THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND'S MISSION IS TO BUILD COMMUNITY SO YOUNG PEOPLE GROW UP WITH DIGNITY, HOPE, AND JOY. TO REALIZE THIS VISION, CDF PURSUES A MOVEMENT-BUILDING AND INSTITUTIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY TO BUILD POWER FOR CHILD-CENTERED PUBLIC POLICY INFORMED BY RACIAL EQUITY AND THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH. CDF SERVES AND ADVOCATES FOR THE LARGEST, MOST DIVERSE GENERATION IN AMERICA: THE 74 MILLION CHILDREN AND YOUTH UNDER THE AGE OF 18 AND 30 MILLION YOUNG ADULTS UNDER THE AGE OF 25, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. CDF IS THE ONLY NATIONAL, MULTI-ISSUE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WORKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF CHILD WELL-BEING AND RACIAL JUSTICE BY WIELDING THE MORAL AUTHORITY OF PROGRAMMATIC PROXIMITY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING TO INFORM PUBLIC POLICY.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 11 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy organizations in District of Columbia.
- Base
- $325k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $201k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $190k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $191k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $168k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $167k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $157k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $158k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President/ceo 75th to 90th percentile | $325k | — | — | — | $335k $367k |
Vice President, Strategy and Program Vice President 75th to 90th percentilevs Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy peers nationwide | $201k | — | — | — | $207k $227k |
California State Director and National Litigation Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $190k | — | — | — | $197k $216k |
VP of Institutional Advancement Vice President 75th to 90th percentilevs Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy peers nationwide | $191k | — | — | — | $197k $216k |
Director of Southern Regional Ofc Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $168k | — | — | — | $173k $190k |
New York State Director Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $167k | — | — | — | $172k $188k |
National Director, Cdf Freedom Schools Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | $157k | — | — | — | $162k $177k |
National Director, Public Affairs Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | $158k | — | — | — | $161k $176k |
Vice President Operations Vice President Median to 75th percentilevs Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy peers nationwide | — | — | — | — | $130k $142k |
President Emerita 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $121k $132k |
Chief of Staff Officer (Unspecified) | — | — | — | — | $30k $33k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 12 unpaid individuals.
Browse compensation in Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy →
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND equaled 1% 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.
Down 2%
from 2022
From $343k in 2022 to $335k in 2023.
Estimated with Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay fell 2% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 15%.
- Vice President pay fell 1% from 2022 to 2023.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 11% 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 CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND
What does the Chief Executive Officer of CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND received $335,200 in total compensation. This pay is in the top quarter for Chief Executive Officer roles among Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy organizations in District of Columbia, though not the top 10% of comparable filings. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy organizations in District of Columbia, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles. In 2023, the highest total compensation at CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for civil rights, social action & advocacy organizations is 12%.
What are CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND reported $20.2M in total revenue and $33.5M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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