, and public objections to SPLC's characterization).

[7] Use of SPLC data in donor‑advised funds and corporate/philanthropic compliance.
Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and Vanguard Charitable grant‑guideline materials describing third‑party compliance screening for grants.
David Montgomery, "The War Over the SPLC's Hate Map," Washington Post Magazine, June 2021 (discussing how SPLC's lists are used by corporations and platforms in risk and compliance systems).

[8] PayPal and other platforms referencing SPLC‑linked "hate" lists.
Sam Biddle, "PayPal Blacklists Organizations Based on SPLC Data," The Intercept, 2017 (reporting PayPal's reliance on SPLC information in certain account decisions).

[9] Eventbrite cancellations tied to SPLC classifications.
Coverage of Eventbrite's cancellation of events based on SPLC‑related "extremism" designations, including Tyler O'Neil, PJ Media, 2019.

[10] Marc Angelucci and the Wall of Tolerance.
Civil Rights Memorial Center (an SPLC project), Wall of Tolerance registry (listing of honorees).
NCFM statements noting Marc Angelucci's inclusion on the Wall of Tolerance, NCFM.org.

[11] Legal treatment of SPLC designations as opinion.
Coral Ridge Ministries Media, Inc. v. Southern Poverty Law Center, 6 F.4th 1247 (11th Cir. 2021), cert. denied, 142 S. Ct. 2453 (2022) (court treats SPLC's "hate group" label as protected opinion rather than a provably false factual assertion).

[12] Nonprofit governance and transparency standards.
Internal Revenue Service, Form 990 instructions and public‑disclosure requirements for U.S. tax‑exempt organizations.
National Council of Nonprofits, "Principles & Practices for Nonprofit Excellence" (guidance on governance, transparency, and accountability for nonprofits).