Nonprofit Compensation Packages of $1 Million or More
The list below includes the top three compensation packages of $1 million or more at each nonprofit. The Compensation column includes total of base compensation, bonus and incentive compensation, retirement and deferred compensation, nontaxable benefits, and other reportable compensation as reported to the IRS (Form W-2, 1099-MISC, and/or 1099-NEC), excluding any amounts already reported by the organization in a prior year IRS Form 990. Retirement payouts, deferred compensation, severance, and bonuses that (a) comprise 75% or more of total annual compensation, or (b) total to $1 million or more are footnoted.
NOTE: Due to differences in the way compensation might be allocated, high salaries do not necessarily indicate inefficiencies just as low salaries are not always beneficial. A more detailed explanation is provided below the chart.
Name & Title | Charity | Compensation | Fiscal Year | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Selwyn Vickers, M.D. President/CEO |
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | $5,787,159 | 12/31/2023 | |
Note: Includes $2,458,333 bonus & incentive compensation. | ||||
Kathryn Martin Past COO |
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | $4,762,491 | 12/31/2023 | |
Note: Includes $3,043,618 bonus & incentive compensation and $1,117,022 severance pay. | ||||
Robert W. Stone President/CEO |
City of Hope & Affiliates | $4,559,374 | 09/30/2023 | |
Note: Includes $2,208,096 bonus & incentive compensation. | ||||
Nancy Brown CEO |
American Heart Association | $4,145,055 | 06/30/2023 | |
Note: Includes $2,994,278 bonus & incentive compensation. | ||||
Jason Klein Senior VP/Chief Investment Officer |
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | $3,581,445 | 12/31/2023 | |
Note: Includes $2,225,250 bonus & incentive compensation | ||||
Harlan Levine, M.D. President, Health Innovation & Policy |
City of Hope & Affiliates | $2,915,943 | 09/30/2023 | |
Note: Includes $1,737,793 bonus & incentive compensation. | ||||
Kenneth Roth Past Executive Director |
Human Rights Watch | $2,799,333 | 06/30/2023 | |
Note: Includes $2,270,259 of “Other Reportable Compensation.” Total compensation includes “remuneration upon his departure from the organization” and “reasonable compensation for his ongoing assistance and advice to HRW.” | ||||
Michael S. Salem, M.D. President/CEO |
National Jewish Health | $2,582,579 | 06/30/2023 | |
Note: Includes $1,227,650 bonus & incentive compensation. | ||||
Laurie H. Glimcher, M.D. President/CEO |
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | $2,339,457 | 09/30/2023 | |
Joseph P. Taylor, M.D. Executive VP/Scientific Director |
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | $2,320,694 | 06/30/2023 | |
Note: Includes $1,411,018 bonus & incentive compensation. | ||||
Jack Mahler, M.D. Chief Investment Officer |
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | $2,126,373 | 12/31/2023 | |
Note: Includes $1,685,373 bonus & incentive compensation. | ||||
Debra Fields EVP & Chief Transformation Officer |
City of Hope & Affiliates | $2,117,612 | 09/30/2023 | |
Note: Includes $1,108,532 bonus & incentive compensation. | ||||
James R. Downing, M.D. President/CEO |
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | $1,851,107 | 06/30/2023 | |
Kelli Jo Shidler, M.D. Physician |
Boys Town | $1,584,428 | 12/31/2023 | |
Karen E. Knudsen Past CEO |
American Cancer Society | $1,520,301 | 12/31/2023 | |
Deborah W. Brooks Co-Founder/CEO |
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research | $1,404,335 | 12/31/2023 | |
Louis J. DeGennaro Past President/CEO |
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | $1,383,794 | 06/30/2024 | |
Note: Includes $970,000 bonus & incentive compensation. | ||||
James L. Clark President/CEO |
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (National Office) | $1,382,858 | 12/31/2023 | |
Andrew Lewis Managing Director, Investments |
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | $1,318,447 | 12/31/2023 | |
Sarah C. Hirshland CEO |
United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee | $1,302,584 | 12/31/2023 | |
Charles M. Roberts, M.D. Executive VP/Director Cancer Center |
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | $1,293,394 | 06/30/2023 | |
Wayne R. LaPierre Past Executive VP & NRA Foundation Ex-Officio |
National Rifle Association (NRA) | $1,285,524 | 12/31/2023 | |
Note: Wayne LaPierre announced his resignation as chief executive of the NRA, effective January 31, 2024. | ||||
Marc H. Morial President/CEO |
National Urban League (National Office) | $1,284,284 | 12/31/2023 | |
David Miliband President/CEO |
International Rescue Committee | $1,253,728 | 09/30/2023 | |
Todd Sherer Chief Mission Officer |
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research | $1,236,035 | 12/31/2023 | |
Jonathan A. Greenblatt CEO/National Director |
Anti-Defamation League & Foundation | $1,207,978 | 12/31/2022 | |
Carter Roberts President/CEO |
World Wildlife Fund | $1,204,775 | 06/30/2023 | |
Matt Bershadker President/CEO |
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) | $1,203,267 | 12/31/2023 | |
Fred Krupp President & EDF Action Executive Director |
Environmental Defense Fund | $1,192,794 | 09/30/2023 | |
Leslie Upton COO |
American Heart Association | $1,187,544 | 06/30/2023 | |
William Hahn, M.D. COO/Executive VP |
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | $1,158,231 | 09/30/2023 | |
Anthony D. Romero Executive Director/CEO |
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) | $1,141,385 | 03/31/2024 | |
Kael Reicin Chief Financial & Strategy Officer |
American Cancer Society | $1,135,544 | 12/31/2023 | |
Mariell Jessup Chief Science & Medical Officer |
American Heart Association | $1,131,559 | 06/30/2023 | |
Laurie Spieler VP, Legal |
Shriners Hospitals for Children | $1,111,497 | 12/31/2023 | |
Michael P. Boyle, M.D. President/CEO |
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | $1,106,823 | 12/31/2023 | |
Purnendu Gupta, M.D. Chief of Staff |
Shriners Hospitals for Children | $1,086,969 | 12/31/2023 | |
John Wattenbarger, M.D. Physician Group Lead |
Shriners Hospitals for Children | $1,073,720 | 12/31/2023 | |
Michael L. Reney CFO |
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | $1,067,239 | 09/30/2023 | |
Robert Doar President |
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research | $1,062,420 | 06/30/2023 | |
Cristian Samper Past President/CEO |
Wildlife Conservation Society | $1,048,650 | 06/30/2023 | |
Sanjayan Muttulingam CEO |
Conservation International Foundation | $1,041,355 | 06/30/2023 | |
Kevin M. Rudd Past President/CEO; Past President, ASPI |
Asia Society | $1,031,855 | 06/30/2023 | |
Joanne Pike President/CEO |
Alzheimer's Association | $1,000,194 | 06/30/2024 |
1 Name: Selwyn Vickers, M.D. Title: President/CEO Charity: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Compensation: $5,787,159 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
Note: Includes $2,458,333 bonus & incentive compensation. |
2 Name: Kathryn Martin Title: Past COO Charity: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Compensation: $4,762,491 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
Note: Includes $3,043,618 bonus & incentive compensation and $1,117,022 severance pay. |
3 Name: Robert W. Stone Title: President/CEO Charity: City of Hope & Affiliates Compensation: $4,559,374 Fiscal Year: 09/30/2023 |
Note: Includes $2,208,096 bonus & incentive compensation. |
4 Name: Nancy Brown Title: CEO Charity: American Heart Association Compensation: $4,145,055 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
Note: Includes $2,994,278 bonus & incentive compensation. |
5 Name: Jason Klein Title: Senior VP/Chief Investment Officer Charity: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Compensation: $3,581,445 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
Note: Includes $2,225,250 bonus & incentive compensation |
6 Name: Harlan Levine, M.D. Title: President, Health Innovation & Policy Charity: City of Hope & Affiliates Compensation: $2,915,943 Fiscal Year: 09/30/2023 |
Note: Includes $1,737,793 bonus & incentive compensation. |
7 Name: Kenneth Roth Title: Past Executive Director Charity: Human Rights Watch Compensation: $2,799,333 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
Note: Includes $2,270,259 of “Other Reportable Compensation.” Total compensation includes “remuneration upon his departure from the organization” and “reasonable compensation for his ongoing assistance and advice to HRW.” |
8 Name: Michael S. Salem, M.D. Title: President/CEO Charity: National Jewish Health Compensation: $2,582,579 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
Note: Includes $1,227,650 bonus & incentive compensation. |
9 Name: Laurie H. Glimcher, M.D. Title: President/CEO Charity: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Compensation: $2,339,457 Fiscal Year: 09/30/2023 |
10 Name: Joseph P. Taylor, M.D. Title: Executive VP/Scientific Director Charity: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Compensation: $2,320,694 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
Note: Includes $1,411,018 bonus & incentive compensation. |
11 Name: Jack Mahler, M.D. Title: Chief Investment Officer Charity: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Compensation: $2,126,373 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
Note: Includes $1,685,373 bonus & incentive compensation. |
12 Name: Debra Fields Title: EVP & Chief Transformation Officer Charity: City of Hope & Affiliates Compensation: $2,117,612 Fiscal Year: 09/30/2023 |
Note: Includes $1,108,532 bonus & incentive compensation. |
13 Name: James R. Downing, M.D. Title: President/CEO Charity: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Compensation: $1,851,107 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
14 Name: Kelli Jo Shidler, M.D. Title: Physician Charity: Boys Town Compensation: $1,584,428 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
15 Name: Karen E. Knudsen Title: Past CEO Charity: American Cancer Society Compensation: $1,520,301 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
16 Name: Deborah W. Brooks Title: Co-Founder/CEO Charity: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Compensation: $1,404,335 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
17 Name: Louis J. DeGennaro Title: Past President/CEO Charity: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Compensation: $1,383,794 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2024 |
Note: Includes $970,000 bonus & incentive compensation. |
18 Name: James L. Clark Title: President/CEO Charity: Boys & Girls Clubs of America (National Office) Compensation: $1,382,858 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
19 Name: Andrew Lewis Title: Managing Director, Investments Charity: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Compensation: $1,318,447 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
20 Name: Sarah C. Hirshland Title: CEO Charity: United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Compensation: $1,302,584 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
21 Name: Charles M. Roberts, M.D. Title: Executive VP/Director Cancer Center Charity: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Compensation: $1,293,394 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
22 Name: Wayne R. LaPierre Title: Past Executive VP & NRA Foundation Ex-Officio Charity: National Rifle Association (NRA) Compensation: $1,285,524 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
Note: Wayne LaPierre announced his resignation as chief executive of the NRA, effective January 31, 2024. |
23 Name: Marc H. Morial Title: President/CEO Charity: National Urban League (National Office) Compensation: $1,284,284 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
24 Name: David Miliband Title: President/CEO Charity: International Rescue Committee Compensation: $1,253,728 Fiscal Year: 09/30/2023 |
25 Name: Todd Sherer Title: Chief Mission Officer Charity: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Compensation: $1,236,035 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
26 Name: Jonathan A. Greenblatt Title: CEO/National Director Charity: Anti-Defamation League & Foundation Compensation: $1,207,978 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022 |
27 Name: Carter Roberts Title: President/CEO Charity: World Wildlife Fund Compensation: $1,204,775 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
28 Name: Matt Bershadker Title: President/CEO Charity: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Compensation: $1,203,267 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
29 Name: Fred Krupp Title: President & EDF Action Executive Director Charity: Environmental Defense Fund Compensation: $1,192,794 Fiscal Year: 09/30/2023 |
30 Name: Leslie Upton Title: COO Charity: American Heart Association Compensation: $1,187,544 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
31 Name: William Hahn, M.D. Title: COO/Executive VP Charity: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Compensation: $1,158,231 Fiscal Year: 09/30/2023 |
32 Name: Anthony D. Romero Title: Executive Director/CEO Charity: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Compensation: $1,141,385 Fiscal Year: 03/31/2024 |
33 Name: Kael Reicin Title: Chief Financial & Strategy Officer Charity: American Cancer Society Compensation: $1,135,544 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
34 Name: Mariell Jessup Title: Chief Science & Medical Officer Charity: American Heart Association Compensation: $1,131,559 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
35 Name: Laurie Spieler Title: VP, Legal Charity: Shriners Hospitals for Children Compensation: $1,111,497 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
36 Name: Michael P. Boyle, M.D. Title: President/CEO Charity: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Compensation: $1,106,823 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
37 Name: Purnendu Gupta, M.D. Title: Chief of Staff Charity: Shriners Hospitals for Children Compensation: $1,086,969 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
38 Name: John Wattenbarger, M.D. Title: Physician Group Lead Charity: Shriners Hospitals for Children Compensation: $1,073,720 Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023 |
39 Name: Michael L. Reney Title: CFO Charity: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Compensation: $1,067,239 Fiscal Year: 09/30/2023 |
40 Name: Robert Doar Title: President Charity: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research Compensation: $1,062,420 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
41 Name: Cristian Samper Title: Past President/CEO Charity: Wildlife Conservation Society Compensation: $1,048,650 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
42 Name: Sanjayan Muttulingam Title: CEO Charity: Conservation International Foundation Compensation: $1,041,355 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
43 Name: Kevin M. Rudd Title: Past President/CEO; Past President, ASPI Charity: Asia Society Compensation: $1,031,855 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023 |
44 Name: Joanne Pike Title: President/CEO Charity: Alzheimer's Association Compensation: $1,000,194 Fiscal Year: 06/30/2024 |
CharityWatch's "A+" to "F" letter grade ratings and financial efficiency ratios take into account how a nonprofit's employee salaries and other compensation are allocated among program, management & general, and fundraising functions.
Nonprofits generally allocate compensation based on how each member of staff spends their time. For example, the salary of a doctor who spends 100% of their time on a charity's program activities, such as providing direct medical care, would generally be allocated 100% to program. A fundraising or development executive's salary would be allocated 100% to fundraising. An executive director or president of a charity might spent 40% of their time on program activities, 25% of their time managing their nonprofit, and 35% on fundraising, and this person's compensation would be allocated among program, management & general, and fundraising expenses commensurately.
Due to differences in the way compensation is allocated by charities in their IRS Form(s) 990 and audited financial statements, high salaries do not necessarily indicate inefficiencies just as low salaries are not always beneficial. Rather than perceiving a particular nonprofit executive's compensation as too high or too low based on its nominal value, appropriate salaries are better determined by considering factors such as special skills needed for the position, relevant education and experience, and the complexity of a charity's operations. CharityWatch encourages donors to view each nonprofit's letter grade rating to better understand how efficiently it is operating overall prior to making a giving decision.