Executive Compensation at the Wounded Warrior Project (2020)

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 800 employees. A 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, their mission is to “honor and empower wounded warriors.”

There are 13 independent voting members (directors) of the governing body although only 14 are listed on the Form 990 (2019 for the year ending September 30, 2020) which appears to be due to timing differences. 9 directors are male and 5 are female.

Key factors to know about Wounded Warrior include:

• In 2020, Wounded Warrior reported total revenue of $287 million (compared to $282 million in 2019), most of which came from contributions, gifts, and grants.
• Expenses totaled $276 million (including $1 million in depreciation) in 2020, with 68% ($188 million) of revenue spent on compensation, office, fees, advertising and promotion, direct response mail, television, and on-line response, and other expenses.
• $88 million (or 32% of revenue) was spent on grants ($58 million) and program and other provider services ($30 million).
• Wounded Warrior had net assets of $326 million at year-end September 30, 2020.

805 employees were compensated $76 million in 2020, which equates to an average compensation of $94,400.  90 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 15 most highly compensated listed below:

• $372,166:  Michael S Linnington, CEO
• $351,408:  Jennifer M Silva, Chief Program Officer
• $337,078:  Eric S Miller, CFO
• $333,088:  Gary A Corless, Chief Development Officer
• $298,747:  Christopher Toner, Chief of Staff
• $277,305:  John T Hamre, III, VP Direct Response
• $265,605:  Michael C Richardson, VP Independence and Mental Health
• $252,899:  Scott Coster, VP Information Technology
• $252,197:  Dawn M Boland, Secretary and General Counsel (thru 11/19)
• $250,189:  Angela Strohl, VP Human Resources
• $249,375:  Brea Kratzern, VP Development
• $248,891:  Craig Carroll, VP Finance and Accounting
• $241,375:  Neal Boornazian, VP, Marketing
• $232,724:  Tracy Farrell, VP Engagement and Physical Health
• $224,427:  Tom Kastner, VP, Financial Wellness

The 15 most highly compensated employees received $4 million in compensation. Controlling for these employees and their respective compensations, means the other 790 employees were compensated $72 million, which equates to an average compensation of $91,100.

10 of the 15 most highly compensated employees are male while 5 are female.

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

• $17.6 million:  Neuro Community Care of Wake Forest, NC for the Indep Program
• $ 4.3 million:  Creative Direct Response, Inc. of Bowie, MD for direct response (fundraising)
• $ 3.7 million:  Neuro-Rehab Management, Inc. of Woburn, MA for Indep Program
• $ 3.7 million:  BKV Unified, of Atlanta, GA for direct response (fundraising)
• $ 1.4 million:  TV Funding Solutions, of Bowie, MD for direct response (fundraising)

To read the IRS Form 990 (2019 for the year ending September 30, 2020), click here.