Executive Compensation at St Jude (2024)

When people think of St. Jude’s, they often associate the organization with the children’s research hospital but St Jude’s is actually two organizations:

• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (St Jude): the 73-bed children’s hospital with 7,374 employees that provides research and medical care; and
• American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC): the fundraising arm; an organization with 2,100 employees that exists to raise funds for St. Jude’s

Although most non-profits do not separate fundraising from services, St. Jude’s does, so both organizations need to be analyzed because St. Jude’s relies on ALSAC for the majority of it’s revenue and has a beneficial interest in the organization.

The following information is based on the most recent Form 990’s (2023 for the year ending June 30, 2024) submitted by ALSAC and St. Jude to the IRS.

ALSAC

ALSAC is managed by 36 voting members (directors) of the governing body (board of directors) of whom 34 are independent;  25 of the 36 (69%) are male while 11 of the 36 (31%) are female (note: gender identification is not reported on the Form 990 so the conclusions are based on names and a google search).

ALSAC reported total revenue of $2.9 billion (compared to $2.7 billion in 2023, $2.9 billion in 2022 and $2.4 million in 2021). They spent $850 million (30% of revenue) on fundraising expenses, gave St Jude’s $1.7 billion (58% of revenue) and put the remaining unspent revenue – $338 million (12% of revenue) – in the fund assets (think savings).

Of the $850 million in fundraising expenses, $246 million was spent on compensation for the 2,100 employees who received an average compensation of $117,000.  728 employees received more than $100,000 with 12 of the most highly compensated employees reported to be:

• $2,434,190:  James R Downing, Ex-Officio Director (compensation from St Jude)
• $1,461,787:  Richard C Shadyac, CEO and Ex-Officio Director
• $  851,754:  Anurag Pandit, Chief Investment Officer
• $  755,384:  Emily Callahan, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer
• $  723,352:  Sara Hall, Chief Legal Officer
• $  718,270:  Ikshit Anand, COO
• $  694,608:  Melanee Hannock, Chief Digital and Innovation
• $  686,826:  Steve Froehlich, Chief Revenue Officer
• $  684,638:  Leena Munjal, Chief Strategy Officer
• $  627,643:  Martin Hand, Chief Donor Officer
• $  656,227:  Kera Wright, CFO
• $  163,641:  Emily Greer, Former Officer

6 of the 12 most highly compensated employees are male while 6 of the 12 are female.

The most highly compensated employee was James Downing, who received $2,4 million in 2024.

ALSAC paid for health or social club dues or initiation fees. For more information see Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information on the Form 990.

ALSAC established a non-qualified deferred compensation plan. Payments made during the year were made to:

• James Downing:  $824,596
• Emily S Greer:  $40,564
• Richard Shadyac:  $40,002
• Emily Callahan:  $28,029
• Sara Hall:  $21,204
• Melanee Hannock:  $19,540
• Martin Hand:  $18,650
• Anurag Pandit:  $14,613
• Steve Froehlich:  $13,518
• Kera Getter:  $268

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

• $11 million:  Eaglecom, Inc. of Toronto, Ontario, Canada for media purchasing
• $11 million:  Vaco, of Brentwood, TN for IT contract labor
• $ 8 million:  Infocision Management Corp, of Akron, OH for call center
• $ 7 million:  Nextech Solutions, of Tampa, FL for contract labor
• $ 6 millon:  Link Technology, of Germantown, TN for contract labor

ALSAC conducted 147 fundraising events that generated $40 million. After deducting contributions (an IRS requirement) of $21 million, gross income was $19 million.  ALSAC spent $10 million on food, beverages, prizes, rent facilities, and other costs, leaving $9 million in net income to the organization.

It is important to note that Infocision Management Corp, a phone solicitor who operates a call center, was responsible for raising $4.6 million, but charged ALSAC $6 million for their services.

To read the ALSAC IRS Form 990 (2023 for the year ending June 30, 2024), click here.

ST JUDE

The governing body for St Jude is made up of 36 voting members (directors), 34 of whom are independent.  Of the 36 voting members listed on the Form 990, 25 (69%) are male while 11 (31%) are female (note: the Form 990 does not report gender identification so the numbers are based on names and google searches).

St. Jude reported total revenue of $2 billion, of which $1.7 billion came from ALSAC. Expenses totaled $1.8 billion (including $120 million in depreciation) leaving approximately $200 million put into fund assets (think savings).

Of the $1.8 billion in expenses, $935 million was used to compensate 7,374 employees who received an average compensation of $127,000.  2,098 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation.

13 of the most highly compensated employees were reported to be:

• $2,434,190:  James R Downing, President, CEO*
• $1,461,787:  Richard C Shadyac, Ex-Officio Director (from ALSAC)
• $1,319,563:  Ellis Neufeld, EVP, Clinical Director
• $1,237,373:  Michael Dyer, Chair
• $1,205,829:  Charles M Roberts, EVP, Director, Cancer Center
• $1,193,453:  Joseph Taylor, EVP, Scientific Director
• $1,146,340:  Patricia A Keel, SVP, CFO
• $1,145,615:  Thomas E Merchant, Chair
• $1,082,690:  Andrew Davidoff, Chair
• $1,001,281:  Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, EVP/Chair
• $  947,799:  David Ellison, Chair
• $  925,644:  Amara Gajjar, Chair
• $  599,167:  James I Morgan, Former EVP, Scientific Director

“*” compensation was from ALSAC

11 of the 13 (85%) most highly compensated employees are male while 2 (15%) are female.

Employees listed above who are also listed as highly compensated employees on the ALSAC list did not receive the same compensation from both affiliate organizations; they are listed on both lists because the organizations are related in that St Jude has a beneficial interest in ALSAC.

St Jude’s made gross up payments and tax indemnifications. See Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information for more detail.

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

• $126 million:  Flintco, LLC, of Memphis, TN for construction contractor
• $ 18 million:  Impact Advisors, of Naperville, TN for consulting services
• $ 18 million:  Accenture, of Chicago, IL for consulting services
• $  6 million:  Dell Marketing, of Atlanta, GA for software support
• $  8 million:  Belz Construction Services, of Memphis, TN for construction contracting

To read the IRS Form 990 for St Jude (for the year ending June 30, 2024), click here

To read the IRS Form 990 for ALSAC (for the year ending June 30, 2024), click here.