Recommended Publication:

Foundation Expenses and Compensation

How Operating Characteristics Influence Spending

http://www.urban.org/publications/311281.html (visit the Urban Institute's website to download PDF of the study)
This research, generated by a partnership of the Urban Institute's Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, the Foundation Center, and GuideStar, uses circa 2001 financial and programmatic data as reported on Forms 990-PF and 990 supplemented by survey data from the Foundation Center. To examine trustee and executive compensation patterns, the study uses individual-level compensation data on more than 51,000 officers, trustees, and key paid staff reported by these same 10,000 foundations. These foundations represent 16 percent of all 61,810 active grantmaking foundations identified by the Foundation Center in 2001. They account for 78 percent of all foundation giving and 77 percent of all foundation assets.
Megan Wentworth 03.10.2008

Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
Recommended Best Practices in Determining Reasonable Executive Compensation (PDF)
Council on Foundations
Recommendations on good practices for setting compensation for a foundation’s chief executive.
www.cof.org/files/Documents/Governing_Boards/execcomp2003.pdf

Dollars and Sense: The Nonprofit Board's Guide to Determining Chief Executive Compensation
BoardSource
This book explains how nonprofits of all types can increase the transparency and integrity of chief executive compensation practices as part of their stewardship of the public trust.  Available for purchase.
www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp

Chief Executive Compensation: How Should Your Board Determine Compensation?
BoardSource
Compensation experts answer common questions surrounding chief executive compensation.
www.boardsource.org/AuthoredArticle.asp?ID=47

Grantmakers Salary and Benefits Report
Council on Foundations
The Council publishes an annual report that allows you to compare salary ranges, policies and benefits package against similar types of foundations.  Available for purchase.
www.cof.org/publications

Foundation Expenses and Compensation: Interim Report 2005 (PDF)
Urban Institute, The Foundation Center, GuideStar
This report documents the level and ranges of trustee and chief executive compensation at the 10,000 largest foundations.
www.fdncenter.org/research/trends_analysis/pdf/foundation_5p.pdf

How Charities Evaluate Whether Their Employees’ Salaries Are Equitable
Chronicle of Philanthropy
This article describes how organizations can regularly analyze their salary structure.
www.philanthropy.com/jobs/2005/07/21/20050721-230269.htm

Megan Wentworth