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Big Paydays for Fundraisers, by Cause

By  Ariana Giorgi, 
Drew Lindsay,  and  Joshua Hatch
August 3, 2015

Here are some of the top-paid fundraisers for various causes, according to this year’s Chronicle survey of compensation at large nonprofits. The top earners from our survey all work in higher education, hospitals, or medical centers.

Arts/Culture

Name Organization Base compensation Bonus/incentive pay Total compensation Compensation per million raised by organization
Tamar Podell Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts $389,740 $0 $459,769 $8,080
Coralie Toevs Metropolitan Opera $358,935 $50,000 $425,273 $2,776
Marie Mattson John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts $379,673 $0 $392,436 $4,835
Nina McNeely Diefenbach Metropolitan Museum of Art $317,284 $0 $383,677 $1,312
Karen Lewis Alexander Chicago Symphony Orchestra $271,650 $0 $313,674 $6,137

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Here are some of the top-paid fundraisers for various causes, according to this year’s Chronicle survey of compensation at large nonprofits. The top earners from our survey all work in higher education, hospitals, or medical centers.

Arts/Culture

Name Organization Base compensation Bonus/incentive pay Total compensation Compensation per million raised by organization
Tamar Podell Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts $389,740 $0 $459,769 $8,080
Coralie Toevs Metropolitan Opera $358,935 $50,000 $425,273 $2,776
Marie Mattson John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts $379,673 $0 $392,436 $4,835
Nina McNeely Diefenbach Metropolitan Museum of Art $317,284 $0 $383,677 $1,312
Karen Lewis Alexander Chicago Symphony Orchestra $271,650 $0 $313,674 $6,137

Environment and Animal Welfare

Name Organization Base compensation Bonus/incentive pay Total compensation Compensation per million raised by organization
Julie Miller World Wildlife Fund $252,125 $15,000 $291,642* $1,750
Todd Hendricks American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals $263,365 $0 $278,250* $1,920
Mark Stuart Zoological Society of San Diego $194,528 $39,892 $277,546* $4,791
Catherine Nardone 1 Nature Conservancy $260,349 $5,900 $273,924 $548
Kimberly Keller National Audubon Society $215,000 $7,000 $230,126 $3,693

Health

Name Organization Base compensation Bonus/incentive pay Total compensation Compensation per million raised by organization
Michael Ostroff 1 Hadassah Medical Relief Association $460,167 $0 $492,516* $6,063
Brian Perronne Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health $310,540 $81,105 $423,032* $6,401
Suzie Upton American Heart Association $349,147 $34,244 $392,152* $695
Greg Elfers American Diabetes Association $320,187 $0 $385,716* $2,330
Sandra Sedacca 1 Planned Parenthood Federation/Action Fund $292,675 $0 $320,070 $2,121

International

Name Organization Base compensation Bonus/incentive pay Total compensation Compensation per million raised by organization
Mania Boyder American Jewish World Service $298,866 $0 $324,827* $4,463
Michele Alexander Human Rights Watch $263,390 $0 $284,991 $5,405
Julie Schair American Jewish Committee $236,274 $0 $269,302* $5,179
Stephanie Kurzina Oxfam America $229,670 $23,158 $268,937* $4,040
Adrian Kerrigan Catholic Medical Mission Board $229,840 $0 $260,593 $508

Community Foundations and Jewish Federations

Name Organization Base compensation Bonus/incentive pay Total compensation Compensation per million raised by organization
Jeffrey Cohen Jewish United Fund/Federation of Metropolitan Chicago $266,054 $0 $302,223 $3,432
Zamira Korff Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston $249,289 $0 $280,623 $1,245
Daniel Rothblatt Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles $219,802 $10,000 $268,866* $3,339
Renée Wizig-Barrios Greater Houston Community Foundation $164,109 $39,416 $221,831* $1,959
Nichole Baker California Community Foundation $190,621 $0 $199,607 $1,173

Social Services

Name Organization Base compensation Bonus/incentive pay Total compensation Compensation per million raised by organization
Paula Swearingen Goodwill of North Georgia $217,672 $69,189 $360,091 $3,457
Mindy Miller Harlem Children’s Zone $253,446 $106,258 $359,704* $5,589
Neal Litvack American Red Cross $310,560 $0 $333,116 $309
Kate Markin Coleman The Y $289,631 $0 $301,878* $7,854
Adam Silva Wounded Warrior Project $209,346 $43,125 $271,403* $869

Source: Chronicle analysis of IRS filings.

* Indicates data for 2013. All other data for 2012.

1 No longer with organization.

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A version of this article appeared in the August 3, 2015, issue.
Read other items in this Pay for Performance? 2015 Fundraiser Salary Survey package.
We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
Executive Leadership
Drew Lindsay
Drew is a longtime magazine writer and editor who joined the Chronicle of Philanthropy in 2014.
Joshua Hatch
Joshua started at the Chronicle in 2012 as Senior Editor for Data and Interactives. He is now the Director of Digital Platforms and Audience.
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