Executive Compensation at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is a charitable tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 established in 1946 in the District of Columbia to defend “democratic ideals and eliminate anti-Semitism and bigotry in the United States and around the world, while providing knowledgeable leadership on a national level for the American Jewish community.”

Based in New York City, the ADL has staff in 27 offices nationwide.  It is important to point out the ADL really consists of two entities:  the ADL and the Anti-Defamation League Foundation (Foundation) – both of which operate out of the same office in New York City.  The Foundation helps support the mission of the ADL by providing funds and by managing the endowment and assets held by the Foundation. In addition, the organizations share many employees.

ADL

The ADL has 388 employees who were compensated $32.7 million in 2016 (an average compensation of $84,300), according to the Form 990 submitted to the IRS. 71 employees received more than $100,000 in total compensation with the 15 most highly compensated employees listed below:

• $580,681:  Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO/National Director ($290,342 from the Foundation)
• $502,618:  Clifford Schechter, Senior Advisor to CEO ($75,392 from the Foundation)
• $406,307:  Ira Robert Wolfson, Assoc Nat’l Director of Reg Operations
• $302,893:  Michael A Kellman, SVP, Finance and Administration ($121,157 from the Foundation)
• $297,651:  Evan Bernstein, NY Regional Director
• $274,247:  Deborah Gayle Lauter, SVP Policy and Programs
• $259,277:  Kenneth Jacobson, Deputy National Director
• $255,058:  David S Waren, VP Education
• $254,473:  Lonnie Jay Nasatir, Chicago Regional Director
• $249,301:  Amanda Frances Susskind, LA Regional Director
• $249,092:  Steven Carl Sheinberg, Gen Counsel and SVP Priv and Sec ($124,547 from the Foundation)
• $248,153:  Seth Brysk, San Francisco Regional Director
• $214,635:  Thomas W Ruderman, SVP Talent and Knowledge
• $209,411:  Abraham H Foxman, National Director Emeritus ($63,450 from the Foundation)
• $171,802:  Fred Bloch, SVP Growth ($68,721 from the Foundation)

As illustrated above, 13 of the 15 most highly compensated employees (87%) are male, while 2 are female (13%).

The IRS Form 990 also reports the following information:

• The ADL pays for first class or charter travel.
• The ADL pays for travel for companions.
• The ADL states that “during the year, payments were made to certain individuals listed in the Form 990,Part VII, Section A pursuant to separation agreements. In order to protect the confidentiality as set forth i the agreements, the names are not disclosed.”
• In 2012, ADL and the Foundation finalized a supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) benefit for Abraham H Foxman.  This retirement benefit is paid out over time. $148,517 wa paid during the year ending December 31, 2016 and the remaining benefit is included i the long-term pension obligations on ADL’s balance sheet. It is also important to note ADL has a $28 million liability for long term pension obligations on its balance sheet, which is one of the reasons ADL is in a negative net asset position (-$16.5 million).

FOUNDATION

The Foundation has 23 employees who were compensated $3.4 million, which equates to an average compensation of $147,800.  However, only 6 employees received more than $100,000 in total compensation (because a portion of their compensation was paid by ADL). The 10 most highly compensated employees were reported to be:

• $580,681:  Jonathan Greenblatt, Trustee ($290,339 from ADL)
• $502,618:  Clifford Schechter, Senior Advisor to CEO of ADL ($427,226 from ADL)
• $302,893:  Michael A Kellman, Asst Treasurer/Executive Director ($181,735 from ADL)
• $249,092:  Steven C Sheinberg, Assistant Secretary ($124,545 from ADL)
• $212,720:  Margo A Howard, Regional Development Director ADL ($180,812 from ADL)
• $209,411:  Abraham H Foxman, National Director Emeritus ADL ($145,961 from ADL)
• $202,128:  Shoshanna G Reynolds, Regional Development Director ADL ($171,809 from ADL)
• $177,916:  Harold Arnwine, Assoc Director of Planned Giving
• $172,538:  Samuel V Memberg, Chief Information Officer ADL ($129,402 from ADL)
• $171,802:  Fredrich Bloch, Trusee ($103,081 from ADL)

As illustrated above, 8 out of the 10 (80%) most highly compensated employees are male while 2 out of the ten (20%) are female.

The IRS Form 990 also reports the following information:

The Foundation pays for first class or charter travel.

The Foundation pays for companion travel.

Jonathan Greenblatt, a trustee and the most highly compensated employee at the Foundation, was provided with a relocation loan of $150,000 when he was named CEO of ADL and before he was named a trustee of the Foundation. Although the 990 reports the balance due is $155,582, the notes indicate the balance was $70,369 when the 990 was filed.

CONCLUSION

The ADL and the Foundation are two separate non-profit organizations that are related and based in New York City at the same address.  Although the Foundation helps support ADL by providing revenue, the Foundation is also focused on managing the $100 million (approximately) in assets.  The ADL has a $28 million liability for long term pension obligations on its balance sheet, which is one of the reasons ADL is in a negative net asset position (-$16.5 million). This could be eliminated if ADL reduced its operating expenses in the future or obtained additional funds from the Foundation.

That 80% or more of the most highly compensated employees at both organizations are male is worth noting. In addition, both organizations pay for first class or charter travel, which is often inconsistent with how revenue should be spent at a non-profit.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2016) for ADL, click here.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2016) for the Foundation, click here.