Executive Compensation at the Chamber of Commerce of the US (2020)

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 raised $230 million in 2020 (compared to $173 million in 2019), primarily from contributions, gifts and grants with only $5 million coming from membership dues) and historically spent what they raised but in 2020, expenses totaled $169 million (primarily compensation, fees for services, office-related expenses, and advertising), leaving $60 million allocated to the general fund (which eliminated the negative net asset position (-$24 million) and allowed USCOC to close the year with $32 million in net assets.  

In 2020, 436 employees received $96 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $220,000. However, only 228 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 13 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $7,114,289:  Thomas J Donohue, President and CEO/Director
• $4,300,251:  Suzanne P Clark, Sr Exec VP
• $3,575,639:  Agnes Warfield-Blanc, EVP, Development and Fund
• $2,254,037:  Myron Brilliant, EVP and Head International
• $2,059,413:  David T Hirschmann, President and CEO, CCMC, GIPC,C-Tec
• $1,307,741:  Justin Waller, CMO and SVP, Ops
• $1,219,730:  Neil Bradley, EVP and Chief Policy Officer
• $1,207,459:  John Wood, SVP, General Counsel, CIO, and Sec’y
• $1,020,122:  Michelle Russo, Chief Communications Officer
• $  998,714:  Stan M Harrell, SVP and CFO
• $  834,435:  Martin Durbin, President GEI and SVP Policy
• $  767,301:  Robert Schroder, SVP, International Affairs
• $  763,281:  Thomas Quaadman, EVP, CCMC, Senior Advisor to the SEVP

The 13 most highly compensated employees received $28 million in compensation.  10 of the 13 (77%) most highly compensated employees are male while 3 of the 13 (23%) are female. 10 of the most  highly compensated employees received more than $100 million in compensation over the past 5 years:

Thomas J Donohue:  Total Compensation 2016-2020:  $33 million

• $7,114,289:  2020
• $6,668,106:  2019
• $6,897,144:  2018
• $6,619,841:  2017
• $5,646,371:  2016

Agnes Warfield-Blanc:  Total Compensation 2016-2020:  $19 million

• $3,575,639:  2020
• $3,643,563:  2019
• $3,916,498:  2018
• $3,920,786:  2017
• $3,710,561:  2016

Suzanne Clark:  Total Compensation 2016-2020:  $14 million

• $4,300,251:  2020
• $3,145,755:  2019
• $2,506,098:  2018
• $2,413,622:  2017
• $1,698,905:  2016

Myron Brillant:  Total Compensation 2016-2020:   $11 million 

• $2,254,037:  2020
• $2,436,155:  2019
• $1,950,483:  2018
• $1,994,338:  2017
• $1,967,494:  2016

David Hirschmann:  Total Compensation 2016-2020:  $10 million

• $2,059,413:  2020
• $2,369,160:  2019
• $1,841,992:  2018
• $1,911,644:  2017
• $1,612,266:  2016

Justin Waller:  Total Compensation 2017-2020:  $4 million

• $1,307,741:  2020
• $1,168,108:  2019
• $1,051,756:  2018
• $  219,186:  2017

Neil Bradley:  Total Compensation 2018-2020:  $3 million

• $1,219,730:  2020
• $1,015,265:  2019
• $  904,094:  2018

Stan Harrell:  Total Compensation 2016-2020:  $5 million

• $  998,714:  2020
• $1,099,944:  2019
• $  835,030:  2018
• $1,008,601:  2017
• $  939,175:  2016

John Wood:  Total Compensation 2018-2020:  $2 million

• $1,207,459:  2020
• $  871,411:  2019
• $  316,927:  2018

Michelle Russo:  Total Compensation:  2020:  $1 million

• $1,020,122

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.

It is interesting to note:

• 436 employees who received $96 million in compensation.
• 13 employees received $28 million so the remaining 423 employees received $68 million in compensation in 2020, or an average of $160,000.
• 215 of the 423 received more than $100,000 which means 208 employees received less than $100,000 in compensation (or a maximum of $21 million), so 215 employees received $47 million in compensation, or an average of $220,000, and yet these employees are not listed on the Form 990 schedules as highly compensated or key employees.

For information on “Transactions with Interested Persons” where 15 substantial contributors were compensated for services (consulting, legal services, public relations, and accounting), see Schedule L, Part IV, Business Transactions Involving Interested Persons on the Form 990.

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

• $1,253,211:  Revolution Agency, of Alexandria, VA for advertising services
• $  996,569:  Accenture LLP, of Chicago, IL for IT consulting services
• $  823,188:  Lockton Companies, of Boston, MA for insurance services
• $  801,728:  Mayer Brown, of Washington, DC for legal and policy analysis
• $  550,000:  Carol Hallett, of Washington, DC for fundraising, management advice*

“*”Carol Hallett has been contracted by USCOC for many years for fundraising.  Her fees for general fundraising consistency show up on Schedule G, Part 1, Fundraising Activities on the Form 990.

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 $28 million in compensation in 2020, which equates to an average compensation of more than $2 million.  Over the past 5 years, 10 of the most highly compensated employees received more than $100 million in compensation. In addition, the organization paid for first class or charter travel, companion travel, health or social club dues or initiation fees, and for personal services.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2020), click here.