Executive Compensation at the Smithsonian (2023)

The Smithsonian is one of the most well-known museums in the world but you may not know that the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex with 21 museums (9 of which are on the National Mall in Washington, DC, an additional 10 in the DC metropolitan area and 2 in New York City, plus the National Zoo, also in DC and the Smithsonian Gardens, also in DC), and 14 education and research centers. Collectively, these sites are the Smithsonian Institution, a 501 (c) (3), based in Washington, DC.

In 2023, total revenue was $1.9 billion, most of which came from government grants ($1.3 billion) and other contributions, gifts, and grants ($300 million). Total expenses were $1.6 billion  (including $200 million in depreciation) with the largest expense reported to be compensation.

7,170 individuals were compensated $798 million, which equates to an average compensation of $111,000. However, only 1,828 (or 25% of the total employees) received more than $100,000 in compensation including the following 29 most highly compensated individuals:

• $1,157,312:  Amy Chen, Chief Investment Office
• $  929,770:  Lonnie G Bunch, III, Secretary
• $  758,006:  Jeffrey Smith, Investment Officer
• $  685,361:  Ryan Dotson, Investment Officer
• $  673,485:  Michael Giovenco, Investment Officer
• $  627,057:  Meroe Park, Deputy Secretary and COO
• $  515,759:  Melissa Chiu, Director, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Gardens
• $  510,076:  Robert Spiller, Asst Secretary for Advancement
• $  509,784:  Joshua Teaksbury, Director, STRI
• $  492,831:  Kevin Gover, Under Secretary for History and Culture
• $  489,317:  Ellen Stofan, Under Secretary for Science and Research
• $  487,400:  Ronald Cortez, Under Secretary for Fin/Admin and CFO
• $  433,462:  Richard Kurin, Former Employee (thru 9/30/2019)
• $  432,374:  Carol Leblanc, President, Smithsonian Enterprises
• $  337,736:  Julissa Marenco, Ass Secretary for Comm/External Affairs and CMO
• $  337,323:  Judith Leonard, General Counsel
• $  301,729:  Roger Brissenden, Former Employee (thru 3/13/2021)
• $  287,468:  Janice Lambert, CFO
• $  286,730:  Zully Dorr, Former Employee (thru 9/30/2019)
• $  286,322:  Porter Wilkinson, Chief of Staff to the Regents
• $  279,673:  Deron Burba, Former Chief Information Officer
• $  262,847:  Era Marshall, Former Employee (thru 9/30/2018)
• $  258,112:  Cathy Helm, Inspector General
• $  254,448:  John Lapiana, Former Employee (thru 9/30/2018)
• $  245,012:  Nancy Bechtol, Director, Smithsonian Facilities
• $  233,856:  Farleigh Earhart, General Counsel (Acting)
• $  231,901:  Douglas Hall, Former Employee
• $  231,834:  Joan Mockeridge, Inspector General (Acting)
• $  198,273:  Charles Alcock, Former Employee (thru 12/31/2020)

The 29 most highly compensated employees received $13 million in compensation (or an average of $450,000).  17 of the 29 (59%) are male while 12 of the 29 (41%) are female.  It is also important to note 8 of the 29 most highly compensated employees are former employees going back as far as 2018.

The most highly compensated employee was Amy Chen, the Chief Investment Officer who received $1,157,312 in 2023.

The 10 most highly compensated employees in 2023 received $22 million from 2019-2023: (note:  highly compensated employees in any of the years 2019-2022 but not in 2023 are not included):

Amy Chen:  Total Compensation 2019-2023:  $4 million

• 2023:  $1,157,312
• 2022:  $  825,050
• 2021:  $  714,391
• 2020:  $  704,102
• 2019:  $  678,810

Lonnie Bunch:  Total Compensation 2018-2023:  $4 million

• 2023:  $929,770
• 2022:  $810,440
• 2021:  $790.467
• 2020:  $920,976
• 2019:  $416,795

Jeffrey Smith:  Total Compensation 2018-2023:  $3 million

• 2023:  $758,006
• 2022:  $505,377
• 2021:  $675,701
• 2020:  $541,731
• 2019:  $526,711

Ryan Dotson:  Total Compensation 2021-2023:  $1 million

• 2023:  $685,361
• 2022:  Not Listed
• 2021:  $527,155

Michael Giovenco:  Total Compensation 2020-2023:  $1.5 million

• 2023:  $673,485
• 2022:  Not Listed
• 2021:  $563,046
• 2020:  $439,102

Meroe Park:  Total Compensation 2021-2023:  $1.5 million

• 2023:  $627,057
• 2022:  $573,996
• 2021:  $490,337

Melissa Chiu:  Total Compensation 2019-2023:  $2.5 million

• 2023:  $515,759
• 2022:  $485,309
• 2021:  $481,039
• 2020:  $492,306
• 2019:  $517,046

Robert Spiller:  Total Compensation 2019-2023:  $2.5 million

• 2023:  $510,076
• 2022:  $478,044
• 2021:  $469,389
• 2020:  $477,936
• 2019:  $452,564

Joshua Teaksbury:  Total Compensation 2023:  $0.5 million

• 2023:  $509,784

Kevin Gover:  Total Compensation 2021-2023:  $1.5 million

• 2023:  $492,831
• 2022:  $458,681
• 2021:  $367,711

The Smithsonian paid for first class or charter travel. See the Form 990, Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information for details.

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

• $99 million:  Clarks Moot Consigli A Joint Venture, of Bethesda, MD for construction
• $21 million:  Universal Protection Services, of Santa Ana, CA for security
• $ 8 million:  TC Pennsy Drive LLC, of New York, NY for real estate*
• $ 6 million:  Dell Marketing, of Round Rock, TX for marketing
• $ 5 million:  100 Discovery Park De LLC, of Boston, MA for real estate*

“*” The purpose was listed as “real estate” (real estate is not expensed) although the meaning may be “real estate services.”

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