On Being Relevant
Last week I received an e-mail from Nespresso asking me to participate in a “survey among our loyal customers.” I don’t normally do surveys but I am a fervent Nespresso fan (I even travel with a Nespresso coffee maker, frother, and cubes in a specially made carrying case) so I decided to participate. Certainly, Nespresso had recognized my loyalty over the past 16 years (I bought my first Nespresso when we lived in Switzerland and because the machines were not yet available in the US, I took them back to the US and used a converter until I could buy one stateside) and wanted my opinion. Stupid me. Read more 
How the American Chemistry Council Spends Revenue
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) is a tax-exempt, non-profit trade association (501 (c) 6) that represents 160 member companies (although the organization’s website claims 190) that produce or sell chemistry products in the US and abroad. Based in Washington, DC, the ACC is managed by 52 independent voting members (board members) of the governing body, of which 46 (88%) are male, 6 (12%) are female. ACC also controls a foundation and a PAC (political action committee). Read more
Where Does $100 to the American Red Cross Go (2020)?
When most people think of the American Red Cross (ARC), they often think of blood collection, testing, and distribution and/or disaster services – both domestic and international and in the most simplistic terms, this is what the ARC is about.
Formally known as the American National Red Cross (the organization is the designated affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies), ARC was established by Clara Barton in 1881 and given a charter by Congress in 1900 and again in 1905 to carry out humanitarian services. Since that time, the charter has been amended nine times, with the most recent in 2009 to address reforms to the organization. Read more
Executive Compensation at the American Red Cross (2020)
The American Red Cross (ARC) is one of the most recognized charities in the world. Based in Washington, DC, ARC works to “prevent and alleviate human suffering” by mobilizing employees and volunteers in emergencies and through the collection and sale of blood (ARC collects, tests, and distributes 40% of the nation’s blood to more than 2,500 hospitals).
ARC is governed by 16 voting members, 15 of whom are independent. The Form 990 (2019 for the year ending June 30, 2020) lists 17 board members (due to timing differences), of which 13 (76%) are male and 4 (24%) are female. Read more
Executive Compensation at the American Heart Association (2020)
The American Heart Association (AHA) is one of the most popular and recognized non-profits in the United States with enormous public support but over the past two years, revenue has declined 18% from $852 million in 2018 to $746 million in 2019 to $700 million in 2020. That the AHA has nearly $900 million in their net fund balance is also noteworthy.
By most accounts, this organization is a magnet for public contributions and an expert at raising and saving money. But, are they accomplishing their mission, which is to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke (especially with hundreds of recipes on their website calling for eggs, dairy products, beef, poultry, pork – including bacon, a Type 1 carcinogen according to the World Health Organization, oil, sugar and white flour)? With heart disease the number one cause of death in the United States for decades, one has to wonder if all the contributions to the AHA are really helping to prevent and reverse heart disease? Read more
Where Does $100 to the American Heart Association Go (2020)?
The American Heart Association (AHA) is one of the most popular and recognized non-profits in the United States with enormous public support but the past few years (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) were not great years for the organization. Total revenue reported was down 12% in 2019 to $746 million (compared to $852 million the prior year) and down 6% to $700 million in 2019-2020. That the AHA has nearly $900 million in their net fund balance is also noteworthy.
By most accounts, this organization is a magnet for public contributions and an expert at raising and saving money. But, are they accomplishing their mission, which is to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke (especially with hundreds of recipes on their website calling for eggs, dairy products, beef, poultry, pork – including bacon, a Type 1 carcinogen according to the World Health Organization, oil, sugar and white flour)? With heart disease the number one cause of death in the United States for decades, one has to wonder if all the contributions to the AHA are really helping to prevent and reverse heart disease? Read more
Executive Compensation at the National Restaurant Association (2019)
The National Restaurant Association had a windfall of about $170 million in 2018 when they sold the “National Restaurant Association Show” to a unrelated private company Winsight, LLC – an information services company focused on the food and beverage industry. Consideration received included a promissory note (about $150 million) and an equity investment in Winsight, LLC. A sponsorship agreement provides annual royalty payments equal to 2% of the gross revenues of the show for 45 years, beginning in 2019. Read more
Executive Compensation at the Florida Education Association (FEA) 2020
The Florida Education Association (FEA) is a labor union representing about 150,000 teachers and education employees in Florida. Based in Tallahassee, Florida, FEA is the largest union (measured by members) in the State of Florida and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and the national labor unions: American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), which means that membership in a local union (there are about 100) in Florida ensures membership in the FEA, AFT, and NEA. However, Florida is a right-to-work state so public education employees are not required to join a union. Read more
Executive Compensation at the NRA (2020)
The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is a non-profit 501 (c) (4) organization or what many people refer to as an membership advocacy organization that fights tirelessly for our second amendment rights and pays their executives very well while also paying for first class or charter travel, travel for companions, health or social club dues or initiation fees, gross up payments and tax indemnification, and provides housing allowances or housing for personal use.
The most recent IRS Form 990 (2020) reports the organization employed 640 individuals (compared to 770 in 2019) who were compensated $38 million, which equates to an average compensation of nearly $60,000. 107 employees (compared to 149 employees in 2019) received more than $100,000 in compensation while the 13 most highly compensated key executives received nearly $8 million in 2020: Read more
Where Does $100 to the NRA Go (2020)?
When most people think of the NRA they think of the National Rifle Association of America and the second amendment (“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”) but there are seven (7) separate non-profits that comprise the NRA:
- NRA (National Rifle Association of America): 501 (c)(4)
- NRA Foundation, Inc.: 501 (c)(3)
- NRA Freedom Action Foundation: 501 (c)(3)
- NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund: 501 (c)(3)
- NRA Special Contribution Fund: 501 (c) (3)
- NRA Political Victory Fund: PAC Section 527
- NRA Victory Fund: PAC Section 527
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