March 16, 2012 | Read Time: 1 minute
Foundation salaries grew by a median of 14.2 percent over the past five years, not accounting for inflation, according to a new survey of more than 910 grant makers.
And the vast majority of philanthropies surveyed—87 percent—said they had either increased or planned to increase their staff salaries in 2011. That share is ticking up with the improving economy: Last year, 62 percent of funds gave or expected to give raises.
Chief executives at the foundations surveyed by the Council on Foundations received a median salary of $142,000, while program officers were paid a median of $80,000.
Salaries of CEO’s and program officers grew at roughly the same pace—14.9 percent and 14.7 percent, respectively.
About 77 percent of foundations provided medical benefits to full-time employees. At grant makers with at least $100-million in assets, that figure was 98 percent.
Of the survey respondents, 36 percent were community foundations, 27 percent were private foundations, 18 percent were family funds, and the rest corporate and operating foundations.
The findings are from the “2011 Grantmakers Salary and Benefits Report,” which can be purchased by Council on Foundations members for $149 and by nonmembers for $199.
