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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
Craig B. Thompson, M.D.
Past President/CEO
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center $8,104,960 12/31/2022
  Note: Includes $6,080,000 bonus & incentive compensation.
Jason Klein
Senior VP/Chief Investment Officer
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center $6,868,047 12/31/2022
  Note: Includes $2,530,000 bonus & incentive compensation and $2,980,253 deferred compensation.
Nancy Brown
CEO
American Heart Association $4,145,055 06/30/2023
  Note: Includes $2,994,278 bonus & incentive compensation.
Robert W. Stone
President/CEO
City of Hope & Affiliates $3,684,871 09/30/2022
  Note: Includes $1,445,927 bonus & incentive compensation.
Mark Bilsky, M.D.
Attenting - Neurosurgery
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center $3,403,996 12/31/2022
  Note: Includes $1,500,000 bonus & incentive compensation.
Ellen Raney, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgeon/Professor
Shriners Hospitals for Children $3,366,552 12/31/2022
  Note: Includes $2,664,737 defined benefit supplemental executive retirement plan payment.
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 $2,248,532 12/31/2022
  Note: Includes $1,760,233 bonus & incentive compensation.
Harlan Levine, M.D.
President, Health Innovation & Policy
City of Hope & Affiliates $2,232,377 09/30/2022
Steven T. Rosen, M.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
City of Hope & Affiliates $1,955,873 09/30/2022
James R. Downing, M.D.
President/CEO
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital $1,851,107 06/30/2023
Emily Naus, M.D.
Past Anesthesiologist
Shriners Hospitals for Children $1,547,530 12/31/2022
  Note: Includes $1,005,253 defined benefit supplemental executive retirement plan payment.
Harry Johns
Past President/CEO
Alzheimer's Association $1,481,516 06/30/2023
Deborah W. Brooks
Co-Founder/CEO
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research $1,423,665 12/31/2022
Kelli Jo Shidler, M.D.
Physician
Boys Town $1,350,715 12/31/2022
Maureen Maciel, M.D.
Past Chief of Staff
Shriners Hospitals for Children $1,334,258 12/31/2022
Todd Sherer
Chief Mission Officer
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research $1,310,814 12/31/2022
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
David Miliband
President/CEO
International Rescue Committee $1,253,728 09/30/2023
Charles Ryan, M.D.
President/CEO
Prostate Cancer Foundation $1,248,911 12/31/2022
Marc H. Morial
President/CEO
National Urban League (National Office) $1,208,640 12/31/2022
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
Frederic Krupp
President & EDF Action Executive Director
Environmental Defense Fund $1,192,794 09/30/2023
Michael P. Boyle, M.D.
President/CEO
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation $1,190,095 12/31/2022
Leslie Upton
COO
American Heart Association $1,187,544 06/30/2023
James L. Clark
President/CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (National Office) $1,171,813 12/31/2022
Wayne R. LaPierre
Past Executive VP & NRA Foundation Ex-Officio
National Rifle Association (NRA) $1,171,699 12/31/2022
  Note: Wayne LaPierre announced his resignation as chief executive of the NRA, effective January 31, 2024.
William Hahn, M.D.
COO/EVP
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute $1,158,231 09/30/2023
Mariell Jessup
Chief Science & Medical Officer
American Heart Association $1,131,559 06/30/2023
Earl Lee
Managing Director, Investments
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation $1,130,430 12/31/2022
Karen E. Knudsen
CEO
American Cancer Society $1,118,608 12/31/2022
Matt Bershadker
President/CEO
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) $1,117,171 12/31/2022
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 & Past President/CEO, ASPI
Asia Society $1,031,855 06/30/2023
1
Name: Craig B. Thompson, M.D.
Title: Past President/CEO
Charity: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Compensation: $8,104,960
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
Note: Includes $6,080,000 bonus & incentive compensation.
2
Name: Jason Klein
Title: Senior VP/Chief Investment Officer
Charity: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Compensation: $6,868,047
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
Note: Includes $2,530,000 bonus & incentive compensation and $2,980,253 deferred compensation.
3
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.
4
Name: Robert W. Stone
Title: President/CEO
Charity: City of Hope & Affiliates
Compensation: $3,684,871
Fiscal Year: 09/30/2022
Note: Includes $1,445,927 bonus & incentive compensation.
5
Name: Mark Bilsky, M.D.
Title: Attenting - Neurosurgery
Charity: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Compensation: $3,403,996
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
Note: Includes $1,500,000 bonus & incentive compensation.
6
Name: Ellen Raney, M.D.
Title: Orthopedic Surgeon/Professor
Charity: Shriners Hospitals for Children
Compensation: $3,366,552
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
Note: Includes $2,664,737 defined benefit supplemental executive retirement plan payment.
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: $2,248,532
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
Note: Includes $1,760,233 bonus & incentive compensation.
12
Name: Harlan Levine, M.D.
Title: President, Health Innovation & Policy
Charity: City of Hope & Affiliates
Compensation: $2,232,377
Fiscal Year: 09/30/2022
13
Name: Steven T. Rosen, M.D.
Title: Chief Scientific Officer
Charity: City of Hope & Affiliates
Compensation: $1,955,873
Fiscal Year: 09/30/2022
14
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
15
Name: Emily Naus, M.D.
Title: Past Anesthesiologist
Charity: Shriners Hospitals for Children
Compensation: $1,547,530
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
Note: Includes $1,005,253 defined benefit supplemental executive retirement plan payment.
16
Name: Harry Johns
Title: Past President/CEO
Charity: Alzheimer's Association
Compensation: $1,481,516
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023
17
Name: Deborah W. Brooks
Title: Co-Founder/CEO
Charity: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Compensation: $1,423,665
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
18
Name: Kelli Jo Shidler, M.D.
Title: Physician
Charity: Boys Town
Compensation: $1,350,715
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
19
Name: Maureen Maciel, M.D.
Title: Past Chief of Staff
Charity: Shriners Hospitals for Children
Compensation: $1,334,258
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
20
Name: Todd Sherer
Title: Chief Mission Officer
Charity: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Compensation: $1,310,814
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
21
Name: Sarah C. Hirshland
Title: CEO
Charity: United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee
Compensation: $1,302,584
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2023
22
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
23
Name: David Miliband
Title: President/CEO
Charity: International Rescue Committee
Compensation: $1,253,728
Fiscal Year: 09/30/2023
24
Name: Charles Ryan, M.D.
Title: President/CEO
Charity: Prostate Cancer Foundation
Compensation: $1,248,911
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
25
Name: Marc H. Morial
Title: President/CEO
Charity: National Urban League (National Office)
Compensation: $1,208,640
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
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: Frederic Krupp
Title: President & EDF Action Executive Director
Charity: Environmental Defense Fund
Compensation: $1,192,794
Fiscal Year: 09/30/2023
29
Name: Michael P. Boyle, M.D.
Title: President/CEO
Charity: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Compensation: $1,190,095
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
30
Name: Leslie Upton
Title: COO
Charity: American Heart Association
Compensation: $1,187,544
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023
31
Name: James L. Clark
Title: President/CEO
Charity: Boys & Girls Clubs of America (National Office)
Compensation: $1,171,813
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
32
Name: Wayne R. LaPierre
Title: Past Executive VP & NRA Foundation Ex-Officio
Charity: National Rifle Association (NRA)
Compensation: $1,171,699
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
Note: Wayne LaPierre announced his resignation as chief executive of the NRA, effective January 31, 2024.
33
Name: William Hahn, M.D.
Title: COO/EVP
Charity: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Compensation: $1,158,231
Fiscal Year: 09/30/2023
34
Name: Mariell Jessup
Title: Chief Science & Medical Officer
Charity: American Heart Association
Compensation: $1,131,559
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023
35
Name: Earl Lee
Title: Managing Director, Investments
Charity: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Compensation: $1,130,430
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
36
Name: Karen E. Knudsen
Title: CEO
Charity: American Cancer Society
Compensation: $1,118,608
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
37
Name: Matt Bershadker
Title: President/CEO
Charity: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
Compensation: $1,117,171
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
38
Name: Michael L. Reney
Title: CFO
Charity: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Compensation: $1,067,239
Fiscal Year: 09/30/2023
39
Name: Robert Doar
Title: President
Charity: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
Compensation: $1,062,420
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023
40
Name: Cristian Samper
Title: Past President/CEO
Charity: Wildlife Conservation Society
Compensation: $1,048,650
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023
41
Name: Sanjayan Muttulingam
Title: CEO
Charity: Conservation International Foundation
Compensation: $1,041,355
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023
42
Name: Kevin M. Rudd
Title: Past President & Past President/CEO, ASPI
Charity: Asia Society
Compensation: $1,031,855
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2023

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.