Executive Compensation at the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFFPR) is a 501 (c) (3) established in 2000 to assist in the development of better treatments for Parkinson’s Disease “through an aggressively funded research agenda.” Most foundations of this type are established to raise funds which are then awarded as research grants in the hopes of finding better treatments and ultimately a cure.

In 2017, the MJFFPR raised $104 million and awarded $82 million in grants, which equates to 79% of revenue (although in 2016, MJFFPR awarded $74 million in grants (representing 65% of total revenue). The remaining $22 million was primarily spent on compensation and office-related expenses.

MJFFPR reported employing 159 individuals in 2017 who were compensated $17.7 million, which equates to an average compensation of $111,300.  However, only 32 individuals received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 11 most highly compensated individuals listed below:

• $823,147:  Deborah W Brooks, Co-founder and Executive Vice Chair
• $769,411:  Todd Sherer, CEO
• $401,605:  Joanne Martz, Chief Finance and Administrative Officer
• $366,036:  Sohini Chowdhury, Deputy CEO
• $312,224:  Brian K Fiske, SVP Research Programs
• $291,428:  Mark A Frasier, SVP Research Programs
• $280,977:  Holly Teichholtz, SVP Comm and Content Strategies
• $262,618:  Emily Moyer, SVP Marketing and Digital Strategy
• $244,288:  Rachel Dolhun, VP Medical Communications
• $240,189:  Kristin Pate, VP Development
• $222,938:  Michael Golombuski, VP Development

7 of the 11 (64%) most highly compensated individuals are female while 4 of the 11 (36%) are male.

It is interesting to note the organization has a CEO who was compensated $769,411, a deputy CEO who was compensated $366,036 and a Chief Finance and Administrative Officer who was compensated $401,605. But, the most highly compensated employee was Deborah W Brooks, Co-founder and Executive Vice Chair of the organization who was compensated $823,147 in 2017. It is unclear why Brooks was compensated more than $800,000 (and more than any other employee)  when the organization has a CEO, a deputy CEO and a Chief Finance and Administrative Officer.

To read the IRS Form 990(2017), click here.