Executive Compensation at the American Cancer Society (2019)

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) (3) dedicated to eliminating cancer by funding cancer research and focusing on prevention and detection, and treatment. Key information about ACS includes:

• ACS is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia but the organization has more than 250 offices throughout the country.
• ACS raises about $700 million annually.
• ACS has $1.1 billion in net assets.
• There are 21 independent voting members of the governing body, 16 (76%) of whom are male and 5 (24%) who are female (Note:  the Form 990 does not report gender identity. The numbers are based on names and google searches).

In 2019, ACS reported total revenue of $720 million (compared to $770 million in 2018) most of which came from contributions, gifts, and grants ($683 million including $43 million in non-cash contributions – clothing, hotels, wigs, etc).

Expenses totaled $716 million (not including $716 million in depreciation) with the largest expense being compensation at $330 million (46% of revenue).  4,922 employees received $330 million, which equates to an average compensation of $67,000.  322 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 11 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $1,091,029:  Gary M Reedy, CEO*
• $1,072,070:  Susan G Herrington, EVP, Enterp Gov’t & Corp Services
• $  827,844:  Catherine E Mickle, Chief Administrative Officer*
• $  766,774:  Sharon Byers, Chief Development and Marketing Officer
• $  719,133:  Jung H Kim, EVP Northeast Region
• $  704,841:  Michael L Neal, SVP, Field Operations
• $  606,606:  Richard C Wender, Chief Cancer Control Officer
• $  599,319:  Robert L Crutchfield, Managing Director, Brightedge Ventures
• $  509,580:  Robert M King, CFO (outgoing)*
• $  441,765:  Leonard Lichtenfeld, Deputy Chief Medical Officer
• $  407,406:  Jeff D Klaas, EVP, West Region

8 of the 11 (73%) most highly compensated employees are male while 3 of the 11 (27%) are female (note:  The Form 990 does not report gender identify; the numbers are based on name and a google search).

313 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 5 highest reported to be:

• $16.6 million:  KPMG LLP, of Dallas, TX for system implementation
• $12.8 million:  Tellepsen Builders, of Houston, TX for construction
• $ 8.7 million:  Merkle, of Baltimore, MD for fundraising counsel
• $ 4.6 million:  Acumen Solutions, of McLean, VA for system integration
• $ 4.5 milion:  Broadleaf Results, of Williamsville, NY for independent contract labor

To read the IRS Form 990 (2019), click here.