Executive Compensation at the California Nurses Association

The California Nurses Association is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) 5 – a professional trade union – representing more than 100,000 nurses in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare locations throughout the country.  It is important to note the CNA is a founding member of the National Nurses Union (NNU) which was formed when the California Nurses Association (CNA)/National Nurses Organizing Committee/AFL-CIO (NNOC), the United American Nurses (UAN), and the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) came together as 4 founding organizations to create NNU, the largest union and professional association of nurses in the US.

CNA and NNU have a joint employee arrangement under which all NNU employee-related expenses including payroll and benefits are paid through the CNA payroll system. NNU reimburses CNA for these expenses. The Executive Director of CNA has been retained by NNU to also serve as Executive Director of NNU.

CNA is overseen by a board of 37 voting members, 28 of whom are independent. The Form 990 lists 30 board members, 27 of whom are female and 3 whom are male.

For the year ending June 30, 2018, CNA reported total revenue of $123 million (compared to $108 million the prior year) with nearly all revenue coming from membership dues and assessments.  $86 million (not including depreciation) in expenses were reported with the single largest expense being compensation.  731 employees received $41 million in compensation, which equates to an average compensation of $56,000.  143 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 13 most highly compensated employees reported to be:

• $580,707:  Michael Griffing, Director, Field Rep
• $491,227:  Robert DeMoro, Director, Research
• $488,538:  Rose Ann DeMoro, Executive Director
• $347,312:  Yolanda Rios, Labor Rep
• $318,575:  Michael Lighty, Director, Public Policy
• $316,114:  Pamela Allen, Director, Legal
• $295,603:  Donna Kennedy, Organizer
• $294,620:  David Johnson, Director, Organizing
• $289,382:  Charles Idelson, Director, Communications
• $284,430:  Glen Sharp, Labor Rep
• $273,471:  Bonnie Castillo, Associate Executive Director
• $272,206:  Donald Nielsen, Director, Gov’t Relations
• $261,706:  Corey Lanham, Director, Mid-Atlantic Region/NNU-Veterans Affairs

Two employees (appears to be Robert DeMoro and Rose Anne DeMoro) have a family relationship.

The 13 most highly compensated employees received $4.5 million, or an average of $350,000 each. 8 of the 13 (62%) most highly compensated employees are male while 5 of the 13 (38%) are female.

CNA paid for first class or charter travel.

5 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation:

• $3.0 million:  Marriott Hotel, of Atlanta, GA for facilities and lodging
• $1.6 million:  Zenitech Computer Solutions of Albany, CA for network support
• $1.5 million:  Housing by Dana, of San Diego, CA for longterm housing/lodging
• $0.7 million:  Metro Media Productions, of Sacramento, CA for events and productions
• $0.6 million:  Able Engineering Services, Inc., of San Francisco, CA for building services

To read the IRS Form 990 (for the year ending June 30, 2018), click here.