Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities.
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 Animal-Related organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $557k
- Bonus
- $45k
- Other
- $7k
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $272k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $810
- Benefits
- $14k
- Base
- $273k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $10k
- Base
- $246k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $810
- Benefits
- $31k
- Base
- $267k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $4k
- Base
- $198k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $31k
- Base
- $190k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $3k
- Benefits
- $26k
- Base
- $180k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $5k
- Benefits
- $14k
- Base
- $175k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $13k
- Base
- $171k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $823
- Benefits
- $13k
- Base
- $158k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $295
- Benefits
- $3k
- Base
- $125k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $29k
- Base
- $135k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $6k
- Benefits
- $13k
- Base
- $154k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $2k
- Base
- $128k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $12k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President/ceo, Until July 2024 Above 90th percentile | $557k | $45k | $7k | $8k | $638k $699k |
Vp, Finance and Cfo, Until July 2024 Above 90th percentile | $272k | — | $810 | $14k | $306k $336k |
Svp, Operations, Until Sept 2024 Senior Vice President Median to 75th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | $273k | — | $2k | $10k | $304k $334k |
Vp, Integrated Marketing Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $246k | — | $810 | $31k | $296k $325k |
Vp, Development Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $267k | — | $1k | $4k | $292k $320k |
Chief of Staff Key Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $198k | — | $1k | $31k | $244k $268k |
Vp, Government Relations Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $190k | — | $3k | $26k | $233k $256k |
Vp, Species Conservation & Coexistence Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $180k | — | $5k | $14k | $212k $232k |
Vp, Human Resources Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $175k | — | $2k | $13k | $198k $217k |
Vp, Conservation Law Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $171k | — | $823 | $13k | $197k $216k |
Vp, Conservation Research and Innovation Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $158k | — | $295 | $3k | $172k $189k |
Senior Attorney Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $125k | — | $1k | $29k | $165k $181k |
Director, Legislative Affairs Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $135k | — | $6k | $13k | $163k $179k |
Svp, External Affairs Senior Vice President 25th percentile to medianvs all sectors nationwide | $154k | — | $2k | $2k | $158k $173k |
Director of Philanthropy Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $128k | — | $2k | $12k | $151k $165k |
Director, Gift Planning Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $150k $164k |
Director, Conservation Policy Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $141k $154k |
Svp, Conservation Programs Senior Vice President 10th to 25th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | — | — | — | — | $104k $114k |
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 19 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at Defenders of Wildlife equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for animal-related organizations is 8%.
Based on 3,692 animal-related 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.
Up 4%
from 2022
From $616k in 2022 to $638k 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 rose 4% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue held roughly steady.
- Chief Financial Officer pay rose 6% from 2022 to 2023.
- Board Vice President pay rose 5% 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 Defenders of Wildlife
What does the Chief Executive Officer of Defenders of Wildlife earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of Defenders of Wildlife received $637,865 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Animal-Related organizations nationwide: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at Defenders of Wildlife compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Animal-Related organizations nationwide, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at Defenders of Wildlife falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at Defenders of Wildlife equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for animal-related organizations is 8%.
What are Defenders of Wildlife's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, Defenders of Wildlife reported $36.1M in total revenue and $35.2M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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