Executive Compensation at Samaritan’s Purse (2024)

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 50-75% of revenue over the past few years which allowed them to put $200-$750 million annually into savings or nearly $2 billion from 2020-2024 so that by year-end 2023, Samaritan’s Purse had $2.5 billion in net assets.  

In 2024, Samaritan’s Purse reported total revenue of $1.8  billion (compared to $1.2 billion in 2023, $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 ($1.4 billion), non-cash contributions ($360 million) and government grants ($76 million). Non-cash contributions were primarily shoe box items.

Expenses totaled $1.1 billion (including $37 million in depreciation) –  with the two largest expenses reported to be grants ($402 million) and compensation ($261 million).

5,380 employees (about 240 more than 2023) received $261 million in  compensation, which equates to an average compensation of $49,000.  373 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with 18 of the most highly compensated reported to be:

• $945,493:  William Franklin Graham III, Board Member, Chairman, Pres, CEO
• $451,273:  Meredith Collie, CFO, Affiliate Office
• $423,355:  Kenneth Isaacs, VP, Programs/Gov’t Relations
• $418,652:  James Harrelson, VP, Op/Christmas Child
• $396,699:  William Maupin, VP, Info Technology
• $393,847:  Edward Graham, Board Member, COO*
• $391,544:  Paula Woodring, Board Member, EVP
• $374,637:  Ronald Wilcox, Former Executive Advisor CEO/COO*
• $374,528:  Merrill Littlejohn, Former VP, Finance/CFO
• $358,412:  Luther Harrison,VP, North American
• $347,931:  Cindy Rutz, VP, HR
• $346,359: Steve Nickel, VP, Donor Ministries
• $345,852:  James Dailey, VP, Communications
• $341,564:  Brandon Sutherland, CFO
• $325,219:  Phyllis Payne, Board Member, Asst Secy, EA Pres
• $318,068:  Christopher Weeks, Former Chairman, Affiliate Office
• $292,264:  Donna Pierce, Secretary,VP, Corporate Affairs
• $196,567:  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.”  Mr Wilcox left the organization in 2024.  Also notable in 2024 is the staff turnover in upper management.  There is generally not a lot of turnover in upper management at Samaritan’s Pruse but 3 employees:  the former COO, the former CFO, and the former Chairman of an affiliate office all left the organization in 2024.

The 18 most highly compensated employees received $7 million in compensation in 2024.  12 of the 18 (67%) most highly compensated employees are male while 6 of the 18 (33%) are female.

The most highly compensated employee is William Franklin Graham who received $945,493 in compensation. Less than 1% of Americans make more than $950,000 annually.  From 2015-2024 Mr, Graham received $8 million in compensation:

William Franklin Graham:  Total Compensation 2015-2024:  $8 million

• 2024:  $945,493
• 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

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 $90,072 as compensation for employment.
• Jeremy Zerkle, the son-in-law of a director, received $105,668 as compensation for employment.
• John Payne, the spouse of a director, received $59,144 as compensation for employment.
• Jane Graham, the spouse of a director, received $54,922 as compensation for employment.
• Jessica Zerkle, the daughter of a key employee, received $26,158 as compensation for employment.
• Austin Woodring, the son of a director, received $111,310 as compensation for employment.
• Andrew Harrelson, the son of a key employee, received $43,143 as compensation for employment.
• Kristen Graham, the daughter in law of a director, received $29,868 as compensation for employment.
• Joshua Scott, the son of a director, received $64,728 as compensation for employment.’
• Corey Lynch, the spouse of a director, received $209,440 as compensation for employment
• Michelle Harrison, the spouse of a key employee, received $93,105 as compensation for employment
• Felicia Cottrell, the daughter of a director, received $45,750 as compensation for employment
• Ricky Woodring, the spouse of a director, received $16,785 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.

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

• $2,549,625:  RMS International, of West Palm Beach, FL for security
• $1,102,062:  Wake Forest Baptist Health, of Winston Salem, NC for medical services
• $  832,144:  James R Vannoy, of Jefferson, NC for general contracting
• $  628,958:  Allied Universal, of Conshohoken, PA for security
• $  541,836:  Wilcox Travel Agency, of Hendersonville, NC for travel

To read the IRS Form 990 (2024), click here.