CEO pay at major US nonprofits, ranked
This list ranks 46 of the best-known US nonprofits by what they paid their CEO, using each one's latest full-year IRS Form 990. It includes national charities, hospital systems, universities and associations. Every row links to the return it comes from.
Last updated from IRS e-file data.
The Salvation Army isn't on the list because it doesn't file a Form 990. Why there is no figure.
The ranking
The CEO on each organization's latest full-year return, or the highest-paid person where nobody has a chief executive title. Each row is a different return, so each links to its own filing.
| Rank | Organization and CEO | Total pay | Year ending | Revenue | Pay / revenue | Percentile | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Kaiser Permanente (Health Plan)Gregory AdamsCEO Chairman & CEOSee note 1. | $12,976,050 | Dec 2024 | $82,490,440,881 | 0.02% | 0% | Filing |
| 2 |  Sutter HealthWARNER THOMASCEO PRESIDENT & CEO, SH | $11,904,420 | Dec 2024 | $2,685,790,764 | 0.44% | 96% | Filing |
| 3 |  Intermountain Health (IHC Health Services)ROBERT W ALLENFORMER OFFICER (highest-paid; no CEO title on this return) | $9,715,356 | Dec 2024 | $10,650,854,026 | 0.09% | 30% | Filing |
| 4 |  Cleveland ClinicMIHALJEVIC MD TOMISLAVCEO DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT & CEO | $9,709,152 | Dec 2024 | $9,680,031,802 | 0.10% | 37% | Filing |
| 5 |  Blue Cross Blue Shield AssociationKIM KECKCEO PRESIDENT AND CEO | $8,414,231 | Dec 2024 | $862,659,881 | 0.98% | 98% | Filing |
| 6 |  U.S. Chamber of CommerceSuzanne ClarkCEO President & CEO/Director | $8,391,682 | Dec 2024 | $225,835,416 | 3.72% | 100% | Filing |
| 7 |  OhioHealthMarkovich Stephen E MDCEO CEO/President/Board - OhioHlth | $6,546,210 | Jun 2025 | $5,723,845,185 | 0.11% | 46% | Filing |
| 8 |  Indiana University HealthDENNIS M MURPHYCEO DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT & CEO | $5,720,461 | Dec 2024 | $6,079,560,656 | 0.09% | 35% | Filing |
| 9 |  Mayo ClinicFARRUGIA MD GIANRICOCEO DIRECTOR/CEO/PRESIDENT | $4,888,096 | Dec 2024 | $14,891,458,272 | 0.03% | 1% | Filing |
| 10 |  American Heart AssociationNANCY BROWNCEO CEO | $4,563,563 | Jun 2025 | $1,070,192,712 | 0.43% | 92% | Filing |
| 11 |  NCAACharlie BakerPresident (highest-paid; no CEO title on this return) | $3,439,897 | Aug 2025 | $1,561,767,784 | 0.22% | 77% | Filing |
| 12 |  AARPJo Ann JenkinsCEO CEO (until 11/8/2024) | $2,871,820 | Dec 2024 | $10,969,160,920 | 0.03% | 15% | Filing |
| 13 |  Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenROBERT BERNSTEINCHIEF OF STAFF (highest-paid; no CEO title on this return) | $2,387,804 | Dec 2025 | $1,582,506,437 | 0.15% | 55% | Filing |
| 14 |  American Cancer SocietyKAREN E KNUDSEN PHDCEO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, OUTGOINGSee note 2. | $2,242,645 | Dec 2024 | $724,184,531 | 0.31% | 88% | Filing |
| 15 |  The Metropolitan Museum of ArtMax HolleinCEO Director & CEO | $1,871,720 | Jun 2025 | $907,368,037 | 0.21% | 74% | Filing |
| 16 |  St. Jude Children's Research HospitalJAMES R DOWNINGCEO PRESIDENT/CEO | $1,713,883 | Jun 2025 | $2,208,853,162 | 0.08% | 24% | Filing |
| 17 |  Harvard UniversityALAN M GARBERPresident President (Schedule O) | $1,642,838 | Jun 2025 | $8,323,235,933 | 0.02% | 3% | Filing |
| 18 |  PBSPaula A KergerCEO President & CEO | $1,602,897 | Jun 2025 | $696,585,777 | 0.23% | 81% | Filing |
| 19 |  National Geographic SocietyJILL TIEFENTHALERCEO CEO | $1,571,576 | Dec 2025 | $340,516,012 | 0.46% | 68% | Filing |
| 20 |  ALSAC (St. Jude fundraising)RICHARD C SHADYAC JRCEO CEO & EX-OFFICIO DIRECTOR (THRU 3/25) | $1,564,611 | Jun 2025 | $3,292,450,744 | 0.05% | 5% | Filing |
| 21 |  World Wildlife FundCARTER ROBERTSCEO PRESIDENT & CEO | $1,348,079 | Jun 2025 | $366,655,209 | 0.37% | 52% | Filing |
| 22 |  ASPCAMATT BERSHADKERCEO PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | $1,226,402 | Dec 2024 | $446,134,125 | 0.27% | 31% | Filing |
| 23 |  Feeding AmericaClaire Babineaux-FontenotCEO CEO | $1,214,028 | Jun 2025 | $5,001,395,215 | 0.02% | 11% | Filing |
| 24 |  Alzheimer's AssociationKATHERINE JOANNE PIKECEO PRESIDENT/CEO | $1,174,136 | Jun 2025 | $457,244,898 | 0.26% | 21% | Filing |
| 25 |  Planned ParenthoodAlexis McGill JohnsonPresident (highest-paid; no CEO title on this return) | $1,122,180 | Jun 2025 | $410,003,513 | 0.27% | 26% | Filing |
| 26 |  American Red CrossCLIFFORD HOLTZCEO PRESIDENT & CEO AS OF 7/1/2024 | $989,075 | Jun 2025 | $3,916,983,933 | 0.03% | 0% | Filing |
| 27 |  UNICEF USAMichael J NyenhuisCEO Director/President/CEO | $976,864 | Jun 2025 | $835,217,861 | 0.12% | 38% | Filing |
| 28 |  Samaritan's PurseWILLIAM FRANKLIN GRAHAM IIIBD MEM/CHR/P (highest-paid; no CEO title on this return) | $945,493 | Dec 2024 | $1,839,497,527 | 0.05% | 8% | Filing |
| 29 |  The Nature ConservancyJENNIFER MORRISCEO DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | $936,855 | Jun 2025 | $1,746,229,436 | 0.05% | 10% | Filing |
| 30 |  United Way WorldwideANGELA WILLIAMSCEO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | $929,417 | Dec 2024 | $72,397,617 | 1.28% | 94% | Filing |
| 31 |  YMCA of the USASuzanne McCormickCEO President and Chief Executive Officer | $892,142 | Dec 2024 | $198,431,455 | 0.45% | 63% | Filing |
| 32 |  Goodwill Industries InternationalSTEVEN C PRESTONCEO PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | $766,469 | Dec 2025 | $66,583,568 | 1.15% | 89% | Filing |
| 33 |  Make-A-Wish Foundation of AmericaLESLIE MOTTERCEO PRESIDENT & CEO | $739,620 | Aug 2025 | $136,767,956 | 0.54% | 73% | Filing |
| 34 |  Big Brothers Big Sisters of AmericaARTIS STEVENSCEO CEO | $723,520 | Jun 2025 | $69,170,417 | 1.05% | 84% | Filing |
| 35 |  Humane World for AnimalsCristobel BlockCEO President & Chief Executive Officer | $702,371 | Dec 2025 | $216,548,337 | 0.32% | 47% | Filing |
| 36 |  NPRKATHERINE R MAHERCEO PRESIDENT & CEO | $697,251 | Sep 2025 | $354,056,068 | 0.20% | 15% | Filing |
| 37 |  Susan G. KomenPaula SchneiderCEO President and CEO | $688,812 | Mar 2025 | $103,154,379 | 0.67% | 78% | Filing |
| 38 |  World VisionEDGAR SANDOVALCEO PRESIDENT & CEO | $647,930 | Sep 2025 | $1,423,305,144 | 0.05% | 3% | Filing |
| 39 |  Habitat for HumanityJONATHAN RECKFORDCEO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | $592,703 | Jun 2025 | $370,010,910 | 0.16% | 5% | Filing |
| 40 |  Special OlympicsMS MARY DAVISCEO CEO & PRESIDENT | $570,761 | Dec 2024 | $186,403,463 | 0.31% | 36% | Filing |
| 41 |  EastersealsKENDRA DAVENPORTCEO PRESIDENT & CEO | $559,769 | Dec 2025 | $47,513,200 | 1.18% | 99% | Filing |
| 42 |  Sierra ClubBENJAMIN JEALOUSCEO EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSee note 3. | $524,826 | Dec 2024 | $169,031,870 | 0.31% | 42% | Filing |
| 43 |  Wounded Warrior ProjectWALTER E PIATTCEO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER(AS OF 03/24) | $404,382 | Sep 2025 | $431,679,370 | 0.09% | 0% | Filing |
| 44 |  Doctors Without Borders USAAVRIL BENOITCEO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | $386,961 | Dec 2024 | $776,922,926 | 0.05% | 7% | Filing |
| 45 |  March of DimesCYNTHIA H RAHMANCEO INTERIM PRESIDENT/CEO (BEG 06/24) | $353,561 | Dec 2024 | $83,573,258 | 0.42% | 57% | Filing |
| 46 |  PETAJEFFREY KERRASST. SECRETARY (highest-paid; no CEO title on this return) | $208,310 | Jul 2025 | $110,179,122 | 0.19% | 10% | Filing |
- 1.Kaiser Foundation Hospitals reports the same executives and is listed on its own page.
- 2.American Cancer Society also filed a newer return that covers only 3 months, January 2025 to March 2025. A partial year is not comparable with a full one, so this row uses the latest full-year return.
- 3.Sierra Club also filed a newer return that covers only 6 months, January 2025 to June 2025. A partial year is not comparable with a full one, so this row uses the latest full-year return.
More rankings: CEO pay at nonprofit hospital systems, University president pay, or search every organization.
About the data
Every figure comes from a Form 990 e-file return the organization submitted to the IRS, which the IRS publishes as open data. Each row uses one return and links to it. Nothing is estimated, rounded or combined across years.
- Which return
- The most recent return that covers a full year. Short-year returns, filed when an organization changes its fiscal year, cover only a few months and are not used as the latest year. Where a return was amended, the amended version is used.
- What “total” means
- Part VII columns D, E and F added together: reportable pay from the organization, reportable pay from related organizations, and estimated other compensation. We add them up; each organization's page shows the three amounts separately.
- Timing
- Returns are due up to 10½ months after the fiscal year ends and usually appear in IRS data 12 to 18 months after the year ends, so the latest year here is a year or more old.
- Who counts as CEO
- The person whose filed title names them chief executive (CEO, chief executive officer or executive director). If none is listed, we show the highest-paid person and say so. Totals and percentages labeled as calculated are our arithmetic on figures from one filing.
The full rules are on the methodology page. To report an error or ask for a review, email corrections@ceopaycheck.com.
Common questions
Of the 46 organizations ranked here, the top total is $12,976,050 for Gregory Adams, Chairman & CEO of Kaiser Permanente (Health Plan), on its return for the fiscal year ending December 2024.
Across these 46 organizations the median is $1,194,082 (our calculation). 25 of them reported $1,000,000 or more for their CEO or top-paid person, and the lowest total on the list is $208,310 at PETA.
We use the person whose filed title names them chief executive. On 6 of these returns nobody has that title (for example, the top officer's title is just "President", or the title is given elsewhere on the return), so the row shows the highest-paid person instead and says so: Intermountain Health (IHC Health Services), NCAA, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Planned Parenthood, Samaritan's Purse, PETA.
Each row uses that organization's latest full-year return. Fiscal years end in different months, and returns reach the IRS's public data about 12 to 18 months after the year ends, so the rows here cover years ending from December 2024 to December 2025.
For 41 of the 46 organizations with a comparable figure it is under 1%. The highest share on this list is 3.72% at U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The percentage is our calculation: the total pay figure divided by total revenue from the same return.
No. The national organizations are listed here. Local Goodwills, United Ways, YMCAs and similar affiliates are separate nonprofits that file their own returns and pay their own CEOs.
The Salvation Army is classed by the IRS as a church and does not file a Form 990, so there is no filed pay figure to rank.