Executive Compensation at Samaritan’s Purse (2023)

Samaritan’s Purse is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) (3) established in 1970 by Bob Pierce who died in 1978. W. Franklin Graham (son of Billy Graham) became Chairman, President, and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse in 1979 and has held the position since although he is also an evangelist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational Christian organization that provides “spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.”  How do they do this?  Primarily through grants (i.e. transporting shoebox gifts:  a box filled with toys, supplies, and hygiene items) which for the past few years averages 28% of revenue because Samaritan’s Purse focused on strengthening their balance sheet by increasing savings and to do this they spent significantly less than they collected:  Samaritan’s Purse has spent about 70-75% of revenue over the past few years which allowed them to put $200-$330 million annually into savings or $1 billion from 2020-2023 so that by year-end 2023, Samaritan’s Purse had $1.7 billion in net assets.  

In 2023, Samaritan’s Purse reported total revenue of $1.2  billion (compared to $1.3 billion in 2022, $1 billion in 2021, $894 million in 2020, $734 million in 2019 and $700 million in 2018) most of which came from cash contributions ($767 million), non-cash contributions ($328 million) and government grants ($54 million). Non-cash contributions were primarily shoe box items.

Expenses totaled $1 billion (including $29 million in depreciation) –  with the two largest expenses reported to be grants ($382 million) and compensation ($232 million).

5,144 employees received $232 million in  compensation, which equates to an average compensation of $45,000.  310 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 14 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $882,156:  William Franklin Graham III, Board Member, Chairman, Pres, CEO
• $422,134:  Christopher Weeks, Chairman, Affiliate Office
• $379,693:  Brian Gresham, Director, OCCA Affiliate Office
• $372,203:  Ronald Wilcox, Executive Advisor CEO/COO*
• $407,021:  Kenneth Isaacs, VP, Programs/Gov’t Relations
• $403,857:  James Harrelson, VP, Op/Christmas Child
• $383,092:  William Maupin, VP, Info Technology
• $418,792:  Meredith Collie, Director, Financial Affiliate Officer
• $372,831:  Paula Woodring, Board Member, VP, Quality Assurance
• $372,501:  Merrill Littlejohn, VP, Finance/CFO
• $342,316:  Luther Harrison,VP, North American
• $316,001:  Edward Graham, Board Member, COO*
• $311,836:  Phyllis Payne, Board Member, Asst Secy, EA Pres
• $282,479:  Donna Pierce, Secretary,VP, Corporate Affairs
• $188,917:  Jane Austin Lynch, Board Member, Spokesperson

“*”. Ronald Wilcox has been COO for years.  In 2023, it appears that Edward Graham, son of William Graham was moved into the COO position which resulted in Mr Wilcox no longer being the COO but instead the “Executive Advisor CEO/COO.”

The 15 most highly compensated employees received $6 million in compensation in 2023.  10 of the 15 (67%) most highly compensated employees are male while 5 of the 15 (33%) are female. The 7 most highly compensated employees are male.

The most highly compensated employee is William Franklin Graham who received $882,156 in compensation. The 10 most highly compensated employees received $32 million from 2015-2023 (note:  highly compensated employees in any of the years 2015-2022 but not in 2023 are not listed below):

William Franklin Graham:  Total Compensation 2015-2023:  $7 million

• 2023:  $882,156
• 2022:  $832,738
• 2021:  $807,479
• 2020:  $740,704
• 2019: $722,403
• 2018:  $696,193
• 2017:  $670,348
• 2016:  $713,846
• 2015:  $822,333

Christopher Weeks:  Total Compensation 2015-2023:  $3 million

• 2023:  $422,134
• 2022:  $409,729
• 2021:  $383,400
• 2020:  $342,418
• 2019:  $301,914
• 2018:  $264,599
• 2017:  Not Listed
• 2016:  $249,370
• 2015:  $237,203

Christopher Weeks:  Total Compensation 2019-2023:  $2 million

• 2023:  $422,134
• 2022:  $409,729
• 2021:  $383,400
• 2020:  $342,418
• 2019:  $301,914

Brian Gresham:  Total Compensation 2020-2023:  $1.4 million

• 2023:   $379,693
• 2022:  $363,929
• 2021:  $361,045
• 2020:  $311,020

Ronald Wilcox:  Total Compensation 2015-2023:  $3 million

• 2023:  $372,203
• 2022:  $369,328
• 2021:  $359,532
• 2020:  $352,677
• 2019:  $343,868
• 2018:  $332,172
• 2017:  $321,102
• 2016:  $308,886
• 2015:  $300,176

Kenneth Isaacs:  Total Compensation 2015-2023:  $3 million

• 2023:  $407,021
• 2022:  $389,240
• 2021:  $353,114
• 2020:  $347,351
• 2019:  $328,068
• 2018:  $309,488
• 2017:  $313,090
• 2016:  $308,853
• 2015:  $290,691

James Harrelson:  Total Compensation 2015-2023:  $3 million

• 2023:  $403,857
• 2022:  $385,553
• 2021:  $349,980
• 2020:  $344,673
• 2019:  $337,310
• 2018:  $324,808
• 2017:  $313,772
• 2016:  $308,761
• 2015:  $292,288

William Maulpin:  Total Compensation 2015-2023:  $3 million

• 2023:  $383,092
• 2022:  $365,245
• 2021:  $330,192
• 2020:  $324,309
• 2019:  $313,815
• 2018:  $302,500
• 2017:  $292,714
• 2016:  $281,503
• 2015:  $270,984

Meredith Collie:  Total Compensation 2021-2023:  $1 million

• 2023:  $418,792
• 2022:  $354,189
• 2021:  $329,125

Paula Woodring:  Total Compensation 2017-2023: $2.3 million

• 2023:  $372,831
• 2022:  $352,334
• 2021:  $323,201
• 2020:  $326,670
• 2019:  $317,952
• 2018:  $282,677
• 2017:  $284,253

Merrill Littlejohn:  Total Compensation 2015-2023:  $3 million

• 2023:  $372,501
• 2022:  $358,338
• 2021:  $320,256
• 2020:  $314,849
• 2019:  $309,059
• 2018:  $301,221
• 2017:  $290,355
• 2016:  $279,739
• 2015:  $271,425

Samaritan’s Purse paid for first class or charter travel, travel for companions, and personal services (such as maid, chauffeur, or chef). In addition, Samaritan’s Purse made gross up payments or provided tax indemnification. For more information on these expenses, see the Form 990, Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information.

• Marty Cottrell, the son-in-law of a director, received $91,228 as compensation for employment.
• Jeremy Zerkle, the son-in-law of a director, received $93,400 as compensation for employment.
• John Payne, the spouse of a director, received $61,570 as compensation for employment.
• Jane Graham, the spouse of a director, received $52,940 as compensation for employment.
• Jessica Zerkle, the daughter of a key employee, received $37,310 as compensation for employment.
• Austin Woodring, the son of a director, received $104,386 as compensation for employment.
• Andrew Harrelson, the son of a key employee, received $73,036 as compensation for employment.
• Kristen Graham, the daughter in law of a director, received $25,250 as compensation for employment.
• Joshua Scott, the son of a director, received $54,490 as compensation for employment.’
• Corey Lynch, the spouse of a director, received $194,109 as compensation for employment

For a complete list of transactions with interested persons, see the Form 990, Schedule L, Part IV, Business Transactions involving Interested Persons.

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

• $862,482:  NC Baptist Hospital, Winston Salem, NC for medical services
• $790,355:  Universal Protection Services, of Conshohocken, PA for security
• $512,568:  Wilcox Travel Agency, of Hendersonville, NC for travel *
• $458,449:  McGuire Woods, of Richmond, VA for legal
• $453,396:  James R Vannoy, of Jefferson, NC for general contracting

“*” It is unclear why Samaritan’s Purse needs a travel agency when they have 24 aircraft (2 are helicopters) although it appears so that first class tickets and regular coach tickets can be booked for staff and companions.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2023), click here.