Executive Compensation at the Chamber of Commerce of the US (2021)

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 $204 million in 2021 (compared to $230 million in 2020 and $173 million in 2019), primarily from contributions, gifts and grants with less than $5 million coming from membership dues).  Expenses totaled $192 million (94% of revenue), with the largest expenses reported to be compensation, fees for services, office-related expenses, and advertising), leaving $12 million allocated to the general fund.  An $18 million adjustment for pension liability allowed USCOC to close the year with $63 million in net assets, compared to $32 million at the beginning of the year.  

In 2021, 455 employees received $105 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $230,000. However, only 222 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 14 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $9,211,428:  Thomas J Donohue, President and CEO/Director
• $5,170,255:  Suzanne P Clark, Sr Exec VP
• $3,248,171:  Agnes Warfield-Blanc, EVP, Development and Fund
• $2,006,847:  Justin Waller, CMO and SVP, Ops
• $1,959,764:  Myron Brilliant, EVP and Head International
• $1,733,362:  David T Hirschmann, President and CEO, CCMC, GIPC,C-Tec
• $1,627,251:  John Wood, SVP, General Counsel, CIO, and Sec’y
• $1,344,944:  Neil Bradley, EVP and Chief Policy Officer
• $1,086,541:  Martin Durbin, President GEI and SVP Policy
• $1,047,971:  Harold Kim, President, ILR
• $1,047,932:  Stan M Harrell, SVP and CFO
• $1,038,426:  Michelle Russo, Chief Communications Officer
• $  748,220:  Thomas Quaadman, EVP, CCMC, Senior Advisor to the SEVP
• $  711,162:  John Howard, SVP, Gov’t Affairs

The 14 most highly compensated employees received $32 million in compensation.  11 of the 14 (79%) most highly compensated employees are male while 3 of the 14 (21%) are female. 10 of the most  highly compensated employees received more than $110 million in compensation over the past 5 years:

Thomas J Donohue:  Total Compensation 2017-2021:  $37 million

• $9,211,428:  2021
• $7,114,289:  2020
• $6,668,106:  2019
• $6,897,144:  2018
• $6,619,841:  2017

Agnes Warfield-Blanc:  Total Compensation 2017-2021:  $18 million

• $3,248,171:  2021
• $3,575,639:  2020
• $3,643,563:  2019
• $3,916,498:  2018
• $3,920,786:  2017

Suzanne Clark:  Total Compensation 2017-2021:  $18 million

• $5,170,255:  2021
• $4,300,251:  2020
• $3,145,755:  2019
• $2,506,098:  2018
• $2,413,622:  2017

Myron Brillant:  Total Compensation 2017-2021:   $11 million 

• $1,959,764:  2021
• $2,254,037:  2020
• $2,436,155:  2019
• $1,950,483:  2018
• $1,994,338:  2017

David Hirschmann:  Total Compensation 2017-2021:  $10 million

• $1,733,362:  2021
• $2,059,413:  2020
• $2,369,160:  2019
• $1,841,992:  2018
• $1,911,644:  2017

Justin Waller:  Total Compensation 2017-2021:  $6 million

• $2,006,847:  2021
• $1,307,741:  2020
• $1,168,108:  2019
• $1,051,756:  2018
• $  219,186:  2017

Neil Bradley:  Total Compensation 2018-2021:  $5 million

• $1,334,944:  2021
• $1,219,730:  2020
• $1,015,265:  2019
• $  904,094:  2018

Stan Harrell:  Total Compensation 2017-2021:  $5 million

• $1,047,932:  2021
• $ 998,714:  2020
• $1,099,944:  2019
• $  835,030:  2018
• $1,008,601:  2017

John Wood:  Total Compensation 2018-2021:  $4 million

• $1,627,251:  2021
• $1,207,459:  2020
• $  871,411:  2019
• $  316,927:  2018

Michelle Russo:  Total Compensation:  2020-2021:  $2 million

• $1.038,426:  2021
• $1,020,122:  2020

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:

• 445 employees received $105 million in compensation.
• 222 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation so 223 received less than $100,000 in compensation.
• 14 employees received $32 million so the remaining 431 employees received $73 million in compensation in 2021, or an average of $170,000.
• Of the 431 employees who received $73 million, 208 received more than $100,000 in compensation while 223 received less than $100,000 in compensation, or a maximum of $22 million, so the 208 employees who received more than $100,000 in compensation received $51 million or an average off $245,000, and yet these employees are not listed on the Form 990 schedule as highly compensated or key employees.

For information on “Transactions with Interested Persons” where 32 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.

It is important to note that in 2020, there were 15 substantial contributors who were compensated for services.  The increase from 15 in 2020 to 32 in 2021 may cause readers to wonder if “pay for play” (where contributors make donations to obtain work from an organization) exists.  63 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation with the five highest reported to be:

• $1,809,271:  Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, of Philadelphia, PA for legal services
• $1,263,434:  McDermott Will and Emery, of Carol Stream, IL for legal policy consulting
• $  993,263:  Greenwood Point International, of Washington, DC for consulting
• $  841,922:  Wiley Rein, of Newark, NJ for legal services
• $  827,894:  Lockton Companies, of Boston, MA for insurance services

In summary, the USCOC is a large business chamber headquartered in Washington, DC that pays its top executives handsomely. The 14 most highly compensated employees received $32 million in compensation, which equates to an average compensation of $2.3 million.  Over the past 5 years, 10 of the most highly compensated employees received more than $110 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 (2021), click here.