Executive Compensation at the Chamber of Commerce of the US (2019)

The US Chamber of Commerce (also known as the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America) is the largest business organization in the United States representing businesses. A tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) 6 organization, the US Chamber of Commerce (USCOC) is based in Washington, DC.

The USCOC raises about $170 million annually (primarily from contributions, gifts and grants with only $5 million coming from membership dues) and spends what it receives. In fact, the USCOC has a negative net asset position (-$24 million) which is an important consideration when the 10 most highly compensated employees received $24 million in compensation in 2019.   In addition, USCOC paid for first class and charter travel, companion travel, health or social club dues or initiation fees, and for personal services (i.e. maid, chauffeur, chef).

In 2019, 445 employees received $90 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $202,000. However, only 191 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 13 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $6,668,106:  Thomas J Donohue, President and CEO/Director
• $3,643,563:  Agnes Warfield-Blanc, EVP, Development and Fund
• $3,145,755:  Suzanne P Clark, Sr Exec VP
• $2,436,155:  Myron Brilliant, EVP and Head International
• $2,369,160:  David T Hirschmann, President and CEO, CCMC, GIPC,C-Tec
• $1,168,108:  Justin Waller, CMO and SVP, Ops
• $1,015,265:  Neil Bradley, EVP and Chief Policy Officer
• $1,099,944:  Stan M Harrell, SVP and CFO
• $  871,411:  John Wood, SVP, General Counsel, CIO, and Sec’y
• $  754,940:  Robert Schroder, SVP, International Affairs
• $  751,880:  Thomas Quaadman, EVP, CCMC, Senior Advisor to the SEVP
• $  719,375:  John W Howard, SVP, Congressional and Public Affairs
• $  337,038:  Robert J Engstrom, Current Employee, Former Key Employee, SVP Political Affairs

The 13 most highly compensated employees received $25 million in compensation.  10 of the 13 (77%) most highly compensated employees are male while 3 of the 13 (23%) are female. The three most highly compensated employees received the following compensation over the past 5 years:

Thomas J Donohue:  Total Compensation 2015-2019:  $32 million

• $6,668,106:  2019
• $6,897,144:  2018
• $6,619,841:  2017
• $5,646,371:  2016
• $6,579,687:  2015

Agnes Warfield-Blanc:  Total Compensation 2015-2019:  $19 million

• $3,643,563:  2019
• $3,916,498:  2018
• $3,920,786:  2017
• $3,710,561:  2016
• $4,044,634:  2015

Suzanne Clark:  Total Compensation 2015-2019:  $11 million

• $3,145,755:  2019
• $2,506,098:  2018
• $2,413,622:  2017
• $1,698,905:  2016
• $1,103,659:  2015

USCOC paid for first class and charter travel, companion travel, health or social club dues or initiation fees, and for personal services.  For details on these expenses, see Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information on the Form 990.

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

• $1,623,168:  Accenture LLP, of Chicago, IL for IT consulting services
• $  943,563:  Del Cielo Media, of Alexandria, VA for advertising services
• $  868,622:  Hartman Cox Architects, of Washington, DC for architectural services
• $  840,228:  Ernst and Young, of Pittsburgh, PA for industry study, audit, and taxes
• $  779,073:  Brunswick Group, of New York, NY for public relations

In summary, the USCOC is a large business chamber headquartered in Washington, DC that pays its top executives handsomely. The 13 most highly compensated employees received $25 million in compensation, which equates to an average compensation of nearly $2 million.  This when the USCOC has a negative asset position of -$24 million (although USCOC’s net assets were -$36 million 2 years prior) And yet, how can any non-profit in a negative asset position justify these compensation packages and pay for first class and charter travel, travel for companions, health or social club dues or initiation fees, and personal services, when the organization has a negative net asset position of $24 million?

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