Executive Compensation at the Heritage Foundation

The Heritage Foundation (Heritage) is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization staffed by conservative “experts” who provide advice on political, economic, social, and financial problems in the United States. Based in Washington, DC Heritage raises about $80 million annually, spends about the same amount, but has about $250 million in net fund assets, which is often referred as as an endowment.

In 2018, Heritage reported having 561 employees who were compensated $38 million which equates to an average compensation of $68,000. 91 employees received more than $100,000 with the 22 most highly compensated employees reported to be:

• $531,265:  Kay Coles James, President
• $417,813:  Kim Holmes, EVP
• $328,837:  James W Demint, President (severance payment)
• $327,949:  Edwin J Feulner, Trustee
• $322,066:  James Carafano, VP Davis Institute for National Security
• $321,071:  Becky Norton Dunlop, Ronald Reagon Distinguished Fellow
• $310,201:  Robert Bluey, VP Communications
• $306,829:  Wesley Dyck, VP Personnel
• $304,716:  Miguel Gonzalez, Senior Fellow
• $303,387:  Genevieve Wood, Director, Donor Communications and Spokesperson
• $302,685:  Jack Spencer, VP Institute for Economic Freedom
• $302,541:  Carsten Walter, Sr Director, Development Operations
• $296,107:  John Malcolm, Institute for Constitutional Government
• $294,301:  Bridgett Wagner, VP Policy Formation
• $287,608:  Eric Korsvall, VP, Operations
• $283,380:  John Backiel, VP Finance and Acct
• $274,504:  Jennifer Patterson, VP, Insitute for Family, Comm, and Opp.
• $242,907:  Richard Miller, Director, Center for International Trade and Econ
• $226,971:  Andrew McIndoe, VP Development
• $202,950:  Thomas Binion, VP Gov’t Relations
• $191,094:  Christopher Byrnes, General Counsel and Secretary
• $164,071:  John Mitnick, SVP General Counsel and Secretary

16 of the 22 (73%) of the most highly compensated employees are male while 6 of the 22 (27%) are female. 6 of the 10 most highly compensated employees are male while 4 are female (including the 2 most highly compensated employees).

Heritage paid for first class or charter travel. Specifically, Heritage allowed and paid for first class or charter travel for the President and certain approved staff when conducting official business in accordance with Heritage’s travel policies (not included on the 990).

Heritage also paid for companion travel from time to time because Heritage allows travel for spouses of certain officers of the organization.