Where Does $100 to Susan G Komen Go?
Why The Big Picture Matters
Top 10 Executives (MEN) at the NRA Made $10.6 Million
Where does $100 to St. Jude’s Go?
Who To Trust For Nutrition Advice?
How Revenue is Spent at the San Diego Zoo (2022)
The Zoological Society of San Diego is more popularly known, and does business as the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) but is often referred to as simply the San Diego Zoo. A tax-exempt, non-profit conservation organization, SDZWA has been advertising in the Wall Street Journal trying to raise funds (total revenue dipped from $422 million in 2019 to $247 million in 2020 but then increased to $356 million in 2021).
There are 11 independent voting members (trustees) of the governing body (although 12 are listed on the Form 990 due to timing differences), 8 (75%) of whom are male while 3 (25%) are female (note: The 990 does not report gender; determinations were made based on name and google searches). Read more 
Executive Compensation at NPR (2022)
NPR (National Public Radio) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization that serves as a national syndicator to about 800 public radio stations through its member stations. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NPR strives to keep the public informed of events, ideas, and cultures through its programming.
In 2022, NPR raised $306 million (compared to $288 million in 2021), primarily from program services and contributions, gifts, and grants. Expenses totaled $307 million (not including $8 million in depreciation) with the largest expense being compensation. 1,388 employees were compensated $183 million, which equates to an average compensation of $132,000. However, only 671 employees (48% of total employees) received more than $100,000. Read more
Where Does $100 to NPR Go (2022)?
NPR (National Public Radio) – the radio station that people love to love – is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization that works with its member stations to foster a more informed public by providing a deeper understanding of events, ideas, and cultures.
Based in Washington, DC, NPR is also noteworthy for its on air fundraising although most people would be surprised to learn that public support in the form of contributions, gifts, and grants is not the number one source of revenue. Instead, program service revenue (station programming fees, digital media sponsorships, membership dues from member stations, distribution, and digital services) is the primary source of revenue for NPR followed by contributions, gifts, and grants.
So, if you gave $100 to NPR, how was it spent? $60 went to pay employees, $18 went to buy content and pay representation fees, while $22 was used for office expenses, fees for services by non-employees, advertising and promotion, interest and other expenses. For more detail, read on. Read more
Executive Compensation at United Way (2022)
United Way is one of the most recognizable charitable organizations in the United States and throughout the world. In the United States, “United Way” generally refers to United Way Worldwide (formerly United Way of America) and/or one of the 1,100 local offices in 37 countries and territories that operate as separate 501 (c) (3)’s.
United Way Worldwide (UWW) is the leadership and support organization for the whole United Way network. Each organization collects funds and makes grants to local organizations, and also contributes a portion of the revenue collected to United Way Worldwide to support oversight operations. However, UWW also makes grants, primarily back to United Way member organizations. Read more
Where Does $100 to United Way Go (2022)?
United Way is one of the most recognizable charitable organizations in the United States and throughout the world. In the United States, “United Way” generally refers to United Way Worldwide (formerly United Way of America) and/or one of the 1,100 local offices in 37 countries and territories that operate as separate 501 (c) (3)’s.
United Way Worldwide (UWW) is the leadership and support organization for the whole United Way network. Each organization collects funds and makes grants to local organizations, and also contributes a portion of the revenue collected to UWW to support oversight operations and grants. UWW, in turn, also makes grants back to member United Way member organizations.
So, if you made a $100 donation to UWW and want to know how your donation was used, the short answer is that about $58 was spent on organization expenses and about $27 was used for grants, while $15 was allocated to the general fund in 2022. Read more
A Blemish on McKinsey
When I was in business school, I remember first hearing about McKinsey & Company – a management consulting firm – that charges a lot of money to solve problems for corporations, government, and non-profits (surprisingly many non-profits – especially in healthcare and eduction – can afford McKinsey).
Back then – about 35 years ago – I didn’t understand why major companies (engaged in financial services, media, asset management, telecommunications, technology, healthcare, energy, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, insurance, and more) whose executives are paid millions would pay McKinsey millions to solve problems that their executives were paid to solve. It never made sense to me even though the McKinsey employees were reputed to be the best and the brightest (McKinsey had the reputation of recruiting the top 1 or 2 male students from the top business schools back then. I’m guessing they still recruit the top students but don’t know how close they have come to gender parity) but the executives in these multinational corporations are also the best and brightest in their field. Read more
Executive Compensation at the National Restaurant Association (2021)
The National Restaurant Association had a windfall of about $170 million in 2018 when they sold the “National Restaurant Association Show” to a unrelated private company Winsight, LLC – an information services company focused on the food and beverage industry. Consideration received included a promissory note (about $150 million of which $127 million was written off in 2020 and $90 million put back on the books in 2021) and an equity investment in Winsight, LLC. A sponsorship agreement provides annual royalty payments equal to 2% of the gross revenues of the show for 45 years, beginning in 2019. Read more
The Open Secret Colleges and Universities Don’t Want You To Know
In 1984, the average tuition, room and board was about $4,600, which equates to $14,000 in 2024, taking into consideration the inflation rate, which means todays price of tuition, room and board should be about 300% higher than in 1984. But, we all know that isn’t the case.
The average tuition, room and board at a college or university (and it varies depending on whether the school is private or public) in 2024 is about $42,000 – about 900% more than in 1984. Most private schools cost $80,000 – $100,000 annually which makes people – and especially parents – wonder why have the costs of educating our kids increased so dramatically? Read more
Executive Compensation at Columbia (2022)
2022 was a record year for Columbia University (Columbia) and many of its employees with total revenue reaching an all time high: $7.1 billion while expenses totaled $5.6 billion (not including $329 in depreciation). Although the university’s expenses were more than $1 billion less than total revenue, $2.3 billion in net unrealized losses on investments (2022 was not a great year in the market) caused net assets to decline from $19.6 billion to $18.4 billion at year-end.
In terms of compensation, 37,144 employees were compensated $3.6 billion, which equates to an average compensation of $79,000. The 20 most highly compensated individuals (listed below) received $39 million which equates to an average compensation package of nearly $2 million each: Read more
Alice Waters: Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth Is
Recently, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) printed a piece on food and specifically the food of the south of France. Underlying the story is a question: Why are we so hungry for the food of the South of France right now? In trying to answer that question, Alice Waters, the 79-year old founder of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California said
We need to make our diets healthy by eating more fruit and vegetables and less meat, and we need to respond to climate change with farming methods that protect and renew the earth…which is what they’ve been doing in the south of France for centuries.
Paddock Post 