Non-Profit Executive Compensation Consulting
Compliant, Accountable, Mission-Driven Executive Compensation
Salary.com’s consultants will help you design non-profit executive compensation programs that align leadership performance with your organization’s mission and long-term goals. We help you navigate complex regulations, meet board and donor expectations, and remain competitive—while upholding your commitment to stewardship and transparency.
Where Mission, Accountability, and Compensation Meet
In the nonprofit sector, executive compensation is scrutinized by leadership, boards, donors, regulators, and the public alike.
It’s not enough to arrive at a fair answer—you must also show your work: demonstrating rigor, defensibility, and alignment with mission outcomes.
We'll help you build an executive compensation package that:
Aligns with Your Organizational Objectives
We tailor total compensation programs that support your mission—using metrics that matter to your leadership team, board, and funders.
Attracts and Retains the Right Talent
Using Salary.com’s CompAnalyst® and sector-specific benchmarks, we help you price roles competitively while staying true to your nonprofit values.
Peer group analysis: We can help you select an appropriate peer group to assess executive compensation practices among similar nonprofit organizations using IRS Form 990 filings.
Stands Up to Scrutiny
We’ll help you develop executive compensation packages that stand up to public, regulatory, and donor scrutiny. Our consultants bring decades of cross-sector experience with deep expertise in nonprofit governance, IRS guidelines, public disclosure, and compensation strategy—ensuring your pay is transparent and defensible.
Our Process: Tailored, Transparent, and Mission-Aligned
Our process starts by understanding your organizational goals, stakeholder expectations, and governance structure. Then we tailor a strategy that reflects sector benchmarks and your leadership priorities.
We ensure your executive compensation is competitive, compliant, impact-driven, and aligned with the values of your organization and its supporters.
A typical engagement includes the following core steps:
Compensation Data Collection
We begin with structured interviews with key members of your leadership team—typically including the Executive Director, CFO, CHRO, and Board Chair—to understand your goals and challenges. These conversations surface the performance outcomes and incentive structures most critical to advancing your mission.
We review:
- Pay mix: Base salary, annual incentives, and deferred compensation
- Performance metrics: Mission outcomes, program goals, and operational impact
- Long-term incentive vehicles: SERPs, retention bonuses, or alternative nonprofit-friendly options
- Current compensation policies: Governance practices and alignment with stewardship principles
Market Benchmarking and Competitiveness Assessment
We benchmark executive roles using trusted nonprofit data and peer insights to assess fairness and competitiveness. Our goal is to ensure your pay practices meet market standards while honoring public trust.
We use:
- Salary.com’s CompAnalyst®, the industry’s leading pay data solution
- Peer group Form 990s: Public disclosures from comparable nonprofits
- Additional data: Relevant third-party surveys
You Will Get
We deliver data-backed insights and practical recommendations that help your board make informed, defensible compensation decisions. Each deliverable is designed to build stakeholder trust and reinforce your commitment to transparency and mission alignment.
Deliverables:
- Market comparison report: A detailed look at how your compensation compares to peer organizations
- Strategic recommendations: Guidance for aligning pay with mission outcomes and governance standards
- Financial impact analysis: Modeling of proposed changes to support board decisions and budget planning
- Provide a rebuttable presumption of reasonableness letter to comply with IRS Code Section 4958
Why Choose Salary.com’s Consultants
Diversified and Experienced Team
Our individual consultants have decades of experience in a variety of industries. We have the knowledge and skills to help you in your specific organization, industry, and circumstances.
High-Touch Communication
Clear communication is a cornerstone of our process, and we will be with you every step of the way. Our team of consultants are available to provide guidance and support.
Salary.com’s Powerful Solutions
We leverage Salary.com’s industry-leading total compensation management platform, making full use of its trusted data and award-winning compensation solutions.
An Extra Set of Hands
Serious analysis is a big undertaking that all too often gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. This is a mistake, and everyone knows it, but sometimes your internal team just can’t get the time. Our consultants provide the extra resources and expertise to implement your compensation initiatives.
Third-Party Neutrality
Bringing in outside help demonstrates your commitment to fairness, transparency, and impartiality. It also guarantees a level of discretion not always possible within an organization.
Organizations Getting It Right
Insights You Need to Get It Right
