HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ("HRW") DEFENDS THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE. WE SCRUPULOUSLY INVESTIGATE ABUSES, EXPOSE THE FACTS WIDELY, AND PRESSURE THOSE WITH POWER TO RESPECT RIGHTS AND SECURE JUSTICE. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH IS AN INDEPENDENT, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS AS PART OF A VIBRANT MOVEMENT TO UPHOLD HUMAN DIGNITY AND ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 17 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at International, Foreign Affairs & National Security organizations in New York.
- Base
- $538k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $229k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $260k
- Benefits
- $28k
- Base
- $454k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $4k
- Benefits
- $40k
- Base
- $120k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $324k
- Benefits
- $17k
- Base
- $383k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $336k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $41k
- Base
- $341k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $3k
- Base
- $384k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $328k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $32k
- Base
- $270k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $6k
- Benefits
- $43k
- Base
- $277k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $756
- Benefits
- $48k
- Base
- $265k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $6k
- Benefits
- $15k
- Base
- $243k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $453
- Benefits
- $28k
- Base
- $215k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $19k
- Base
- $156k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $42k
- Benefits
- $17k
- Base
- $165k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Executive Director Above 90th percentile | $538k | — | $1k | $27k | $599k $669k |
Chief of Staff (thru 9/1/23) Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $229k | — | $260k | $28k | $539k $602k |
Executive Dir./coo (thru 4/30/24) Officer (Unspecified) | $454k | — | $4k | $40k | $530k $592k |
Director of Finance & Administration Above 90th percentile | $120k | — | $324k | $17k | $473k $528k |
Chief Advocacy Officer Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $383k | — | — | — | $418k $467k |
Chief Communications Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentilevs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers nationwide | $336k | — | $2k | $41k | $410k $458k |
Programs Director Key Employee Above 90th percentilevs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers nationwide | $341k | — | $1k | $3k | $407k $455k |
Development Officer (thru 5/16/24) Key Employee Above 90th percentilevs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers nationwide | $384k | — | — | — | $391k $437k |
General Counsel Officer (Unspecified) | $328k | — | $1k | $32k | $366k $409k |
Deputy Program Director Director (Operational) Above 90th percentile | $270k | — | $6k | $43k | $346k $386k |
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $277k | — | $756 | $48k | $325k $363k |
Legal and Policy Director Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $265k | — | $6k | $15k | $312k $348k |
Chief of People and Culture Officer Key Employee 75th to 90th percentilevs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers nationwide | $243k | — | $453 | $28k | $296k $330k |
For Operations/fmr. Acting Gc Former Officer/director/trustee 75th to 90th percentilevs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers nationwide | $215k | — | $1k | $19k | $257k $287k |
Former Chief Technology Officer Former Officer/director/trustee Median to 75th percentilevs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers nationwide | $156k | — | $42k | $17k | $231k $258k |
Director & Fmr. Jt. Acting COO Median to 75th percentilevs International, Foreign Affairs & National Security peers nationwide | $165k | — | — | — | $165k $184k |
Chief Financial Officer 10th to 25th percentile | — | — | — | — | $110k $123k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the Northeast region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 31 unpaid individuals.
Browse compensation in International, Foreign Affairs & National Security →
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC equaled 0.6% 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 79%
from 2022
From $2.8M in 2022 to $599k in 2023.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the Northeast region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay fell 79% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue fell 18%.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 27% from 2022 to 2023.
- Key Employee pay rose 2% 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 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC
What does the Chief Executive Officer of HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC received $599,312 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among International, Foreign Affairs & National Security organizations in New York: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at International, Foreign Affairs & National Security organizations in New York, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC equaled 0.6% of the organization's total expenses. The median for international, foreign affairs & national security organizations is 9%.
What are HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC reported $77.7M in total revenue and $107.8M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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