The Highest Paid Nonprofit CEOs
The highest-paid nonprofit leaders — CEOs, Executive Directors, etc. — all earn at least $900k per year, and into the tens of millions for large hospitals
The highest-paid nonprofit leaders — CEOs, Executive Directors, etc. — all earn at least $900k per year, and into the tens of millions for the largest of hospitals and health systems. While the highest-paid nonprofit CEOs are in healthcare and financial services, things get more interesting when we look at normal charities. The highest-paid charity CEOs tend to be a mix of arts organizations, museums, and research institutes, although a wide variety of organizations pay their leadership quite well.
Executive compensation is a tricky issue. Just because a CEO or Executive Director is paid well doesn't mean they aren't more than worth it. But it's still worth trying to understand if a nonprofit exec's pay is similar to their colleagues or not. To do so, we compared total compensation as a percent of organization revenue, and total compensation as a percent of all salaries and benefits paid out by the organization. We found that most executives compensation was between 1.0% and 1.4% of total revenue and between 3.0% and 3.3% of all salaries and benefits paid (these are 25th and 75 percentiles). We found executives paid up to 8.8% of total revenue and 58.3% of all salaries and benefits paid.
Top 10 highest-paid nonprofit CEOs
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Ernie Sadau, CHRISTUS HealthTitlePresident and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$16,210,758% Org revenue1.6%% Org comp3.4%Revenue$1,028,398,550Data date2023-06LocationWebsite
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Steven J. Corwin, NewYork Presbyterian HospitalTitleChief Executive OfficerCompensation$14,550,784% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.3%Revenue$10,254,512,111Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Peter S Fine, Banner HealthTitlePresident and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$14,031,376% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.3%Revenue$9,479,573,911Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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R Heldebrant, Star One Credit UnionTitleChief Executive OfficerCompensation$12,465,866% Org revenue3.9%% Org comp45.0%Revenue$320,984,139Data date2017-12LocationWebsite
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Jack N Gerard, American Petroleum InstituteTitlePresident and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$10,669,493% Org revenue4.0%% Org comp13.6%Revenue$267,555,487Data date2018-12LocationWebsite
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Anthony R Tersigni, Ascension HealthTitleFormer Officer / Former Officer / And President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$10,631,627% Org revenue0.5%% Org comp0.9%Revenue$2,174,612,908Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
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Howard P Kern, Sentara HealthcareTitleChief Executive Officer Emeritus / President and Chief Executive Officer and Ex - Effic Director / President and Chief Executive Officer and Ex - Efficio Director / President and Chief Executive Officer / Chief Executive Officer / Chief Operating Officer and PresidentCompensation$5,747,995% Org revenue1.2%% Org comp3.4%Revenue$485,099,155Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Teresa Campbell, San Diego County Credit UnionTitleChief Executive OfficerCompensation$4,879,987% Org revenue1.1%% Org comp4.8%Revenue$447,679,679Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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James D Dahling, Children's Health SystemTitleFormer President / President and Chief Executive Officer and Director / President and Chief Executive Officer / President and DirectorCompensation$1,243,727% Org revenue3.1%% Org comp9.5%Revenue$40,064,863Data date2024-06LocationWebsite
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David C Pate, St Luke's Health SystemTitleFormer Chief Executive Officer and President / Former President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$154,684% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.0%Revenue$764,837,244Data date2024-09LocationWebsite
Top 50 highest-paid charity CEOs
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James Skogsbergh, Advocate Aurora HealthTitleDirector , President , Chief Executive Officer / President , Chief Executive Officer / Chief Executive Officer , President , Director / Chief Executive Officer , DirectorCompensation$17,416,946% Org revenue18.6%% Org comp1.1%Revenue$93,587,373Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Anthony R Tersigni, Ascension HealthTitleFormer Officer / Former Officer / And President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$10,631,627% Org revenue0.5%% Org comp0.9%Revenue$2,174,612,908Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
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Laura S. Kaiser, SSM HealthTitlePresident and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$7,646,448% Org revenue0.6%% Org comp2.9%Revenue$1,194,913,384Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Lewis Von Thaer, Battelle Memorial InstituteTitlePast President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$5,610,756% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$13,349,081,113Data date2024-09LocationWebsite
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C Darby, In-Q-TelTitlePast Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$5,032,991% Org revenue4.6%% Org comp7.5%Revenue$108,260,393Data date2024-03LocationWebsite
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Dale Maxwell, Presbyterian Healthcare ServicesTitlePresident and Chief Executive Officer , / President and Chief Executive Officer and Director / President and Director / President and Chief Executive Officer / Executive Vice President and Cao and Treasurer / Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and TreasurerCompensation$4,519,558% Org revenue0.2%% Org comp0.4%Revenue$2,386,097,082Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Nancy Brown, American Heart AssociationTitleChief Executive OfficerCompensation$4,388,845% Org revenue0.5%% Org comp1.0%Revenue$972,755,203Data date2024-06LocationWebsite
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Brian Gallagher, United Way WorldwideTitleFormer Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$3,622,146% Org revenue7.0%% Org comp14.1%Revenue$51,568,253Data date2021-12LocationWebsite
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Edward J Grefenstette, Dietrich FoundationTitlePresident , Chief Executive Officer and Chief Information OfficerCompensation$3,461,067% Org revenue3.7%% Org comp57.6%Revenue$94,341,341Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Gordon van Welie, ISO New EnglandTitlePresident and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$3,250,419% Org revenue1.2%% Org comp2.1%Revenue$264,594,190Data date2024-12LocationWebsite
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Jason Providakes, MitreTitlePresident and Chief Executive Officer / Senior Vice PresidentCompensation$3,151,714% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.2%Revenue$2,372,797,370Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Robert Schultze, Missionsquare RetirementTitlePast Former President , Chief Executive Officer , Director / President and Chief Executive Officer and Director Until 11 and 4 and 19Compensation$3,125,351% Org revenue1.2%% Org comp2.2%Revenue$268,974,871Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
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William F. McKeon, Texas Medical CenterTitlePresident and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$3,061,476% Org revenue2.4%% Org comp12.9%Revenue$127,663,247Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Thomas P Campbell, Metropolitan Museum of ArtTitleExecutive DirectorCompensation$3,017,012% Org revenue0.4%% Org comp1.3%NTEERevenue$697,601,819Data date2018-06LocationWebsite
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Christopher D. Hillyer, New York Blood CenterTitlePresident and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$2,816,470% Org revenue0.5%% Org comp1.2%Revenue$564,818,942Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Thomas Britton Harris, The University of TexasTexas A&M Investment Management CompanyTitleFormer President and Chief Executive Officer / President , Chief Executive Officer and Chief Information Officer / Board MemberCompensation$2,758,557% Org revenue3.7%% Org comp6.0%Revenue$74,623,739Data date2024-08LocationWebsite
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Clive Gillinson, The Carnegie Hall CorporationTitleBoard MemberCompensation$2,699,180% Org revenue3.0%% Org comp4.6%Revenue$90,483,367Data date2024-06LocationWebsite
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William Jeffrey, SRI InternationalTitlePast President and Chief Executive Officer / Director / Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$2,672,028% Org revenue0.7%% Org comp1.1%Revenue$409,695,868Data date2021-12LocationWebsite
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Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln CenterTitleBoard MemberCompensation$2,603,892% Org revenue5.9%% Org comp10.9%
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Mary Leary, MatherTitlePresident and Chief Executive Officer / Director , Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$2,531,605% Org revenue4.9%% Org comp7.7%Revenue$51,316,231Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Alan D Guerci, Catholic HealthTitlePresident and Chief Executive Officer Thru 6 and 30 and 21 / President , Chief Executive Officer / President and Chief Executive Officer Since JulyCompensation$2,474,462% Org revenue2.0%% Org comp13.1%Revenue$121,547,631Data date2021-12LocationWebsite
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David Myers-See Sch J Notes, American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral SciencesTitleBoard Member , President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$2,469,523% Org revenue0.7%% Org comp1.0%Revenue$355,310,121Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
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Peter L. Miller, American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty UnderwritersTitlePresident and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$2,437,369% Org revenue2.6%% Org comp6.2%Revenue$95,039,394Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Michael W Howard, Electric Power Research InstituteTitlePast Chief Executive Officer Thru 12 and 20 / President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$2,410,187% Org revenue0.5%% Org comp0.9%Revenue$478,660,003Data date2021-12LocationWebsite
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David Coleman, College BoardTitleChief Executive OfficerCompensation$2,380,371% Org revenue0.2%% Org comp0.7%Revenue$1,019,073,270Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Alan F List, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research InstituteTitlePast FRM President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$2,290,679% Org revenue0.7%% Org comp1.2%Revenue$310,050,728Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
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Raymond H Cypess, American Type Culture CollectionTitleChairman , Chief Executive Officer / Chief Executive Officer , ChairmanCompensation$2,258,000% Org revenue1.3%% Org comp2.7%Revenue$177,067,676Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Pierce Charles D, Glory of Zion International MinistriesTitlePresident DirectorCompensation$2,198,679% Org revenue10.8%% Org comp38.4%
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Isaac William Ferniany, Uab Medicine EnterpriseTitleFormer Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$2,109,882% Org revenue3.3%% Org comp7.2%
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Scott P la Rue, ArchCareTitlePast President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$2,053,206% Org revenue1.8%% Org comp12.5%Revenue$112,290,403Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Lisa Sherman, Ad Council Edge Ad Council Research InstituteTitlePresident and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$1,999,024% Org revenue2.8%% Org comp7.1%Revenue$71,825,199Data date2023-06LocationWebsite
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E. Wayne Holden, Research Triangle InstituteTitlePresident and Chief Executive Officer , Rti InternationalCompensation$1,843,757% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.3%Revenue$1,403,482,013Data date2021-09LocationWebsite
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Deborah Borda, New York PhilharmonicTitleExecutive AdvisorCompensation$1,818,409% Org revenue1.6%% Org comp3.6%Revenue$113,915,338Data date2024-08LocationWebsite
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Glimcher Laurie, Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteTitlePast Trustee , President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$1,766,948% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.2%NTEERevenue$3,471,594,710Data date2019-09LocationWebsite
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Brian J. Boon, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation FacilitiesTitlePresident and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$1,727,069% Org revenue4.5%% Org comp9.1%Revenue$37,967,154Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Mark R Chassin Facp, The Joint CommissionTitlePresident and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$1,701,007% Org revenue0.8%% Org comp1.4%Revenue$207,500,079Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
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Dan Nisley, Heart of Texas Goodwill IndustriesTitlePast President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$1,666,286% Org revenue5.9%% Org comp12.9%Revenue$28,294,992Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
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Michael Sanders, Monroe ClinicTitleFormer Officer / Director , President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$1,591,052% Org revenue0.7%% Org comp1.4%Revenue$219,503,410Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
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Mark R Proctor, Boston Pediatric Neurosurgical FoundationTitlePresidentCompensation$1,524,055% Org revenue7.4%% Org comp9.9%Revenue$20,640,817Data date2024-09LocationWebsite
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Marki Flannery, VNS HealthTitleFormer Officer / Director - President and Chief Executive Officer / President and Chief Executive Officer / Executive Vice President and Chief of Operations / Executive Vice President and Chief of Provider Operations / Executive Vice President and Chief of Provider ServicesCompensation$1,494,451% Org revenue3.2%% Org comp1.1%Revenue$46,918,105Data date2021-12LocationWebsite
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Ellen Futter, American Museum of Natural HistoryTitleFormer President and TrusteeCompensation$1,045,342% Org revenue0.4%% Org comp0.8%Revenue$237,074,999Data date2024-06LocationWebsite
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Lincoln Smith, Altarum InstituteTitleFormer Senior Vice President / Senior Vice President / President and Chief Executive Officer , SecretaryCompensation$550,000% Org revenue1.7%% Org comp2.4%Revenue$32,837,053Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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Edison T Liu, Jackson LaboratoryTitleFormer President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$498,613% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.2%Revenue$572,803,655Data date2023-12LocationWebsite
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John Petrovich, Humannity MedtecTitlePresident and Chief Executive Officer / Senior Vice President Business Development and General Council and Chief Executive Officer / Chief Executive Officer / General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Business Development / Senior Vice President , Business Development and General CounselCompensation$381,545% Org revenue2.1%% Org comp1.8%Revenue$18,144,382Data date2022-03LocationWebsite
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Richard Seidler, Trinity Medical CenterTitleFormer BD Member and President and Chief Executive Officer / Board Member and President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$369,890% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.2%
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David Zolet, Noblereach FoundationTitleChief Executive Officer and President / President and Chief Executive Officer / Board MemberCompensation$244,058% Org revenue0.4%% Org comp2.1%NTEERevenue$63,793,339Data date2020-12LocationWebsite
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Eric Lander, The Broad InstituteTitleFormer FMR Director , President and Chief Executive Officer / President and Founding Director / President and Director / Director , President and Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$145,414% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.0%Revenue$860,350,571Data date2022-06LocationWebsite
