Executive Compensation at the Anti Defamation League (2022)

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 established in 1913 in the District of Columbia to defend “democratic ideals and eliminate anti-Semitism and bigotry in the United States and around the world, while providing knowledgeable leadership on a national level for the American Jewish community.”

Based in New York City, the ADL has staff in 30 offices nationwide. It is important to point out the ADL really consists of two entities:  the ADL and the Anti-Defamation League Foundation (Foundation) – both of whom operate out of the same office in New York City.  The Foundation helps support the mission of the ADL by providing funds and by managing the endowment and assets held by the Foundation.

Key information about ADL and the Foundation are summarized as follows:

ADL

There are 19 members (Directors) of the governing body (Board of Directors), 12 (63%) are male while 7 (37%) are female.

In 2022, ADL reported total revenue of $105 million, of which $16 million came from the foundation. The remaining revenue primarily came from contributions, gifts, and grants.

Expenses for ADL totaled $100 million (including $2 million in depreciation).

Net assets were $31 million (compared to $30 million at the beginning of the year) because the organization spent less than they raised, even after a $6 million adjustment to net assets (primarily due to a provision for uncollectible contributions receivable and a net periodic benefit cost).

FOUNDATION

There are 42 trustees listed on the Form 990 for the Foundation; 33 (79%) are male while 9 (21%) are female.

The Foundation reported total revenue of $23 million, of which $16 million was granted to ADL (note: the foundation has consistently granted $10-$16 million annually to the ADL). Most revenue came from contributions, gifts, and grants.

Expenses totaled $20 million with $4 million spent primarily on compensation for the employees and investment management fees.

The Foundation started the year with $146 million in net assets but ended the year with $130 million because of net unrealized losses on investments that were partially offset by unspent revenue.

COMPENSATION 

Compensation is the largest expense for the ADL who shares their employees with the Foundation.

The ADL has 553 employees  who were compensated $57 million in 2022 (an average compensation of $103,000), according to the Form 990 submitted to the IRS. However, it is important to note the Foundation had $2 million in compensation expenses (but reported having “0” employees) so total compensation appears to be $59 million for the 553 employees, which makes the average compensation $107,000.

157 employees received more than $100,000 in total compensation with the 15 most highly compensated employees listed below:

• $1,207,978:  Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director
• $  518,700:  Frederic Bloch, SVP Growth
• $  289,725:  Kenneth Jacobson, Deputy National Director
• $  301,179:  Eileen Hershenov, SVP, Policy
• $  325,211:  Steven Sheinberg, SVP and General Counsel
• $  300,134:  Thomas Ruderman, SVP, Talent and Knowledge
• $  290,578:  Robert Trestan, VP, Western Division
• $ 311,443:  Gregory Libertiny, SVP, Finance and Admin
• $  302,780:  Adam Neufeld, Chief Impact officer
• $  284,590:  Gabrielle Savage, SVP. Operations
• $  266,354:  George Selim, SVP, Programs
• $  186,940:  Clifford Schechter, Sr Advisor to the CEO
• $   81,275:  Abraham Foxman, National Director Emeritus*

“*” Mr. Foxman was the national director of the ADL from 1987 to 2015 and is a former employee. Mr Foxman received more than $1 million from 2016-2022:

• 2022:  $81,275 (“0” hours per week)
• 2021:  $81,275 (“0” hours per week)
• 2020:  $81,275 (“0” hours per week)
• 2019:  $95,375 (“0” hours per week)
• 2018:  $254,475 (“6” hours per week or about $5,000 per week)
• 2017:  $250,475 (“6” hours per week or about $5,000 per week)
• 2016:  $209,411 (“6” hours per week or about $4,000 per week)

“**” indicates a portion of compensation was severance payments

As listed above, he 13 most highly compensated employees received nearly $5 million in compensation.

The most highly compensated employee was Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO and National Director who received $1,207,978.

From 2017-2022, the 10 most highly compensated employees received $17 million in compensation from 2017-2022 (note:   highly compensated employees in 2017-2021 but not in 2022 are not included):

Jonathan Greenblatt:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $6 million

• 2022:  $1,207,798
• 2021:  $1,251,732
• 2020:  $ 948,380
• 2019:  $  888,860
• 2018:  $  815,228
• 2017:  $  999,300

Frederic Bloch:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $3 million

• 2022:  $518,700
• 2021:  $507,777
• 2020:  $487,789
• 2019:  $457,985
• 2018:  $456,712
• 2017:  $404,394

Steven Sheinberg:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $2 million

• 2022:  $325,211
• 2021:  $302,537
• 2020:  $308,641
• 2019:  $286,795
• 2018:  $287,160
• 2017:  $282,370

Gregory Libertiny:  Total Compensation 2021-2022: $0.5 milion

• 2022:  $311,443
• 2021:  $225,098

Adam Neufeld:  Total Compensation 2022:  $0.3 million

• 2022:  $302,780

Eileen Hershenov:  Total Compensation 2020-2022:  $1 million

• 2022:  $301,179
• 2021:  $303,386
• 2020:  $298,834

Thomas Ruderman:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $2 million

• 2022:  $300,134
• 2021:  $296,523
• 2020:  $303,465
• 2019:  $263,255
• 2018:  $262,694
• 2017:  $240,088

Robert Trestan:  Total Compensation 2018-2022:  $1 million

• 2022:  $290,578
• 2021:  $280,675
• 2020:  $305,990
• 2019:  $253,098
• 2018:  None Listed

Kenneth Jacobson:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $1 million

• 2022:  $289,725
• 2021:  $311,463
• 2020:  None Listed
• 2019:  $261,080
• 2018:  None Listed
• 2017:  $257,199

Gabrielle Savage:  Total Compensation 2022:  $0.3 million

• 2022:  $284,590

11 of the 13 (85%) most highly compensated employees are male while 2 of the 13 (15%) are female (note: determinations were made based on name and google searches).

ADL paid for first class or charter travel and travel for companions with no details provided.

ADL paid for health or social club dues or initiation fees. Specifically, the ADL provided reimbursement to Mr. Greenblatt for gym membership fees.

In is important to note ADL received a $7.4 million loan for the paycheck protection program to pay for “payroll, rent and utilities (even though ADL raised $91 million in 2020 and spent $70 million, leaving $21 million to be added to the general fund).  In May, 2021, ADL applied for forgiveness of the loan and was grated forgiveness in July, 2021.  Why did the ADL, who spent $21 million less than they raised AND had $16 million in net assets, receive a $7.4 million from the government via a loan they didn’t need and then have it forgiven?

17 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation in 2020. The five (5) most highly compensated were reported to be:

• $1.7 million:  First International Resources, of Fort Lee, NJ for PR
• $1.5 million:  CDR Fundraising Group, of Lanham, MD for fundraising services
• $0.7 million:  Situation Interactive, of NY, NY for media
• $0.6 million:  Wondersauce, of NY, NY for website development
• $0.5 million:  Community Counseling, of Philadelphia, PA for fundraising

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022), click here.