Executive Compensation at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2022)

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) 6 – a trade association – for food and nutrition specialists.  Claiming to be “your source for science-based food and nutrition information, AND has been in the news recently for “making millions from junk food makers” by investing in food stocks (i.e. Pepsi), and from accepting donations from junk food, sugar and soda makers (i.e. Coca-Cola, Kellogg, Hershey, Nestle, and Conagra). Professional nutrition specialists partnering with processed food companies does not fare well on the national stage with the public who looks to the organization for unbiased and science-based advice.

There are 17 independent voting members (directors) of the governing body, 12 (71%) of whom are female while 5 (29%) are male (note:  The Form 990 does not report gender; determinations were made based on name and google searches).

AND reported total revenue of $38 million in 2022 (compared to $38 million in 2021), most of which came from  5 sources:  memberships dues ($10 million), registration an examination fees ($10 million), programs and meetings ($3 million), publications and subscriptions ($5 million), and education ($3 million).  Annual dues are range from $58 (student) to $234 (active) annually with a reported 63,000 members although AND purports to represent 112,000 professionals in the field.

Expenses totaled $33 million (including $1.4 million in depreciation) with the largest expense reported to be compensation ($17 million).  175 employees received $17 million in compensation for an average compensation of $97,000.  34 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the most highly compensated reported to be:

• $617,845:  Patricia Babjak, CEO
• $346,455:  Mary Beth Whalen, COO*
• $307,611:  Paul A Mifsud, CFO
• $287,199:  Barbara Visocan, VP Member Services
• $247,949:  Jeanne Blankenship, VP, Policy, Initiatives, and Advocacy
• $219,864:  Diane Enos, Chief Learning Officer
• $211,205:  Alison Steiber, Chief Science Officer
• $190,617:  Rayane Zelakiewicz, Executive Director ACEND
• $187,789:  Doris Acosta, Chief Communications Officer
• $165,689:  Sharon McCauley, Executive Director, CDR
• $159,571:  Pepin Tuma, Senior Director, Gov’t and Regulatory

“*” compensation paid in part by an affiliate organization (the foundation or PAC)

9 of the 11 (82%) most highly compensated employees are female while 2 of the 11 (18%)are male. The most highly compensated employee was Patrica Babjak, the CEO who received $617,845 in 2022.  The five most highly compensated employees in 2022 received $11 million in compensation from 2017-2022 (note:  highly compensated employees in 2017-2021 but not in 2022 are not included in the list below):

Patricia Babjak:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $3.5 million

• 2022:  $617,845
• 2021:  $516,175
• 2020: $576,004
• 2019:  $571,692
• 2018:  $579,357
• 2017:  $547,561

Mary Beth Whalen:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $2 million

• 2022:  $346,455
• 2021:  $351,454
• 2020:  $341,941
• 2019:  $344,382
• 2018:  $318,445
• 2017:  $306,879

Paul A Mifsud:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $2 million

• 2022:  $307,611
• 2021:  $317,017
• 2020:  $299,098
• 2019:  $291,825
• 2018:  $296,800
• 2017:  $278,679

Barbara Visocan:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $2 million

• 2022:  $287,199
• 2021:  $285,955
• 2020:  $283,837
• 2019:  $275,298
• 2018:  $268,552
• 2017:  $259,799

Jeanne Blankenship:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $1.5 million

• 2022:  $247,949
• 2021:  $245,218
• 2020:  $248,697
• 2019:  $238,715
• 2018:  $229,943
• 2017:  $227,354

2 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation:

• $265,311:  An Apple a Day, of Seattle, WA for consulting fees
• $246,700:  Barnes and Thornburg, of South Bend, Indiana for legal fees

At year-end, AND reported having $36 million in net assets.

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