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The median salary for all chief executive officers (including non-profit groups and selected community and private foundations) was $188,686. The median salary for the female CEOs, who made up 16 percent of the total sample, was $163,100, compared with a median salary of $192,125 for the men.
The survey was conducted by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, billed as the "Newspaper of the Non-Profit World". The Chronicle collected salary information for its survey from charities on its Philanthropy 400 list of organizations that raise the most money each year. Incomes of those groups ranged from $15.8 million to $2.4 billion. The survey also included data from the country's largest foundations, with assets ranging from $85.5 million to $7.5 billion.
The Chronicle reports that John W. Rowe, president of Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, made the most among executives in the survey, with a salary of $921,219. Robert C. Macauley, head of the AmeriCares Foundation, an international-relief group, made the least: He received no salary. As founder of a multimillion-dollar paper-products company, he did not need it.
The salaries of all non-profit executives are likely to come under increased scrutiny because of a new law signed in July by President Bill Clinton. The law requires charities to send their informational tax returns--which include salaries for the highest-paid employees--to anyone who requests them. Previously, the returns had to be shown only to people who came in person to the charities' offices, although many groups did mail the returns on request.
In a statement to The Chronicle, officials of Mount Sinai noted that its president, Dr. Rowe, is responsible for a $1.2 billion enterprise. His compensation of nearly $1 million is "appropriate and comparable" to salaries offered at large health centers across the nation, many of which are for-profit institutions, they said.
Chief executives at the bottom of the pay scale cited attachment to their organizations or altruism as reasons for their relatively low salaries. At Habitat for Humanity International, President Millard Fuller had refused raises in five years. But he finally accepted a 28 percent increase last year, bringing his salary to $55,000. A former millionaire, Fuller gave away almost all his money when he left the corporate world to do charitable work.
Compensation of Top Officials at Selected Non-Profit Organizations
(Salary figures do not include benefits or expense allowances; all figures in US dollars)
| Organization | Salary | Organization income |
|---|---|---|
| Human Services Groups | ||
| American Red Cross Elizabeth H. Dole, President | $201,516 | $1,721,200,806 |
| Goodwill Industries International David M. Cooney, President* | $209,153 | $951,000,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Millard Fuller, President | $55,000 | $56,941,483 (1) |
| Prison Fellowship Ministries Thomas Pratt, President | $97,000 | $26,662,000 |
| Salvation Army Kenneth L. Hodder, President* | $59,045 (2) | $1,421,005,370 |
| YMCA of the USA David Mercer, Executive Director | $249,299 | $2,059,863,107 |
| International Relief-and-Development Groups | ||
| AmeriCares Foundation Robert C. Macauley, CEO | 0 | $145,779,152 |
| CARE Philip Johnston, President* | $223,213 | $460,191,000 (3) |
| United States Committee for UNICEF Gwendolyn C. Baker, President | $208,000 | $54,848,000 |
| World Vision Robert A. Seiple, President | $143,303 | $304,003,311 |
| Religious Groups | ||
| Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Billy Graham, Chief Executive Officer | $135,000 | 95,376,136 |
| Campus Crusade For Christ William R. Bright | $43,402 (4) | $209,107,000 |
| Christian Broadcasting Network Michael D. Little, President | $151,990 | $100,118,260 |
| Christian and Missionary Alliance Paul F. Bubna, President | $34,479 (5) | $101,133,204 |
| Focus on the Family Richard W. Mason, Senior Vice-President | $123,674 | $93,597,838 |
| Jewish Communal Fund Norman Sokoloff, Exec. Vice-President | $143,285 (6) | $87,026,895 |
| The Navigators Jerry White, International President | $80,168 | $77,222,000 |
| Trinity Christian Center Paul F. Crouch, President | $159,500 | $89,614,162 |
| Wycliffe Bible Translators Hyatt Moore, President | $32,269 (7) | $83,759,312 |
| Young Life Dennis Ryberg, President | $95,100 | $69,530,721 (8) |
| Youth Groups | ||
| Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America Thomas McKenna, Nat. Exec. Director | $111,650 | $99,114,596 |
| Boy Scouts of America Jere Ratcliffe, Chief Scout Executive | $328,098 (9) | $486,589,000 |
* No longer holds position.
(1) Income figures for national office only.
(2) Mr. Hodder shared his salary with his wife, Marjorie, who was also an employee of the organization. The couple has retired.
(3) Income figure does not include money raised by overseas affiliates.
(4) Mr. Bright shares his salary with his wife, Vonette, the organization's co-founder. The figure does not include housing expenses or the use of automobiles donated to the organization.
(5) Mr. Bubna became president Aug. 1, 1995. His salary and benefits cover the last five months of the fiscal year.
(6) Mr. Sokoloff's salary is paid by the United Jewish Appeal/Federation Jewish Philanthropies of New York.
(7) Mr. Moore raises money for his own salary. He keeps 90% of what he raises as compensation; 10% goes to the organization for administrative support.
(8) Income figure includes money raised by Young Life Foundation.
(9) Salaries include unspecified amounts of retirement benefits. Figures were not available.
compiled from The Chronicle of Philanthropy
SIDEBAR MCC and MBM/S salaries
The base salary range for MCC Executive Directors (CEOs) located in the US is $47,432 to $50,512. When the maximum credit for work experience is added, the range is $47,432 to $50,512. It's likely, but not standard, that CEOs come to MCC with the maximum work credit. MCC fringe benefits (medical, vacation, pension, social security, life insurance/disability, staff training) add 25% in computing total staff costs. The current International Executive Director is Ron Mathies.
The salary range for the position of CEO for Mennonite Brethren Missions/Services is $38,000 to $50,000. The CEO hired usually qualifies for the upper salary range. The current General Director is Harold Ens.
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