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Benevity’s Open Use of the SPLC’s “Hate List”

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Benevity uses the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) discredited “Hate List” and “Hate Map” as a filter to determine which nonprofits are eligible for employee donations and corporate matching funds. This effectively blacklists mainstream conservative, religious, pro-family, and parental-rights organizations while allowing partisan groups like the SPLC itself to remain eligible.

Below are two publications released by Benevity pointing to their reliance on the SPLC for vetting nonprofits.

Presentation from Benevity’s CEO Kelly Schmitt:

Benevity Global Cause Vetting Document:

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Insights

How Companies Have Responded to the SPLC

Benevity SPLC
July 30, 2026

Growing scrutiny of the Southern Poverty Law Center has sparked a broader conversation about how its “hate group” list is being used to blacklist mainstream Christian and conservative nonprofits from corporate charitable giving programs, most notably through Benevity, one of the largest employee-match platforms, used by hundreds of the Fortune 500. Below, we track how companies are responding to the public call to distance themselves from the SPLC and to stop using its designations to discriminate in corporate giving. 8 Publicly removed the SPLC filter 5 Confirmed no politicized filters 5 Distanced themselves from the SPLC 2 Dodged or downplayed the filter 8 Publicly removed the SPLC filter Salesforce Bowyer Research (Substack) Mastercard Bowyer Research (Substack) Texas Instruments Bowyer Research (Substack) AT&T Bowyer Research (Substack) NVIDIA Daily Signal Microsoft Daily Signal American Express Inspire Investing DoorDash Daily Signal 5 Confirmed they do not use politicized hate-group filters for charitable eligibility Meta Bowyer Research (Substack) Morgan Stanley Bowyer Research (Substack) Citi Citi Foundation statement McDonald’s Inspire Investing Philip Morris Bowyer Research (Substack) 5 Publicly distanced themselves from the SPLC Reported together in a single account of tech companies stepping back from the SPLC. Source: Daily Signal → Alphabet Mastercard Meta PayPal …

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Referenced

Microsoft Directs Benevity to Drop SPLC Filter

Benevity SPLC
July 22, 2026

After engagement from Inspire Investing and others, Microsoft has directed Benevity to stop using the SPLC’s “hate map” to filter nonprofits from its employee gift-matching program. In its “Max the Match” document, Microsoft states any nonprofit organization that “verifies its 501c3 or equivalent status will be available to Microsoft employees.” The Daily Signal highlighted several organizations, including the 1792 Exchange, engaging companies on behalf of shareholders to ensure charitable giving is viewpoint neutral. The 1792 Exchange is pleased to work alongside Inspire Investing, Bowyer Research, the Heritage Foundation, and many others in this important work. 1792 Exchange created this resource to track how companies are responding to the growing controversy surrounding the SPLC and Benevity and encourages companies that have made changes to their charitable giving programs to disclose those changes to their customers and shareholders.

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Referenced

Bowyer Research Cites 1792 Exchange Data in SPLC Shareholder Engagement Campaign

Benevity SPLC
July 22, 2026

Bowyer Research used 1792 Exchange’s research to identify and engage 150+ companies connected to the SPLC, who donated directly through associated corporate foundations or probable indirect support through Benevity. Companies that donate to the SPLC, or have in recent years, need to give an account for how they plan on avoiding support to politicized organizations in the future. Companies that outsource their charitable policies to third-party providers like Benevity need to make clear whether they’re relying on SPLC diagnostics that Benevity offers as a screen. Our friends and co-laborers at 1792 Exchange identified a list of more than 150 companies connected to the SPLC, either via Benevity usage or direct donations to the SPLC. In the wake of the DOJ’s indictment of the SPLC, we sent a version of the following to those companies. The full article and letter can be found HERE.

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Brief

Risks Associated with HRC Foundation Partnership

CEI HRC
July 17, 2026

What Is the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF)? The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) is the educational and charitable affiliate of the Human Rights Campaign, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. HRCF advances LGBTQ+ priorities through research, resources, benchmarking tools, programs, and public education intended to shape policies and practices across workplaces, municipalities, healthcare systems, schools, and other institutions.1,2 What Does the HRCF Do? Administers an annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI), which evaluates companies based on workforce protections, benefits, culture, and outreach and engagement related to LGBTQ+ issues.3–5 Administers an annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI), which evaluates cities based on their non-discrimination laws, benefits, contractor standards, municipal services, law enforcement, and local leadership related to LGBTQ+ issues.6–8 Administers a biannual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), which evaluates hospitals and healthcare facilities based on their training, patient services, employee benefits and policies, community engagement, and responsible citizenship related to LGBTQ+ issues.9,10 Operates a Welcoming Schools program that provides LGBTQ+ training, lesson plans, booklists, in-person training/programming, and other resources for youth-serving professionals to create “gender-inclusive” schools and support transgender and non-binary students.11–15 Risks of Corporate Partnership Partisan Alignment Risk HRCF’s programs promote policy frameworks and institutional standards widely associated with progressive policy priorities.16,17 …

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Brief

Risks Associated with HRC Corporate Partnership

CEI HRC
July 17, 2026

What Is the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)? The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), functioning as a 501(c)(4), is the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in the United States. Founded as a political action committee in 1980 to support pro-LGBTQ+ candidates, it has since expanded into programs, research, campaigns, lobbying, and mobilization to support and advance pro-LGBTQ+ policies, legislation, and officials.1 What Does the HRC Do? LGBTQ+ issue advocacy and lobbying for LGBTQ+ policy and legislation at the federal, state, and local levels.2 Electoral engagement aimed at mobilizing pro-LGBTQ+ voters and supporters to elect pro-LGBTQ+ leaders.3 Institutional advocacy to advance LGBTQ+ policies and practices in major systems, including schools, workplaces, hospitals, and communities.4 Risks of Corporate Partnership Partisan Alignment Risk HRC is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization involved in lobbying and electoral activity, advancing policy priorities aligned with the Democratic Party platform.5–7 Corporate sponsors have been accused of taking political sides through association.8 HRC’s endorsements overwhelmingly favor Democratic candidates, creating a partisan perception.9 HRC’s affiliated PAC overwhelmingly funds Democratic candidates, including presidential candidates.10–12 Corporate support for the HRC, particularly when not balanced by comparable support for organizations promoting conservative or traditional values, could be perceived as political side-taking.13 Controversial Policy Advocacy HRC’s advocacy extends …

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Podcast

Doug Napier on Getting Corporate America Back to Business

Benevity CEI HRC LGBTQ+ Protecting Children SPLC
July 7, 2026

Christian Business Leaders Podcast with Darren Shearer 1792 Exchange Executive Chairman and CEO Douglas Napier joined Darren Shearer on the Christian Business Leaders Podcast to discuss the growing corporate accountability movement, the legal and reputational risks of DEI programs, Benevity’s use of the SPLC’s discredited hate list, and what it truly means to get Corporate America back to business. DEI Is Discrimination — and Companies Are at Legal Risk Most corporate DEI policies carry real legal exposure. Doug explains why the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling is closer to the boardroom than most companies realize — and how 1792 Exchange helps companies chart a roadmap out. Companies Are Tired of Activist Pressure After years of activist organizations demanding more, companies are saying enough is enough. Doug breaks down 1792 Exchange’s Back to Business tracker and what 250+ corporate engagements last year revealed about where corporate America is heading. The SPLC’s Hate List Embedded in Corporate Charitable Giving. Benevity built the SPLC’s hate list directly into its platform — as the default filter — for 200+ Fortune 1000 companies, many of which had no idea it was there. Shareholders vs. Stakeholders: How the Purpose of a Corporation Changed Five years ago, …

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