Executive Compensation at Wounded Warrior Project (2018)
The Wounded Warrior Project is one of the most well-known non-profit charitable organizations focused on rebuilding the lives of wounded veterans. Established in 2003, the Wounded Warrior Project (Wounded Warrior) is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida with about 657 employees. A 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, their mission is to “honor and empower wounded warriors.”
Key factors to know about Wounded Warrior include:
- In 2018, Wounded Warrior reported $264 million in total revenue, most of which came from contributions, gifts, and grants.
- Expenses totaled $270 million (not including depreciation) in 2018, with 70% of revenue spent on compensation, direct response mail, television, and on-line expenses, grants, and program/other provider services.
- Wounded Warrior had net assets of $305 million at year-end 2018.
657 employees were compensated $63 million in 2018, which equates to an average compensation of $96,000. 38 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 14 most highly compensated listed below:
- $338,663: Michael S Linnington, CEO
- $302,224: Jennifer M Silva, Chief Program Officer
- $298,942: Eric S Miller, CFO
- $297,720: Gary A Corless, Chief Development Officer
- $267,979: Christopher Tonner, Chief of Staff
- $250,690: Amberlie Allred, Secretary (thru 6/18)
- $238,516: Michael C Richardson, VP Independence and Mental Health
- $234,890: Rene Bardoff, SVP Gov’t and Community Relations (effective 2/17)
- $230,057: John T Hamre, III, VP Direct Response
- $228,208: Jonathan B Sullivan, VP Eco Empowerment (thru 5/18)
- $225,040: Danielle Moga, VP Shared Services (thru 8/18)
- $223,559: Ayal M Tezel, VP Communications
- $213,362: Tracy Farrell, VP Engagement and Physical Health
- $175,289: Brea Kratzern, VP Development (effective 8/17)
$3.5 million in compensation was paid to the 14 employees listed above. Controlling for this group means the average compensation for the other 643 employees was $92,500.
8 of the 14 (57%) most highly compensated employees are male while 6 (43%) are female.
Other compensation information includes:
- Ronald W Burgess, a former CFO (thru 12/16) received $105,100 in 2018.
- Craig Carroll, a former VP in Finance and Accounting (thru 1/17) received $187,576 in 2018.
77 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation. The five highest were:
- $16,709,267: Neuro Community Care of Wake Forest, NC for the Independence Program
- $ 4,587,130: Creative Direct Response, Inc. of Bowie, MD for direct response expenses
- $ 3,041,185: Bis Global of Deerwood, MD for direct response expenses
- $ 2,717,060: Ernst Young US LLP of Atlanta, GA for project management WCN
- $ 2,643,022: Boston Consulting Group, Inc. of Boston, MA for program consulting services
To read the IRS Form 990 (2017 for the year ending September 30, 2018), click here
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Paddock Post 
As a citizen who has a disabled Veteran in the family I am amazed to see the amount of money that goes to pay wages and bonuses to the top officials of this organization. I also am appalled at the amount that is spent for ads, fundraising, etc. No wonder there is not enough money left to help the Veterans that are really in need. I will pray that your group comes to its senses!
I cannot imagine the incomes of so many of your workers. I worked really hard all my life for meager pay in governmental clerical positions. My husband made more of course working for various institutions, but that was as nothing compared to people collecting our donations to pay your wages! It’s egregious! !
I hope you CEO’s sleep well at knowing your making 10x the amount of money that the veteran made fighting for you.
I WOULD NOT recommend donations be sent to DAV: Nearly half of all revenue is spent on office-related expenses (see below) and they paid their CEO $550,000 in 2017, $569,991 in 2018, and $585,906 in 2019. Also important to note is that DAV paid for first class or charter travel, travel for companions, and provided discretionary spending accounts.
send your donations to DAV (disabled american veterans) .minimal compensation, do great stuff for vets and they don,t get greedy sell your imformation to others for cash!
What a RIP off…I was going to ask for help but I can see where all the donations go….you should be ashamed to say you are here for veterans
Just for fun, I looked up the Executive Compensation at Wounded Warrior Project. I was blow away with the amount of money the executives are paid. I am a veteran and would love to help wounded military folks but I can no longer give to this organization. The regular employees get an average of more than 90K. What is with this? Some charity!
Salaries for this organization is way out of line. The money is to support our wounded soldiers and NOT provide salaries to provide high level life styles for executives. I totally understand they have to be paid but 300k, 250K, 200K is totally taking away for what the contributions are for. I made 75K a year and worked my ass off for it and provided a good life for me and my family. Get these salaries in check and I will start giving again. So sad the organization’s are so money hungry for the top dogs. 😭😭😭
WWP is a ripoff. Most people don’t know they are lobbyist. Why pay consultants so much? The VA identifies the medical issues things needed for the wounded person. Looks like a ripoff to me
I too will not donate to WWP because of the excessive salaries paid to executives. I will research other veteran help organizations. I always research charities and am amazed to find that many are really run for the benefit of the charity administrators, first and foremost.
all of you precious board members will have a reckoning with the Almighty very soon. Hope the sellout was worth your eternity
I’m glad I checked before committing to $19/month! This makes me feel sick!
Base on the info rec not one penny will I give to this outfit. I am sorry to have say this because I was in two (2) wars !!! These exec are flying first class, lavish parties, etc. And I am a DAV. So do not send any paper work my way!! My prayer is that the rest of the people wake and see what a rip off this is!!!!!!!!!
thats the problem with all charities all the lower people volunteer and the big shots take all the money
Amazing how many of these charities take advantage of the giving public. I always search the overhead cost before ever donating. Congress needs to put a stop to these types of charities that benefit only the ivory tower.
Totally agree that way too much is paid to officers of organization.i will not donate to pay their salaries…..stop sending me requests for donations !!!
I used to contribute to the WW project. Then I read their financial report and found out how little went to wounded warriors as a percentage of donations received and how much went for salaries and I got angry and stopped donating.
When the top executives draw no more than $100,000, then I will donate. This money should be given entirely to veterans or at least 75% of total contributions should go to the program not as salaries.
Outrageous greed by the employees & consultants with so much spent & so little given back to the veterans.. And the irony is they call it nonprofit