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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.
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.
Nancy Brown
CEO
American Heart Association $3,172,723 06/30/2022
  Note: Includes $2,082,615 bonus & incentive compensation.
Laurie H. Glimcher, M.D.
President/CEO
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute $2,802,980 09/30/2022
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
Michael S. Salem, M.D.
President/CEO
National Jewish Health $2,020,146 06/30/2022
Steven T. Rosen, M.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
City of Hope & Affiliates $1,955,873 09/30/2022
Myra Biblowit
President/CEO
Breast Cancer Research Foundation $1,837,111 06/30/2022
David Ellison
Chair, Pathology/Director, Neuropathology
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital $1,829,593 06/30/2022
  Note: Includes $1,035,264 non-qualified deferred compensation plan payment.
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.
James R. Downing
President/CEO
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital $1,546,372 06/30/2022
Harry Johns
Past President/CEO
Alzheimer's Association $1,468,134 06/30/2022
Deborah W. Brooks
Co-Founder/CEO
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research $1,423,665 12/31/2022
Edward J. Benz, Jr., M.D.
President/CEO Emeritus
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute $1,396,571 09/30/2022
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
David M. Yarnold
Past President/CEO
National Audubon Society $1,276,173 06/30/2022
Charles Ryan, M.D.
President/CEO
Prostate Cancer Foundation $1,248,911 12/31/2022
Cristian Samper
President/CEO
Wildlife Conservation Society $1,237,933 06/30/2022
Thomas E. Merchant
Chair, Radiation Oncology
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital $1,232,030 06/30/2022
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
Michael P. Boyle, M.D.
President/CEO
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation $1,190,095 12/31/2022
Sarah C. Hirshland
CEO
United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee $1,175,947 12/31/2022
John Allen
Past President
Brookings Institution $1,172,263 06/30/2022
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.
Carter Roberts
President/CEO
World Wildlife Fund $1,160,844 06/30/2022
Michael L. Lomax
President/CEO
UNCF/United Negro College Fund $1,149,543 03/31/2022
David Miliband
President/CEO
International Rescue Committee $1,142,414 09/30/2022
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
Leslie Upton
COO
American Heart Association $1,102,406 06/30/2022
Louis J. DeGennaro
Past President/CEO
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society $1,062,390 06/30/2022
Mariell Jessup
Chief Science & Medical Officer
American Heart Association $1,038,293 06/30/2022
Saro Jahani
President/CEO
HelpMeSee $1,023,399 12/31/2022
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: 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.
4
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.
5
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.
6
Name: Nancy Brown
Title: CEO
Charity: American Heart Association
Compensation: $3,172,723
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
Note: Includes $2,082,615 bonus & incentive compensation.
7
Name: Laurie H. Glimcher, M.D.
Title: President/CEO
Charity: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Compensation: $2,802,980
Fiscal Year: 09/30/2022
8
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.
9
Name: Harlan Levine, M.D.
Title: President, Health Innovation & Policy
Charity: City of Hope & Affiliates
Compensation: $2,232,377
Fiscal Year: 09/30/2022
10
Name: Michael S. Salem, M.D.
Title: President/CEO
Charity: National Jewish Health
Compensation: $2,020,146
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
11
Name: Steven T. Rosen, M.D.
Title: Chief Scientific Officer
Charity: City of Hope & Affiliates
Compensation: $1,955,873
Fiscal Year: 09/30/2022
12
Name: Myra Biblowit
Title: President/CEO
Charity: Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Compensation: $1,837,111
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
13
Name: David Ellison
Title: Chair, Pathology/Director, Neuropathology
Charity: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Compensation: $1,829,593
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
Note: Includes $1,035,264 non-qualified deferred compensation plan payment.
14
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.
15
Name: James R. Downing
Title: President/CEO
Charity: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Compensation: $1,546,372
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
16
Name: Harry Johns
Title: Past President/CEO
Charity: Alzheimer's Association
Compensation: $1,468,134
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
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: Edward J. Benz, Jr., M.D.
Title: President/CEO Emeritus
Charity: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Compensation: $1,396,571
Fiscal Year: 09/30/2022
19
Name: Kelli Jo Shidler, M.D.
Title: Physician
Charity: Boys Town
Compensation: $1,350,715
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
20
Name: Maureen Maciel, M.D.
Title: Past Chief of Staff
Charity: Shriners Hospitals for Children
Compensation: $1,334,258
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
21
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
22
Name: David M. Yarnold
Title: Past President/CEO
Charity: National Audubon Society
Compensation: $1,276,173
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
23
Name: Charles Ryan, M.D.
Title: President/CEO
Charity: Prostate Cancer Foundation
Compensation: $1,248,911
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
24
Name: Cristian Samper
Title: President/CEO
Charity: Wildlife Conservation Society
Compensation: $1,237,933
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
25
Name: Thomas E. Merchant
Title: Chair, Radiation Oncology
Charity: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Compensation: $1,232,030
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
26
Name: Marc H. Morial
Title: President/CEO
Charity: National Urban League (National Office)
Compensation: $1,208,640
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
27
Name: Jonathan A. Greenblatt
Title: CEO/National Director
Charity: Anti-Defamation League & Foundation
Compensation: $1,207,978
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
28
Name: Michael P. Boyle, M.D.
Title: President/CEO
Charity: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Compensation: $1,190,095
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
29
Name: Sarah C. Hirshland
Title: CEO
Charity: United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee
Compensation: $1,175,947
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
30
Name: John Allen
Title: Past President
Charity: Brookings Institution
Compensation: $1,172,263
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
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: Carter Roberts
Title: President/CEO
Charity: World Wildlife Fund
Compensation: $1,160,844
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
34
Name: Michael L. Lomax
Title: President/CEO
Charity: UNCF/United Negro College Fund
Compensation: $1,149,543
Fiscal Year: 03/31/2022
35
Name: David Miliband
Title: President/CEO
Charity: International Rescue Committee
Compensation: $1,142,414
Fiscal Year: 09/30/2022
36
Name: Earl Lee
Title: Managing Director, Investments
Charity: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Compensation: $1,130,430
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
37
Name: Karen E. Knudsen
Title: CEO
Charity: American Cancer Society
Compensation: $1,118,608
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022
38
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
39
Name: Leslie Upton
Title: COO
Charity: American Heart Association
Compensation: $1,102,406
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
40
Name: Louis J. DeGennaro
Title: Past President/CEO
Charity: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Compensation: $1,062,390
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
41
Name: Mariell Jessup
Title: Chief Science & Medical Officer
Charity: American Heart Association
Compensation: $1,038,293
Fiscal Year: 06/30/2022
42
Name: Saro Jahani
Title: President/CEO
Charity: HelpMeSee
Compensation: $1,023,399
Fiscal Year: 12/31/2022

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.