Executive Compensation at the Robin Hood Foundation
The Robin Hood Foundation (RHF) – a 501 (c) (3) based in New York City – is an organization that primarily awards grants to organizations fighting poverty by providing food, shelter, and healthcare and by helping people lift themselves out of poverty. They do this primarily by awarding grants (in 2017, the organization collected $121 million in revenue and awarded $115 million in grants).
In 2017, RHF had 149 employees who were compensated $18 million, which equates to an average compensation of $121,000. However, only 49 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation. The 14 most highly compensated individuals were: Read more 
Where Does $100 to the Vietnam Veterans of America Go?
The Vietnam Veterans of America is a 501 (c) (3) whose core mission is to advocate on behalf of veterans to improve entitlement benefits and services for our veterans (not just Vietnam vets) by educating federal officials and their staff. Although the VVA does other things (i.e. publishes a magazine, travels to Vietnam to bring home remains, posts book reviews, provides testimony, assists veterans with appeals, distributes information to the news media, etc), the organization’s staff appears to primarily be a “lobbying” group aimed at improving benefits and services for veterans. Consequently, most revenue is spent to compensate staff, pay overhead costs, and support through grants local chapters of the VVA. Read more
Where Does $100 to the Firefighters Charitable Foundation Go?
The Firefighters Charitable Foundation of Farmingdale, New York sounds like an organization most people would support. We are immensely grateful to the firemen/firewomen who selflessly put their lives at risk to save us, our homes, and the environment, and also supportive of the individuals and families affected by fires. But helping those affected by fires through the Firefighters Charitable Foundation is not the best way to make your donation dollars go furthest because the people that benefit most from this non-profit 501 (c) (3) are the fundraisers who kept more than 85% of the funds raised, and the 4 employees of the organization (including the President, Frank Tepedino, and his wife, Lori Tepedino, the Secretary/Treasurer) who were compensated more than $300,000 in 2016. Read more
Executive Compensation at the ASPCA (2017)
The ASPCA is a 501 (c) (3) based on the Upper East Side (424 East 92nd Street) in New York City. With 1,193 employees who were compensated $85.6 million (an average compensation of $72,000) in 2017, the ASPCA is one of the largest “animal rights” organizations in the country. The ASPCA also paid $5.2 million (see below) to Forum Services Group (a staffing and recruiting firm) of New York for staffing and consulting services.
Widely supported, the ASPCA reported the receipt of $248 million in 2017, most of which were contributions. After spending $221 million – primarily on staff compensation (nearly $86 million), office-related expenses ($40 million), vet and medical services ($13 million), grants ($12 million), and travel/conferences ($8 million), the ASPCA added $27 million to their fund assets which had a net balance (think savings account) of $274 million at year-end. Read more
Executive Compensation at the Smithsonian Institute
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 19 museums (9 of which are on the National Mall in Washington, DC, an additional 6 in the DC metropolitan area and 2 in New York City, plus the National Zoo, also in DC), and 9 research centers. Collectively, these sites are the Smithsonian Institute, a 501 (c) (3), based in Washington, DC.
The most recent IRS Form 990 (2016) for the year ending September 30, 2017 reports the following key information about employee compensation and practices: Read more
Where Does $100 to the Catholic Medical Mission Board Go?
The Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) is a New York-based 501 (c) (3) engaged in distributing drugs and medical supplies primarily in Central America and the Caribbean. In May, 2018, the State of California (actually the Attorney General on behalf of the State of California) filed a Cease and Desist Order against CMMB because of the way the non-profit is recording the value of pharmaceuticals. Read more
Where Does $100 to Mathew 25 Ministeries Go?
Mathew 25 Ministries (M25M) is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based 501 (c) (3) that delivers humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies to those in need.
In 2017, M25M collected goods and shipped more than 900 40-foot containers of food, clothing, medical supplies, school supplies and hygiene products to 33 countries and 24 sites in the United States. They did this with 112 employees who received total compensation of $3.7 million, which equates an an average compensation of $33,000 (compare this to Samaritan’s Purse whose average compensation was $49,000 in 2017). Read more
Where Does $100 to United Way Go?
United Way may refer to a number of charitable organizations throughout the world but in the United States, United Way generally refers to United Way Worldwide (formerly United Way of America) and/or one of the 1,800 local offices in 40 countries and territories that operate as a separate 501 (c) (3). United Way Worldwide is the leadership and support organization for the whole United Way network. Each organization collects funds and makes grants to local organizations, and also contributes a portion of the revenue collected to United Way Worldwide to support operations. Read more
Executive Compensation at United Way (2016)
United Way Worldwide (United Way) is the leadership and support organization for the whole United Way network which includes approximately 1,800 local offices in 45 countries. A non-profit 501 (c) (3), United Way Worldwide is based in Alexandria, Virginia and has 247 employees who received total compensation of $28.6 million in 2016, which equates to an average compensation of $116,000. However, only 83 of the 247 employees received more han $100,000 in compensation with the 15 most highly compensated individuals listed below: Read more
Where Does $100 to Hope For The Warriors Go?
Hope For The Warriors (HFTW) is a 501 (c) (3) based in Springfield, Virginia that strives to help those affected by military service. Assistance is primarily through staff support from the 68 employees who were compensated $4 million (an average of $59,000 per employee with only three employees compensated more than $100,000). Grants were also awarded ($1.3 million or 17% of total revenue) in 2017.
In trying to understand how a $100 donation is spent, it is helpful to look at the IRS Form 990 (2017) which reports revenue, expenses, information on executive compensation, fundraising, assets, liabilities and net fund assets. Read more
