Executive Compensation at the National Confectioners Association (2025)

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) is tax-exempt, non-profit trade association (501 (c) 6) that promotes chocolate, candy, gum, and mints along with the companies that make these treats. Based in Washington, DC, the NCA focuses on 7 key areas:

• Public Policy and Government Affairs
• Scientific and Regulatory Affairs
• Industry Affairs and the Sweets & Snacks Expo
• International Business Development
• Meetings and Membership
• Public Affairs and Communications
• Administration and Finance

A small trade association by numbers:  the NCA raised $33 million in 2025 (primarily from the expo and annual conference and membership dues although they did receive a $1.5 million grant from the government), spent $29 million (primarily on compensation for employees and conferences, conventions, and meetings), and has $24 million in net assets.  And, yet the NCA paid out $1.2-$1.7 million to the President and CEO, John H Downs, Jr annually from 2018-2025.  In addition, a $150,000 payment was made to his retirement plan in 2024. And, finally, NCA paid for first class and business class travel for Mr. Downs along with companion travel, and the “spousal expenses.”

32 employees received $10.5 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $328,000. However, only 24 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 9 most highly compensated listed below:

• $1,704,037:  John H Downs Jr, President and CEO
• $   597,995:  Elise Fennig, Chief of Staff, SVP, Operations
• $   577,955:  Brian McKeon, SVP, Public Policy
• $   511,346:  Chris Gindlesperger, VP, Public Affairs and Communications
• $   393,770:  Susan Whiteside, VP of Integrated Marketing and Communication
• $   383,572:  Farida Mohamedshah, SVP, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs
• $   347,329:  Steve McCroddan, CFO
• $   335,680:  Lynn Wylie, VP, Industry Affairs
• $   331,393:  Tracy Thompson, VP, Finance

The 9 most highly compensated employees received $5 million in compensation, which means 23 employees received the remaining $5.5 million.  15 of the those 23 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation while the remaining 8 employees received less than $100,000 in compensation.  In other words, the 8 employees who received less than $100,000 received less than $800,000 leaving about $4.7 million for the 15 employees who received more than $100,000 but less than $335,680, or an average of $313,000 each.

5 of the 9 most highly compensated employees are female while 4 are male. The most highly compensated employee was John Downs, who received $1.7 million in 2025.

15 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation with the five highest listed below:

• $1,786,081:  Convexx, of Las Vegas, NV for trade show management
• $   387,500:  Locust Street Group, of Washington, DC for public relations
• $   350,297:  Olson Frank and Weeda, of Washington, DC for legal/lobbying
• $   235,500:  Global Strategy, of NY, NY for research
• $   220,000:  NVG, of Palmyra, VA for lobbying

In summary, the NCA raises about $30 million annually primarily through the annual Sweets and Snacks Expo, membership dues, and the annual conference.  Most revenue is spent on compensating employees and events – conferences, conventions, the expo, and meetings (event consulting, trade show management, etc).  The NCA pays John Downs, the long time President and CEO $1.7 million annually to manage a non-profit whose largest expense and arguably it’s primary function is to put on an annual expo.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2024 for the year ending March 30, 2025), click here.