Executive Compensation at the Nature Conservancy (2022)

The Nature Conservancy – a 501 (c) (3) based in Arlington, Virginia – whose mission is “to conserve land and waters on which all life depends” has been around since 1951 and is one of the most popular and wealthy non-profits in the country.

There are 23 voting members (directors) of the governing body, 21 of whom are independent, although the Form 990 lists 25 directors (due to timing differences) – 13 (52%) of whom are male and 12 (48%).of whom are female.

The most recent financial information (the 2021 IRS Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2022) reports the organization raised $1.3 billion and spent $1 billion. The difference between revenue raised and revenue spent was $300 million which along with nearly $700 million in net unrealized losses on investments and other changes in assets helped decrease net fund assets from $7.8 billion at the beginning of the year to $7.5 billion at the end of the year. Many people see the Nature Conservancy as an organization that raises nearly a billion dollars a year and therefore has high staff costs and they do (compensation is the organization’s largest expense). 4,052  persons were employed in 2022 with total staff compensation reported to be $441 million which equates to an average compensation package of $109,000 per employee.  843 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation.  The 16 staff listed below received $7 million in compensation in 2022:

• $758,013:  Jennifer Morris, Director, CEO
• $509,361:  Brian McPeek, Former Chief Conservation Officer (thru 7/2019)
• $505,724:  David Banks, Interim Chief Conservation Officer
• $474,700:  William Ulfelder, NY Executive Director
• $473,975:  Michael Sweeney, State Director
• $458,219:  Thomas Neises, VP and Associate Chief Development Officer
• $463,231:  Leonard Williams, CFO
• $444,985:  Bola Olusanya, Chief Investment Officer
• $443,932:  Jan Mittan, Global Market Development Director
• $431,745:  Scott Morrison, CONS Program and Science Director
• $428,668:  Margaret Goldthwaite, Chief Marketing and Communications Director
• $405,359:  David Cleary, Global Agriculture Director
• $399,787:  Jan Glendening, Regional Managing Director, NA
• $388,636:  Matthew Brown, Managing Director
• $275,884:  Hans Birle, Interim General Counsel
• $224,327:  Nathalie Augustin, General Counsel (as of 6/21)

As listed above, 10 of the 16 (62%) of the most highly compensated employees are male while 6 – or 38% – are female.  Of the ten most highly compensated employees, 7 – or 70% – are men – and 3 are women.  The 10 most highly compensated employees in 2022 received $18 million in compensation between 2017-2022 (note:  highly compensated employees in 2017-2021 but not in 2022 are not listed below):

Jennifer Morris:  Total Compensation 2021-2022:  $1.3 million

• 2022:  $758,013
• 2021:  $549,812

Brian McPeek:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $4.2 million

• 2022:  $  509,361
• 2021:  $  503,302
• 2020:  $1,206,765
• 2019:  $  709,885
• 2018:  $  639,683
• 2017:  $  646,172

David Banks:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $2.5 million

• 2022:  $505,724
• 2021:  $470,138
• 2020:  $469,036
• 2019:  $389,439
• 2018:  $322,903
• 2017:  $325,826

William Ulfelder:  Total Compensation 2022:  $0.5 million

• 2022:  $474,700

Michael Sweeney:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $2.5 million

• 2022:  $473,975
• 2021:  $446,198
• 2020:  $437,465
• 2019:  $409,202
• 2018:  $339,415
• 2017:  $361,877

Leonard Williams:  Total Compensation 2019-2022:  $1.6 million

• 2022:  $463,231
• 2021:  $402,889
• 2020:  $401,835
• 2019:  $334,779

Thomas Neises:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $2.5 million

• 2022:  $458,219
• 2021:  $412,973
• 2020:  $407,301
• 2019:  $391,987
• 2018:  $393,683
• 2017:  $408,566

Bola Olusanya:  Total Compensation 2022:  $0.5 million

• 2022:  $444,985

Jan Mittan:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $2 million

• 2022:  $443,932
• 2021:  Not Listed
• 2020:  $404,687
• 2019:  $384,433
• 2018:  $358,308
• 2017:  $344,744

Scott Morrison:  Total Compensation 2022:  $0.4 million

• 2022:  $431,745

The most highly compensated employee was Jennifer Morris, who received $758,013 in 2022.

The IRS Form 990 also reports the organization paid for first class or charter travel and  gross up payments or tax indemnification.  With regards to first class travel, “persons listed on the 990 may receive first class travel in limited circumstances, which include (1) when no economy fare was available, or (2) when there was no price difference.”

A separation payment of $350,000 was made to Brian McPeek (as was also done in 2021)

The Nature Conservancy made a $10 million loan at 0% interest to Shirley Harry Hagey Community Property Trust, a trust related to Mr. Hagey, also a Board member to fund conservation loan in Idaho. The outstanding balance due is $10 million.

331 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation. The 5 most highly compensated were reported to be:

• $10.3 million:  DPR Construction,  of Reston, VA for construction services
• $ 5.8 million:  DM Group, of Prince Frederick, MD for direct mail services
• $ 5.7 million:  Tallwave, of Scottsdale, AZ for fundraising services
• $ 4.7  million:  RR Donnelly and Sons Company, of Warrenville, IL for marketing services
• $ 2.7 million:  Professional Fundraising Services, of Chicago, IL for fundraising services

To read the IRS Form 990 (2021 for the year ending June 30, 2022), click here.