Executive Compensation at the Conservative Partnership Institute (2023)

The Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) is a tax-exempt, no-profit organization based in Washington, DC that provides assistance in the form of staffing, education, training, incubation, and coalition building for congressional offices and conservative groups.

Formed in 2017, CPI has 7 voting members on its governing board, 4 of whom are independent. With 30 employees, CPI is a right wing lobbying group that emerged from being virtually unheard of in 2017 to a major “host” of events for Republican members of Congress by 2021 (From 2017-2020, CPI was a very small non-profit that raised $2-$6 million annually. In 2021-2022, revenue jumped to $46 million and $36 million, respectively primarily because of an increase in contributions. But expenses did not increase in accordance with revenue as CPI also appears to be focused on saving – at year-end 2022, CPI had $43 million in net assets meaning they did not spend all the revenue they received).

In 2023, revenue dropped by 47% and was reported to be $19 million, which primarily came from contributions, gifts, and grants.

Expenses were $21 million in 2023 with the largest expense reported to be compensation.  30 employees received $5 million in compensation, which equates to an average of $167,000.  13 of the 30 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 8 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $625,461:  James W DeMint, Chairman
• $587,581:  Mark Meadows, Senior Partner
• $440,238:  Edward Corrigan, President and CEO
• $439,058:  Wesley Denton, COO
• $390,371:  Doug Stamps, Counselor to the Chairman
• $240,357:  Richard McAdams, Director of Development
• $224,059:  Hugh Fike, SR Director, CP Academy
• $221,783:  Jeffrey Timbath, Sr Advisr and Director, Legacy Society

The 10 most highly compensated employees received $4 million in compensation while the remaining 21 employees received $2.5 million, or an average of $119,000.  Five of the 21 employees received more than $100,000 while the remaining 16 employees received less than $100,000 in compensation.

8 of the 8 most highly compensated employees are male.

Five of the most highly compensated employees in 2023 received $11 million from 2019-2023:

James DeMint:  Total Compensation 2019-2023:  $3 million

• 2023:  $625,461
• 2022:  $668,552
• 2021:  $545,400
• 2020:  $541,059
• 2019:  $515,000

Mark Meadows:  Total Compensation 2021-2023:  $2 million

• 2023:  $587,581
• 2022:  $889,687
• 2021:  $559,396

Edward Corrigan:  Total Compensation 2019-2023:  $2 million

• 2023:  $440,238
• 2022:  $395,672
• 2021:  $382,429
• 2020:  $390,154
• 2019:  $360,358

Wesley Denton:  Total Compensation 2019-2023:  $2 million

• 2023:  $439,058
• 2022:  $391,735
• 2021:  $380,315
• 2020:  $345,901
• 2019:  $179,002

Doug Stamps:  Total Compensation 2021-2023:  $2 million

• 2023:  $390,371
• 2022:  $376,312
• 2021:  $301,530
• 2020:  $303,494
• 2019:  $297,000

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

• $1,165,281:  Envision Marketing, of Lynchburg, VA for marketing services
• $  928,460:  Conservative Partnership Campus, of Washington, DC for event, studio, facilities
• $  846,525:  Zuckerman Spaeder, of Washington, DC for legal services
• $  813,590:  Compass Professional Inc, of Washington, DC for administrative services
• $  706,069:  Compass Legal Services, of Washington, DC for legal services

It is important to note 3 of the most highly compensated contractors (Conservative Partnership Campus, Compass Professional, and Compass Legal) have offices at the same address as CPI.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022 for the year ending December 31, 2023), click here.