Story perspectives

USAID $27 M routed to SPLC via Tides Center, sparks scrutiny

4/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

USAID transferred $27 million to the Tides Center, which allocated part to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Vote Your Voice initiative.
The funding chain linked a federal aid program to a partisan watchdog organization.
USAID staff earned six-figure salaries, with some up to $272,000, while former senior vice presidents now seek hourly jobs.
The Southern Poverty Law Center paid its chief executive $1.178 million in 2024 despite receiving federal funding.

History

Historical Context

Created in 1961 to counter Soviet influence, USAID shifted under the Obama administration in 2009 toward grant-based “government-to-government” aid, funding NGOs worldwide. With an average annual budget of $23 billion since 2001, the agency’s large grant portfolio draws attention. A 2023 Inspector General probe into a $110,000 2021 grant to Michigan charity HHRD revived concerns about nonprofit grant oversight.

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Story summary

USAID transferred $27 million to the Tides Center, which allocated part to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Vote Your Voice initiative.
The funding chain linked a federal aid program to a partisan watchdog organization.
USAID staff earned six-figure salaries, with some up to $272,000, while former senior vice presidents now seek hourly jobs.
The Southern Poverty Law Center paid its chief executive $1.178 million in 2024 despite receiving federal funding.

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