Executive Compensation at the Smithsonian (2024)

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 Institute, a 501 (c) (3), based in Washington, DC.

In 2024, total revenue was $2 billion, most of which came from government grants ($1.5 billion) and other contributions, gifts, and grants ($300 million), investment income, gains, royalties, and sale of inventory ($162 million), and program revenue ($109 million).

Total expenses were $1.5 billion  (including $200 million in depreciation) with the largest expense reported to be compensation.

7,367 individuals were compensated $818 million, which equates to an average compensation of $111,000. However, only 2,114 (or 29% of the total employees) received more than $100,000 in compensation including the following 27 highly compensated and former employees:

• $1,198,017:  Amy Chen, Chief Investment Office
• $  989,566:  Lonnie G Bunch, III, Secretary
• $  782,937:  Jeffrey Smith, Investment Officer
• $  698,426:  Michael Giovenco, Investment Officer
• $  663,585:  Meroe Park, Deputy Secretary and COO
• $  656,712:  Ryan Dotson, Investment Officer
• $  601,526:  Carol Leblanc, President, Smithsonian Enterprises
• $  558,910:  Ronald Cortez, Under Secretary for Fin/Admin and CFO
• $  532,653:  Melissa Chiu, Director, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Gardens
• $  531,688:  Robert Spiller, Asst Secretary for Advancement
• $  515,877:  Chase Robinson, Director, Sackler Gallery/Freer
• $  515,651:  Kevin Gover, Under Secretary for History and Culture
• $  509,637:  Ellen Stofan, Under Secretary for Science and Research
• $  438,314:  Richard Kurin, Former Employee (thru 9/30/2019)
• $  373,223:  Julissa Marenco, Ass Secretary for Comm/External Affairs and CMO
• $  303,795:  Zully Dorr, Former Employee (thru 9/30/2019)
• $  291,306:  Cathy Helm, Former Inspector General (thru 9/1/23)
• $  289,788:  Porter Wilkinson, Chief of Staff to the Regents
• $  261,866:  Derek Ross, Director, Office of Planning, Design, and Construction
• $  248,565:  Farleigh Earhart, General Counsel (Acting)
• $  244,220:  Douglas Hall, Former Employee (thru 9/30/22)
• $  240,742:  Joan Mockeridge, Inspector General (Acting)
• $  198,137:  Charles Alcock, Former Employee (thru 12/31/2020)
• $  195,182:  Roger Brissenden, Former Employee (thru 3/13/2021)
• $  181,945:  Judith Leonard, Former General Counsel (thru 3/1/23)
• $  136,294:  Era Marshall, Former Employee (thru 9/30/2018)
• $  106,319:  Nancy Bechtol, Former Director, Smithsonian Facilities (thru 12/30/22)

The 27 highly compensated and former employees received $12 million in compensation (or an average of $450,000).  18 of the 27 (67%) are male while 9 of the 27 (33%) are female.  It is also important to note 9 of the 27 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 $1.2 million in 2024.

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

• $108 million:  Clarks Moot Consigli A Joint Venture, of Bethesda, MD for construction
• $ 25 million:  Universal Protection Services, of Santa Ana, CA for security
• $  9 million:  TC Pennsy Drive LLC, of New York, NY for real estate*
• $  5 million:  Dell Marketing, of Round Rock, TX for marketing
• $  4 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 (2023 for the year ending September 30, 2024), click here.