How Revenue is Spent at the National Opinion Research Center
The National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago is an objective non-partisan institution conducting research to produce data in the fields of social science and public opinion. This data helps guide critical program, business, and policy decisions.
A tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) 3, NORC was established in 1941 in Chicago, Illinois and prides itself on “research you can trust.” In their own words: Read more 
Executive Compensation at ERCOT
Most people outside of Texas had not heard of ERCOT (Electrical Reliability Council of Texas) until this past week when the company was slammed for the massive loss of power across the state.
Although ERCOT is considered an independent system operator, the organization is a membership-based tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) (4) governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature (who decided decades ago not to allow power to come from outside the state to avoid having to comply with federal regulations that kick in with interstate transactions). In other words, the responsibility to provide power falls upon the management of ERCOT and Texas state officials – not the federal government.
ERCOT’s members (303 as of 12/31/2018) include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned public utilities, transmission and distribution providers, and municipally-owned electric utilities. Read more
Executive Compensation at the NRA (2019)
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 (2019) reports the organization employed 770 individuals who were compensated $57 million, which equates to an average compensation of $74,000. 149 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation while the 15 most highly compensated key executives received more than $12 million dollars in 2019: Read more
Where Does $100 to the NRA Go (2019)?
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 six 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
Executive Compensation at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) 3 founded by a rabbi in 1983 as a way to “bless Israel and the Jewish people around the world with humanitarian care and life-saving aid” while “building bridges between Christians and Jews.”
Based in Chicago, Illinois, IFCJ raises about $120 million annually (primarily through contributions, gifts, and grants) and spends a few million less, allowing the organization to accumulate $32 million in net assets. Expenses are about $115 million, half of which are spent on grants to Jewish organizations in the US and Israel. There does not appear to be any grants made to Christian organizations. The other expenses are organization expenses – fundraising, compensating employees, paying fees for services, etc).
121 employees received $13 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $107,400. 27 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 10 most highly compensated reported to be: Read more
Where Does $100 to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Go?
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) 3 founded by a rabbi in 1983 as a way to “bless Israel and the Jewish people around the world with humanitarian care and life-saving aid” while “building bridges between Christians and Jews.”
How is revenue spent at IFCJ? The short answer is that about half of revenue was spent on grants to Jewish organizations – in the US and in Israel – while the other half was spent on fundraising, staff compensation, fees for services, office-related expenses, and travel. For more detail, read on. Read more
Space X, Elon Musk, Jared Isaacman and St Jude: The Questions No One is Asking
Jared Isaacman, a 37-year old billionaire who made his fortune as a co-founder of a payment processing company called Shift4 Payments, announced he is spearheading a $200 million dollar fundraising campaign for St. Jude by leading a crew of 4 private citizens in a SpaceX rocket (of Elon Musk fame) that will fly into orbit around the earth. Mr. Isaacman is personally donating $100 million to St Jude with the conviction we should conquer childhood cancer.
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to conquer childhood cancer. There is little else that will push adults into action than seeing a child suffer from a serious illness. But, Mr. Isaacman and everyone else may want to ask some serious questions about St. Jude, research, and how revenue is spent before embarking on fundraising for an organization that has increased its net assets from $2.5 billion in 2012 to $5.4 billion in 2019; primarily by saving a large portion of revenue annually (as opposed to spending more on research and helping sick kids and their families). Read more
10 Key Things to Know About Samaritan’s Purse
Samaritan’s Purse – based out of Boone, North Carolina – 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.
Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational Christian organization that provides “spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.” Read more
Executive Compensation at St. Jude (2019)
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’s): the children’s hospital that provides research and medical care; and
- American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC): the fundraising arm; an organization 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. Read more
Where Does $100 to St. Jude’s Go (2019)?
St. Jude’s is one of the most popular non-profit organizations in the country because the charity’s mission appeals to donors: they treat and help children with cancer and other life threatening illnesses. But, before making donations, donors should understand where revenue is spent and that St. Jude’s is actually two organizations:
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Inc. (St. Jude)
- American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC)
ALSAC “exists for the sole purpose of raising funds and building awareness to support the current and future needs of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Inc” while St. Jude engages in research and provides care and services to sick children and their families. St. Jude has a beneficial interest in the assets of ALSAC but the organizations are separate non-profit 501 (c)(3) entities with specific functions: ALSAC raises funds while St. Jude does the research and provides the treatment. Read more
