HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PARTISAN, ADVOCACY AND ACTION ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO ADVANCE FREE AND EQUAL SOCIETIES. WE HOLD PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE, PROTECT PEOPLE FROM INJUSTICE, AND STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONS THAT SAFEGUARD UNIVERSAL RIGHTS. FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS, HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST HAS BUILT BIPARTISAN COALITIONS AND WORKED WITH LAWYERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CHALLENGES. THE ORGANIZATION IS BASED IN NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND LOS ANGELES.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 15 reported individuals · Filing year 2024
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at International, Foreign Affairs & National Security organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $225k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $25k
- Base
- $165k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $34k
- Base
- $179k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $151k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $32k
- Base
- $171k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $7k
- Base
- $162k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $161k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $156k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $13k
- Base
- $156k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $134k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $25k
- Base
- $150k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $1k
- Base
- $125k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $24k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COO 75th to 90th percentile | $225k | — | — | $25k | $256k $277k |
Senior Director Global Humanitarian Protection Key Employee Median to 75th percentile | $165k | — | — | $34k | $204k $221k |
Director Donor Relations Key Employee Median to 75th percentile | $179k | — | — | $12k | $195k $210k |
Senior Director, Refugee Advocacy Key Employee Median to 75th percentile | $151k | — | — | $32k | $187k $202k |
Sr Vp, Finance Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $171k | — | — | $7k | $182k $197k |
Senior Director, Innovation Lab Key Employee Median to 75th percentile | $162k | — | — | $11k | $178k $193k |
Vp, Advocacy Board Vice President 25th percentile to median | $161k | — | — | $11k | $178k $192k |
President and CEO Median to 75th percentilevs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers in New York | $156k | — | — | $13k | $173k $187k |
Senior Director Accountability Key Employee 25th percentile to median | $156k | — | — | $11k | $172k $186k |
President and CEO 25th percentile to medianvs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers in New York | $134k | — | — | $25k | $162k $175k |
Senior Director, Refugee Representation Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to medianvs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers in New York | $150k | — | — | $1k | $156k $168k |
Technical Director, Innovation Lab Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to medianvs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers in New York | $125k | — | — | $24k | $153k $165k |
Chief Legal Officer Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to medianvs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers in New York | — | — | — | — | $147k $159k |
Senior Director Legal Services Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to medianvs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers in New York | — | — | — | — | $145k $157k |
Chief of Staff Highest Compensated Employee 10th to 25th percentilevs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers in New York | — | — | — | — | $144k $156k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 29 unpaid individuals.
Browse compensation in International, Foreign Affairs & National Security →
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for international, foreign affairs & national security organizations is 9%.
Based on 3,895 international, foreign affairs & national security 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 32%
from 2023
From $379k in 2023 to $256k in 2024.
Estimated with New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Key Employee pay fell 7% from 2023 to 2024, while revenue fell 48%.
- Vice President pay fell 3% from 2023 to 2024.
- Board Vice President pay fell 25% from 2023 to 2024.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2023 and 2024.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST
What does the Chief Operating Officer of HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST earn?
In 2024, the Chief Operating Officer of HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST received $256,453 in total compensation. This pay is in the top quarter for Chief Operating Officer roles among International, Foreign Affairs & National Security organizations nationwide, though not the top 10% of comparable filings. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Operating Officer pay at HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at International, Foreign Affairs & National Security organizations nationwide, the 2024 pay of the Chief Operating Officer at HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles. In 2024, the highest total compensation at HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for international, foreign affairs & national security organizations is 9%.
What are HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST reported $7.6M in total revenue and $12.2M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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