LIGHTHAWK FLIES TO SAVE THE EARTH. LIGHTHAWK EXISTS BECAUSE WE KNOW EXCELLENT CONSERVATION WORK CAN BE DONE WITH AIRCRAFT. MOST CONSERVATION GROUPS ARE UNAWARE OF THE EFFICIENCY SAVINGS AND IMPACT TO PERCEPTIONS AERIAL VIEWS CAN PROVIDE. EVEN WHEN THEY DO, FLIGHTS MAY SEEM UNAFFORDABLE TO THEM. LIGHTHAWK'S CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS IDENTIFY SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION ISSUES AND WORK WITH LEADING CONSERVATION PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO CO-DESIGN EFFECTIVE FLIGHT CAMPAIGNS WHERE AVIATION CAN QUICKLY ACCELERATE THE WORK TO MORE QUICKLY ACHIEVE SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES. ONCE CAMPAIGNS ARE DESIGNED, WE LEVERAGE A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF MORE THAN 350 HIGHLY-EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEER PILOTS WHO MAKE FLIGHTS AFFORDABLE BY DONATING THEIR TIME, AIRCRAFT, EXPERTISE AND FUEL. WE ARE ABLE PROVIDE FLIGHTS TO OUR PARTNERS WITHOUT CHARGE BECAUSE OF THE CHARITABLE SUPPORT OF OUR PILOTS.
Executive compensation
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 1 reported individual · Filing year 2024
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Environment organizations in Colorado.
| Position | Total |
|---|---|
CEO Median to 75th percentile | $123k $130k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the West region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 9 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at LIGHTHAWK equaled 13% of the organization's total expenses. The median for environment organizations is 11%.
Based on 4,942 environment 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.
Climbed 74%
over 2 years
From $71k in 2022 to $123k in 2024.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the West region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay rose 78% from 2022 to 2024, while revenue fell 61%.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2022 and 2024.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about LIGHTHAWK
What does the Chief Executive Officer of LIGHTHAWK earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of LIGHTHAWK received $122,537 in total compensation. This pay is above the median (the midpoint) for Chief Executive Officer roles among Environment organizations in Colorado, within the top half of comparable filings. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at LIGHTHAWK compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Environment organizations in Colorado, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at LIGHTHAWK falls between the median and the 75th percentile. In 2024, the highest total compensation at LIGHTHAWK equaled 13% of the organization's total expenses. The median for environment organizations is 11%.
What are LIGHTHAWK's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, LIGHTHAWK reported $729k in total revenue and $943k in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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