ADF EXISTS TO ADVANCE EVERY PERSON'S GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO LIVE AND SPEAK THE TRUTH, AND TO KEEP THE DOOR OPEN FOR THE GOSPEL. ADF DOES THIS WORK PRIMARILY THROUGH LITIGATION, LEGISLATIVE POLICY, AND LEGAL TRAINING. AS THE HUB OF A BROAD ALLIANCE, ADF SEEKS TO ASSIST ALLIES IN THE LEGAL COMMUNITY, CORPORATIONS, NONPROFITS, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCE GENERATIONAL WINS IN LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 18 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $164k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $700k
- Benefits
- $16k
- Base
- $533k
- Bonus
- $60k
- Other
- $810
- Benefits
- $29k
- Base
- $333k
- Bonus
- $307
- Other
- $510
- Benefits
- $21k
- Base
- $309k
- Bonus
- $8k
- Other
- $748
- Benefits
- $22k
- Base
- $290k
- Bonus
- $15k
- Other
- $199
- Benefits
- $22k
- Base
- $294k
- Bonus
- $307
- Other
- $360
- Benefits
- $29k
- Base
- $279k
- Bonus
- $307
- Other
- $403
- Benefits
- $29k
- Base
- $270k
- Bonus
- $307
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $28k
- Base
- $266k
- Bonus
- $307
- Other
- $462
- Benefits
- $29k
- Base
- $242k
- Bonus
- $14k
- Other
- $415
- Benefits
- $28k
- Base
- $262k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- $314
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $233k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $446
- Benefits
- $9k
- Base
- $184k
- Bonus
- $32k
- Other
- $316
- Benefits
- $5k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Former President and CEO Former Officer/director/trustee Above 90th percentile | $164k | — | $700k | $16k | $881k $936k |
Ceo, President & General Counsel Above 90th percentile | $533k | $60k | $810 | $29k | $635k $675k |
Executive Vice President 75th to 90th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | $333k | $307 | $510 | $21k | $369k $392k |
VP of Appellate Advocacy, Sr. Counsel Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $309k | $8k | $748 | $22k | $353k $375k |
Chief Legal Counsel Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $290k | $15k | $199 | $22k | $339k $360k |
Sr. Counsel, VP of Cma Engagement & Strategic Projects Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $294k | $307 | $360 | $29k | $335k $356k |
SVP of Development Senior Vice President Median to 75th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | $279k | $307 | $403 | $29k | $320k $340k |
Executive Director, Adf Foundation ( Part Year) Above 90th percentile | $270k | $307 | $2k | $28k | $311k $331k |
SVP Strategic Initiatives & Special Counsel to the President Senior Vice President Median to 75th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | $266k | $307 | $462 | $29k | $307k $326k |
SVP of Church and Ministry Alliance & Assistant General Counsel Senior Vice President Median to 75th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | $242k | $14k | $415 | $28k | $287k $305k |
Sr. Counsel, VP of Center for Life & Regulatory Practice Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $262k | $10k | $314 | — | $284k $301k |
Former Sr. Counsel, SVP of Training Senior Vice President Median to 75th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | $233k | — | $446 | $9k | $247k $262k |
Former Corporate Counsel Former Officer/director/trustee Above 90th percentile | $184k | $32k | $316 | $5k | $226k $240k |
Chairman ( Part Year) Board Chair 10th to 25th percentile | — | — | — | — | $4k $4k |
Vice Chairman / Chairman As of June 2024 Board Vice Chair 10th to 25th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | — | — | — | — | $3k $3k |
Director Board Member Below 10th percentile | — | — | — | — | $3k $3k |
Director Board Member Below 10th percentile | — | — | — | — | $2k $2k |
Director Board Member Below 10th percentile | — | — | — | — | $1k $1k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into April 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 2 unpaid individuals.
Browse compensation in Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy →
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at Alliance Defending Freedom equaled 0.8% of the organization's total expenses. The median for civil rights, social action & advocacy organizations is 12%.
Based on 2,364 civil rights, social action & advocacy organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.
Funded by
Private foundations whose Form 990-PF Part XV grants matched this organization.
Held steady
from 2022
From $881k in 2022 to $881k in 2023.
Estimated with Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into April 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Former Officer/director/trustee pay rose 264% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 9%.
- Chief Executive Officer pay fell 28% from 2022 to 2023.
- Executive Vice President pay rose 14% from 2022 to 2023.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2022 and 2023.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about Alliance Defending Freedom
What does the Former Officer/director/trustee of Alliance Defending Freedom earn?
In 2023, the Former Officer/director/trustee of Alliance Defending Freedom received $880,547 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Former Officer/director/trustee roles among Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy organizations nationwide: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Former Officer/director/trustee pay at Alliance Defending Freedom compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy organizations nationwide, the 2023 pay of the Former Officer/director/trustee at Alliance Defending Freedom falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at Alliance Defending Freedom equaled 0.8% of the organization's total expenses. The median for civil rights, social action & advocacy organizations is 12%.
What are Alliance Defending Freedom's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, Alliance Defending Freedom reported $110.7M in total revenue and $106.4M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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