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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
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.