## Fidelity, Vanguard Cut Ties With SPLC After Federal Fraud Indictment, Donor Funds Allegedly Linked to Extremist Groups
Two of the largest U.S. donor-advised fund platforms have severed their relationships with the Southern Poverty Law Center following a federal indictment alleging the civil rights organization secretly diverted millions in charitable donations to individuals connected to extremist organizations. Fidelity Charitable and Vanguard Charitable confirmed they stopped processing grants to the SPLC as of April 29, citing the organization's legal troubles.

The cuts came eight days after a federal grand jury in Alabama handed down an 11-count indictment charging the SPLC with wire fraud, false statements to a bank, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors allege that between 2014 and 2023, the organization secretly funneled more than $3 million in donor funds to individuals affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, and the National Socialist Party of America while misleading contributors about how their money would be used. Fidelity Charitable, which administers over 350,000 donor-advised accounts, notified customers that the SPLC no longer qualifies as an eligible grant recipient. Vanguard Charitable applied similar restrictions, removing the organization from its approved recipient list.

The indictment marks a striking reversal of fortune for an institution long considered a pillar of the civil rights advocacy space. The financial backlash from major philanthropic intermediaries now raises pressure on the organization's ability to sustain operations and donor confidence. The case remains under seal in federal court, and the SPLC has not publicly responded to the charges. Prosecutors have signaled the investigation is ongoing, leaving open the possibility of additional charges or co-conspirators.
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- **Source**: ZeroHedge
- **Sector**: The Vault
- **Tags**: SPLC, Fidelity Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, federal indictment, donor-advised fund
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-04-30 16:54:10
- **ID**: 78660
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/78660