Executive Compensation at the Alzheimer’s Association (2023)

The Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association is commonly referred to as the Alzheimer’s Association. A tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) 3 whose goal is to eliminate Alzheimers Disease through research but also offer support, information/public awareness, and education on the disease, the Alzheimer’s Association raised $412 million in 2023 (compared to $502 million in 2022, $405 million in 2021, $403 million in 2020 and $390 million in 2019), primarily from contributions, gifts, and grants ($408 million including $28 million from the government).

Expenses totaled $460 million (including $4 million in depreciation) which is $48 million more than the organization raised.  Net assets decreased by $27 million from $320 million in 2022 to $292 million in 2023, primarily because the organization reported nearly $20 million in unrealized gains on investments.

The largest expense for the Alzheimer’s Association is compensation for the 2,360 employees  (about 80 more employees than in 202) who received $220 million, which equates to an average compensation of $93,000.  406 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 10 most highly compensated employees reported to be:

• $1,481,516:  Harry Johns, President and CEO (thru 11/2021)*
• $  957,722:  Katherine “Joanne” Pike, President and CEO (as of 11/2021)*
• $  839,670:  Donna McCullough, Chief Missions and Field Operations Officer
• $  782,609:  Richard Hovland, COO, CFO and Assistant Treasurer
• $  810,961:  Maria Carrillo, Chief Science Officer
• $  725,455:  Robert Egge, Chief Public Policy Officer
• $  713,917:  Kenann Cassidy, East Area Leader
• $  502,954:  Carl Hill, Chief DE&I Officer
• $  427,842:  Michelle Helton, Former CFO (thru 5/2021), currently VP, Financial Operations
• $  386,320:  Anthony D’Amato, Asst Sec’y, VP, Legal and General Counsel

*Thru and as of dates represent information reported on the previous Form 990 which is inconsistent with the current Form 990 that reports Mr Johns was CEO until 12/2022 and Ms. Pike was CEO as of 1/2023.

As illustrated above, the 10 most highly compensated employees received $8 million in compensation. 5 of the 10 most highly compensated employees are female while 5 are male. It is also important to point out there are 30 independent directors on the Board of Directors although 35 are listed on the Form 990 (due to timing differences). 20 of the 35 (57%) are male while 15 of the 35 (43%) are female.

Harry Johns, the President and CEO was the most highly compensated employee in 2023 (he departed in November, 2021 or December, 2022) with nearly $1.5 million in compensation.

The 7 most highly compensated employees received $34 million in compensation from 2017-2023 (note:  highly compensated employees from 2017-2022 but not in 2023 are no included in the list below):

Harry Johns:  Total Compensation 2017-2023:  $9.5 million

• 2023:  $1,481,516
• 2022:  $1,468,534
• 2021:  $1,020,006
• 2020:  $1,358,498
• 2019:  $1,014,248
• 2018:  $1,990,805
• 2017:  $1,118,540

Katherine “Joanne” Pike:  Total Compensation 2020-2023:  $3 million

• 2023:  $957,722
• 2022:  $862,589
• 2021:  $715,169
• 2020:  $469,935

Donna McCullough:  Total Compensation 2017-2023:  $4.5 million

• 2023:  $839,670
• 2022:  $775,175
• 2021:  $759,728
• 2020:  $535,852
• 2019:  $502,421
• 2018:  $478,483
• 2017:  $432,843

Maria Carrillo:  Total Compensation 2017-2023:  $4.5 million

• 2023:  $810,961
• 2022:  $710,401
• 2021:  $638,725
• 2020:  $565,811
• 2019:  $631,176
• 2018:  $519,766
• 2017:  $479,869

Richard Hovland:  Total Compensation 2017-2023:  $5 million

• 2023:  $782,609
• 2022:  $745,891
• 2021:  $693,396
• 2020:  $682,327
• 2019:  $650.856
• 2018:  $727,296
• 2017:  $615,311

Robert Egge:  Total Compensation 2017-2023:  $4.5 million

• 2023:  $725,455
• 2022:  $673,018
• 2021:  $623,666
• 2020:  $584,460
• 2019:  $649,617
• 2018:  $536,810
• 2017:  $502,123

Kenann Cassidy:  Total Compensation 2019-2023:  $3 million

• 2023:  $713,917
• 2022:  $582,907
• 2021:  $542,303
• 2020:  $514,183
• 2019:  $432,994

The Alzheimer’s Association paid for companion travel and personal services (such as maid, chauffeur, chef). See the Form 990, Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information for more details and for information on retirement plan contributions.

135 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation with the five most highly compensated reported to be:

• $18 million:  Navistar Direct Marketing, of Frederick, MD for direct marketing
• $11 million:  Haworth Marketing and Media, LLC, of Minneapolis, MN for advertising
• $ 9 million:  Never Without, LLC of Atlanta, GA for advertising
• $ 4 million:  Softchoice Corp, of  Chicago, IL for equipment/software
• $ 3 million:  Personify, of Austin, TX for CRM/Technology

As illustrated above, the largest independent contractors were used for direct marketing and advertising:  more than $38 million was paid to 3 independent vendors for these services.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022 for the year ending June 30, 2023), click here.