The Institute for Southern Studies

What The Institute for Southern Studies does

The Institute for Southern Studies is a nonprofit 501c3 research and media organization founded in 1970 by civil rights veterans including Julian Bond, headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. It publishes Facing South, an award-winning online magazine featuring investigative journalism on democracy, voting rights, economic justice, and labor in the American South, along with an archived print journal Southern Exposure (1973-2010). The Institute runs four programmatic lines: the Democracy Program (research and advocacy on voting access and election integrity), the Southern Strategies Program (40+ workshops and keynotes across 12 states for partners including AFL-CIO, Aspen Institute, and Ford Foundation), the Julian Bond Fellowship (launched 2020 to develop new Southern journalists), and Project Innovation and Incubation, which has spawned dozens of independent organizations such as Carolina Public Press, Miami Workers Center, North Carolina Asian Americans Together, and Southerners for Economic Justice.

The Institute's deliverables are primarily text-based research reports and journalism published through facingsouth.org and southernstudies.org, with no proprietary technology platform. Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic contributions and foundation grants rather than product sales, with anchor supporters including the Ford Foundation, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and Carnegie Corporation of New York, alongside individual donations. Its go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, blending content publishing, coalition convening (notably the recurring Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy reports co-developed with Brennan Center, Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause NC, and others), and direct outreach to grassroots activists, policy makers, journalists, and scholars.

The organization operates with a lean staff of 4 named employees led by Executive Director Chris Kromm (since 2000), author of 60+ Institute reports and a frequent commentator on 300+ TV and radio broadcasts. Its journalism has been recognized with two George Polk Awards, a National Magazine Award, and dozens of additional honors from the National Press Club, Society of Professional Journalists, and White House Correspondents' Association.

Name

The Institute for Southern Studies

Legal name

The Institute for Southern Studies

Website

https://southernstudies.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institute for Southern Studies is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1970 that publishes Facing South and produces investigative journalism, policy research, and coalition reports on democracy, voting rights, and economic justice in the American South, serving activists, policy makers, journalists, and scholars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Research and Media Center

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAJABAC

Academic & Scholarly Journals Publishing (Peer-Reviewed)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Educational & Academic Publishing (Textbooks, Scholarly, STM)

SECONDARYEDAGAFAD

Social Sciences Scholarly Publishing

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Academic & Scholarly Publishing (Journals, Monographs)

Keywords

• Nonprofit media center
• Investigative journalism
• Policy research
• Democracy advocacy
• Civic engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Philanthropic Support: The organization relies heavily on foundation funding from dozens of philanthropic organizations including Ford Foundation, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, and 30+ others that have provided financial support of $10,000 or more over 20 years.
2. Individual Donations: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations from individual supporters to fund its media, research, and education programs. The Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit public charity.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Institute for Southern Studies is a nonprofit research and media center that publishes the Facing South online magazine, an investigative journal focused on democracy, voting rights, economic justice, and social change in the American South. It complements this with research reports such as the Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy series and demographic studies, plus educational programs including the Julian Bond Fellowship for emerging journalists, the Democracy Program on voting rights, and the Southern Strategies outreach program. All content is distributed free of charge, and the Institute is funded by foundation grants and individual donations.

Product overview

The Institute for Southern Studies operates as a nonprofit research and media center offering a portfolio of publications, research programs, and educational initiatives focused on democracy, social justice, and civic engagement in the American South. The core offering is Facing South, an online magazine providing investigative journalism and policy analysis, supplemented by the archived Southern Exposure journal. The Institute's programmatic work includes the Democracy Program (research and advocacy on voting rights and election integrity), Southern Strategies Program (outreach and demographic analysis), Julian Bond Fellowship (next-generation journalist training), and Project Innovation and Incubation (supporting new social justice organizations). Research publications including the Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy series, Asian American Voters Reports, and demographic studies on Latino voters and political donors provide data-driven analysis on key Southern trends.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Facing South: Online magazine featuring groundbreaking investigations into abuses of power, in-depth analysis of Southern trends and voices of people working for a better South

Products and services

• Facing South The Institute's flagship online magazine featuring groundbreaking investigations into abuses of power, in-depth analysis of Southern trends, and voices of people working for a better South; covers democracy, voting rights, economic justice, and social change in the American South and is freely accessible to the public.
• Southern Exposure Award-winning journal of politics and culture published from 1973–2010, known for thorough investigations, unsentimental portraits of Southern life, and resources for change; the Institute's founding print publication.
• Julian Bond Fellowship Fellowship program launched in 2020 in honor of founder Julian Bond, designed to support a new generation of journalists and researchers working for change in the South; the program is scheduled to resume in 2026.
• Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy Collaborative policy report providing nonpartisan recommendations for improving North Carolina's democratic institutions, voter access, election administration, and ethics laws; editions released in 2021, 2023, and 2025 in partnership with North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections and contributing democracy organizations.
• Asian American Voters Reports Collaborative research reports analyzing Asian American voter demographics, participation patterns, and political influence in North Carolina; includes 'A Growing Voice' (2016) and 'How Asian American Voters are Changing North Carolina' (2018), published with partner organizations.
• Young Latino Voters Report Research report analyzing the growth and potential political influence of young Latino voters in Southern states, projecting electoral impact through 2032.
• Face of N.C. Donors Investigative report analyzing the demographic composition of political donors in North Carolina, revealing racial disparities in campaign finance participation.
• Denying a Dream Report documenting cases of naturalized citizens wrongly flagged as non-citizens and prevented from voting in North Carolina elections.

Quantifiable outcome

• Two George Polk Awards, one National Magazine Award, and dozens of additional honors from National Press Club, Society of Professional Journalists, and White House Correspondents' Association
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and flagship.

• League of Women Voters of North CarolinamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2023Added as contributor to the 2023 Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy report, bringing voter education and civic engagement expertise.
• Fix the CourtmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2023Contributor to the 2023 Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy report, providing judicial accountability and court reform expertise.
• Forward JusticemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2023Contributor to the 2023 Blueprint report, bringing civil rights litigation and social justice advocacy perspective.
• North Carolina Budget and Tax CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2023Contributor to the 2023 Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy report, offering fiscal policy and economic justice expertise.
• North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2018Collaborated on reports analyzing Asian American voter demographics and engagement in North Carolina, including 'How Asian American Voters are Changing N.C.' Jointly produced demographic reports tracking Asian American voter registration and turnout.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los AngelesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2016Collaborated on the 'A Growing Voice: Asian American Voters in North Carolina' report, providing expertise on Asian American community engagement and voting patterns.
• Southeast Asian CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2016Partnered on the 'A Growing Voice: Asian American Voters in North Carolina' collaborative report to analyze and engage Southeast Asian American voters in North Carolina.
• Democracy North CarolinamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2016Contributed to the 'A Growing Voice: Asian American Voters in North Carolina' report, providing election monitoring and voter advocacy expertise.
• North Carolina Voters for Clean ElectionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in producing the Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy reports (2021, 2023, 2025). This nonpartisan pro-democracy coalition helps coordinate democracy reform initiatives and contributed to collaborative reports on voting access, election administration, and ethics laws.
• Brennan Center for JusticemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributing organization to the Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy reports, providing expertise on voting rights, election administration, and democracy reform from a national perspective.
• Campaign Legal CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributing organization to Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy reports, offering expertise on campaign finance, election law, and government ethics.
• Common Cause North CarolinamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributing organization to Blueprint reports, bringing citizen advocacy and good government expertise to democracy reform initiatives.
• Southern Coalition for Social JusticemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributing organization to Blueprint reports, providing legal expertise on voting rights, redistricting, and social justice in the South.
• North Carolina Black AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributing organization to Blueprint reports, representing and advocating for Black communities' democratic participation in North Carolina.
• Disability Rights North CarolinamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributing organization to Blueprint reports, ensuring disability community perspectives are included in democracy reform proposals.
• Carolina Public PressflagshipOthersAn innovative nonprofit news organization that the Institute incubated and helped launch. Carolina Public Press is an independent, nonprofit news organization providing in-depth coverage of issues affecting North Carolinians.
• Miami Workers CenterflagshipOthersA workers' rights and social justice organization that the Institute helped incubate and launch as part of its commitment to nurturing innovative media and organizing initiatives in the South.
• North Carolina Asian Americans TogetherflagshipOthersA nonpartisan nonprofit organization focused on civic engagement and political participation that the Institute helped launch. NCAAT works to bring together the Asian American community in North Carolina.
• Southerners for Economic JusticemajorOthersAn economic justice organization that the Institute helped incubate to address workers' rights and economic inequality in the South.
• Labor SouthmajorOthersA labor-focused news and analysis publication that the Institute helped launch as part of its media incubation work in the South.
• Southern Working GroupmajorOthersA collaborative working group on Southern labor and social justice issues that the Institute helped establish as part of its ecosystem-building work.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Center for Public Integrity: One of the largest U.S. nonprofit investigative journalism organizations. Closely comparable model (nonprofit newsroom, foundation-supported, investigative focus on democracy and money-in-politics issues), though broader in geographic scope than the Institute.
• The Bitter Southerner: Atlanta-based nonprofit media outlet that publishes longform journalism and storytelling about the American South. Directly comparable to Facing South as a Southern-focused independent journalism brand serving engaged readers, though without the Institute's policy research depth.
• Carolina Public Press: North Carolina-focused nonprofit investigative newsroom that was incubated and launched by the Institute for Southern Studies. Directly comparable as a regional nonprofit news outlet, and a direct organizational descendant of the Institute's incubation program.
• Democracy North Carolina: Nonpartisan North Carolina nonprofit focused on voting rights, election administration, and campaign finance reform. Direct peer on the Institute's Democracy Program work; both are named partners in the Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy coalition.
• Southern Poverty Law Center: Large Alabama-based nonprofit that combines civil rights advocacy, investigative journalism, and Southern-focused research. Highly comparable mission and region to the Institute, though SPLC operates at materially greater scale and with a broader portfolio of legal and education programs.

Others

• Common Cause:

Emerging players

• The Marshall Project: Nonprofit newsroom focused on criminal justice investigative reporting. Comparable as a focused-issue nonprofit journalism outlet with foundation support, though its subject area (criminal justice) differs from the Institute's democracy/economic justice focus.

Broad incumbents

• Brennan Center for Justice: Major national law and policy institute at NYU focused on voting rights, election administration, and democracy reform. Comparable research-and-advocacy model and a Blueprint partner, though significantly larger and operating nationally rather than regionally.
• ProPublica: Premier U.S. nonprofit investigative newsroom, supported by philanthropy and member donations. Comparable model as a foundation-funded investigative journalism outlet, though ProPublica operates at national scale with a much larger staff and budget than the Institute.

Regional players

• North Carolina Justice Center: North Carolina-based research and advocacy organization focused on economic justice and poverty issues. Comparable as a state-focused nonprofit research/policy shop, and a recognized supporter of the Institute (awarded the Defenders of Justice Award in 2003).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/facingsouth
• Instagraminstagram.com/instituteforsouthernstudies
• Facebookfacebook.com/facingsouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-southern-studies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Institute for Southern Studies