Croner Compensation Survey of Foundations

Foundation Compensation Data and Benefits

Now in its 27th year, the Croner Compensation Survey of Foundations is conducted annually to provide up-to-date and accurate market compensation and benefits data to private, independent grantmaking foundations in the U.S. The Survey was expanded to also include community foundations as of 2019.

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. Foundations use the Survey results to benchmark compensation, understand salary differentials and establish rational pay structures.

Survey Participation Inquiries

To inquire about Survey participation and access to results, contact The Croner Company today.

World-Class Participants

In 2023, a total of 172 foundations participated in the Croner Compensation Survey of Foundations. Of the total participants, 125 are primarily grantmaking foundations, 11 are primarily operating foundations, 20 are a hybrid (both grantmaking and operating foundations) and 15 are community foundations. The geographic scope of grantmaking is: 35% international, 15% national, 26% multiple states / counties or cities, 15% state, 5% county and 4% city.

The report summarizes the total compensation and benefits programs of 172 participants and 216 benchmark positions. Of these positions, 178 had sufficient participant matches to report compensation data.

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Valuable Data for Critical Decisions

Participant organizations use our Survey results to understand salary differentials, benchmark sector-specific compensation, establish rational pay levels and pay structures and make well-informed decisions about their competitive bonus plans and equity plans.

Download PDF Survey Data

Significant Features

Of the Croner Compensation Survey of Foundations

  • The most comprehensive compensation and benefits survey of foundations – providing position data with cuts by asset size, staff size and location for base salary and bonus pay

  • Data on foundation demographics, salary administration, bonus practices, benefits and Board compensation

  • More jobs reported than any other survey of foundations – 175 positions surveyed

  • Most realistic assessment of the foundation’s total compensation investment, using proprietary methodology to quantify cost of benefits

  • Provides data for total compensation for executive positions and details on specific perks for executives

  • Separate data reported for Community Foundations

  • Opportunity to elevate participation status to Partner level – eligible for customized reports and attendance at the annual meeting for survey planning and networking

Key Dates and Survey Pricing

2024 Survey Schedule

Survey Planning Meeting for Partners: March 2024

Questionnaire Distribution: Late April

Data Effective Date: May 1

Questionnaire Due Date: June

Full Report of Results Published: September

Review of Results Webinar: October

Key Dates and Survey Pricing

2024 Survey Schedule

Survey Planning Meeting for Partners: March 2024

Questionnaire Distribution: Late April

Data Effective Date: May 1

Questionnaire Due Date: June

Full Report of Results Published: September

Review of Results Webinar: October

Confidentiality Yields Quality Results

The Croner Company conducts all of our surveys as an independent third party. You can trust us. We have many decades of experience successfully ensuring the security, confidentiality and consistency of the data we provide.

Confidentiality

All participant submissions are processed securely and held in strict confidence. Survey results are reported only in summary form; no attribution is made to any specific data from any participating entities.

Limited Distribution

Survey results are distributed only to the participants in each survey. All participants are required to sign an agreement that confirms they will abide by our confidentiality standards.

Safe Harbor Practices

The Croner Company’s data aggregation and reporting practices adhere to U.S. Department of Justice and industry standard “Safe Harbor” guidelines to ensure full regulatory compliance and enhance the integrity of all survey results.

Secure Data Management

All of our data submission, storage and distribution practices adhere to privacy and security standards established by the U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the joint E.U.-U.S. Privacy Shield Certification program. Click here for more information regarding our privacy policies.

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To Participate

To inquire about participating in this survey, contact us today.