Foundation Compensation Data
Now in its 24th year, the Croner Compensation Survey of Foundations is conducted annually to provide up-to-date and accurate market compensation data to private, independent grantmaking foundations in the U.S. The Survey was expanded to also include community foundations as of 2019.
In 2020, a total of 137 foundations participated in the Croner Compensation Survey of Foundations . Of the total participants, 98 are primarily grantmaking foundations, eight are primarily operating foundations, 20 are a hybrid (both grantmaking and operating foundations) and 11 are community foundations. Geographic scope of grantmaking is: 32% international, 17% national, 28% multiple states / counties or cities, 16% state, 5% county and 2% city.
Foundations use the survey results to benchmark compensation, understand salary differentials and to establish rational pay structures.
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Salary Data for Foundations
The Croner Company brings together specialists in the field of compensation for foundations and other nonprofits with expertise in conducting professional compensation surveys.
2020 Croner Compensation Survey of Foundations Position Grids
CSF Survey – Sample Executive Level Compensation Data
CSF Survey – Sample Staff Level Compensation Data
List of Survey Participants
2020 Participant Foundations(Bold=Sponsors) Bainum Family Foundation Barr Foundation Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Blue Shield of California Foundation California Healthcare Foundation Charles Stewart Mott Foundation ClimateWorks Foundation College Futures Foundation Community Foundation of New JerseyConrad N. Hilton Foundation Dogwood Health TrustEwing Marion Kauffman Foundation Foundation for the Carolinas GHR Foundation Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Great Lakes Protection FundHeising-Simons Foundation Howard Hughes Medical Institute J. Paul Getty Trust John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies Marin Community Foundation May & Stanley Smith Charitable TrustMcKnight Foundation Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Open Philanthropy Project Open Society Foundations Otto Bremer FoundationSimons Foundation Stuart Foundation T.L.L. Temple FoundationThe Ahmanson Foundation The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation The California Endowment The Columbus Foundation The Commonwealth Fund The David and Lucile Packard Foundation The Duke Endowment The Ford Family Foundation The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc.The James Irvine Foundation The Joyce FoundationThe Kresge Foundation The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust The Libra FoundationThe Ralph M. Parsons Foundation The Rapides FoundationThe William and Flora Hewlett Foundation W.K. Kellogg Foundation Walter and Elise Haas Fund Water FoundationWeingart Foundation Wellspring Philanthropic Fund
Sponsorship Level
The Survey's Sponsors ensure, through their financial support, that the Survey remains a robust, reliable, annually published compensation and benefits resource for the sector. In appreciation for their commitment to the Survey, Sponsors receive additional benefits. The Sponsor level of participation includes:
Custom Report of selected comparison foundations
Invitation to the annual Survey Planning Meeting to help determine the Survey's content and to engage in round table discussions and networking
Electronic Survey results in Microsoft Excel
Login and access to the secure Survey web portal (for reports, materials and data queries by position)
Recognition in the Full Report of Results as a Sponsor and throughout the Survey season
The 2021 Sponsor Fee is $6,000.
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Position Grids & Job Families Reported
View the 2020 Job Families and complete list of Positions covered in the Survey here: 2020 Croner Compensation Survey of Foundations Position Grids Job Families:
Executives
Program
Program - Grantmaking and Community Outreach
Program / Project Management
Grants Management
Public Policy
Evaluation
Research
Library
Knowledge Management / Learning
Data and Analytics
Communications
Writing / Editing
Multimedia Production
Website
Convening / Event Planning
Convening / Events Planning
Audio / Visual Engineering
Investment Management
Investment Accounting
Social Investments
Office of the CEO
Finance / Accounting
Financial Analysis
Tax
Payroll
Legal
Human Resources
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Compensation and Benefits
Administration
Project Management
Facilities
Information Technology
System Administration
Business Systems Analysis
Information Technology Project Management
CRM Administrator
Development
Donor Service
Events
Scholarship
Gift Planning
Position Data Reported
For Staff Positions:
FLSA Status
Degree of Match
Prevalence of Incentives
Most Prevalent Level of Education Reported
Years Employed by Foundation
Years in Position
Number of Direct Reports
Annual Salary
Annual Cash Incentives / Bonuses
Annual Total Cash
Estimated Total Compensation
CSF Survey - Sample Staff Level Compensation Data
For Executive Positions:
Officer Status
Senior Leadership Team
Degree of Match
Prevalence of Incentives
Most Prevalent Level of Education Reported
Years Employed by Foundation
Years in Position
Number of Direct Reports
Annual Salary
Annual Cash Incentives / Bonuses
Annual Total Cash
Estimated Total Compensation
Benefits/Perquisites Data
Medical/Dental/Vision
Life Insurance
Retirement
Deferred Compensation Plan
Short-Term Disability
Long-Term Disability
Long-Term Care
Automobile Allowance
Housing Allowance
Entertainment Allowance
Country Club/Social Club Membership
Prevalence of Executive Practices
% of Foundations Offering Sabbaticals
% of Foundations with Written Employment Contract including Severance Agreement
% of Foundations with Written Employment Contract excluding Severance Agreement
% of Foundations with Stand-Alone Severance Agreements
% of Foundations with Discretionary Grantmaking
CSF Survey - Sample Executive Level Compensation Data
Survey Differentials - Cuts Reported by Position:
Asset Category
Asset Sub-Category
Workforce Size Category
Grants Paid Category
U.S. Region
Metropolitan Area
Policies and Practices Data Reported
Demographics
Focus Areas of Grant Making
Mission-Driven Investments
Year-end Financials
Year-end Grants Payment and Volume
Employee Population Information and Ratios
Work Week Hours
Most Pressing Issues
Salary Administration
Targeted Market Position
Job Descriptions
Salary Ranges / Structures
Frequency of Salary Ranges / Structures Reviews
Frequency of Market Reviews
Types of Salary Increase Budgets / Current and Projected Salary Increase Budgets
Timing of Salary Increases
Cash Incentives and Bonuses
Prevalence of Incentives and Bonuses
Prevalence by Type of Plan
Award Amount by Type of Plan
Benefits
Foundation Paid Benefits as Percentage of Salaries / Average Costs Per Employee
Benefit Cost Sharing
Health Plans - Prevalence and Special Policies / Practices
Disability Plans - Prevalence and Maximum Coverage
Life Insurance and AD&D - Prevalence and Coverage
Retirement Plans - Prevalence and Annual Contributions
Retiree Benefits
Other Paid Benefits
Paid Time Off
Other Paid Time Off and Unpaid Leaves
Tuition Reimbursement
Discretionary Grants
Matching Gifts
Work-Life Benefits
Board of Directors / Trustees
Board Size and Terms
Board Committees
Board Service / Meetings
Oversight of Board Compensation
Annual Retainers / Meeting Fees
Total Average Annual Cash Compensation per Director
Annual Chair Differentials
Non-Board Committee Members
Governance Policies
D&O Liability Insurance
Discretionary Grants and Matching Gifts
Board Expense Reimbursement Policies
Board-Related Administrative Costs
Survey Schedule
2021 Survey Planning Meeting for Sponsors: March 2021Questionnaire Distribution: April Data Effective Date: May 1Questionnaire Completion Deadline: May 15Full Report of Results Published: Late September Review of Results Webinar: October
Eligibility Requirements to Participate
General eligibility criteria for your foundation to participate are $100 million in assets and/or a minimum of 10 employees.
Please contact Laurie Krashanoff at (415) 485-5521 or email us at
Participation Fee
The 2021 Fee for Participants / Non-Sponsors Is $850. All survey participants receive a pdf version of the Report of Results when the results are published. The Report of Results (pdf) provides, in table format, the Compensation Data results for each survey position and the Policies and Practices results by foundation asset size category.
To Purchase Survey Results as a Non-Participating Foundation: There are two purchase options to purchase the current published Report of Results without having participated in the Survey.
Purchase Option #1 $3,000. Commitment to participate in the subsequent year Survey is required. General eligibility criteria for your foundation to participate are $100 million in assets and/or a minimum of 10 employees.
Purchase Option #2 If your foundation does not meet the minimum participation criteria, the fee to purchase the 2019 Report of Results is $6,000.
Confidentiality
The Croner Company conducts this Survey as an independent third party to ensure the confidentiality and consistency of the data provided. All data are held in strict confidence and are reported only in summary form. No attribution is made to any specific data from any participating organization. The Croner Company aggregates data using DOJ "Safe Harbor Guidelines" to ensure full regulatory compliance of the Survey report. All participants are required to sign an agreement that confirms they will abide by our confidentiality standards.
