THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND (LDF) IS AMERICA'S PREMIER LEGAL ORGANIZATION FIGHTING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE. USING THE POWER OF LAW, NARRATIVE, RESEARCH, AND PEOPLE, WE DEFEND AND ADVANCE THE FULL DIGNITY AND CITIZENSHIP OF BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 12 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 New York.
- Base
- $534k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $53k
- Base
- $343k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $38k
- Base
- $352k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $20k
- Base
- $282k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $52k
- Base
- $270k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $42k
- Base
- $243k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $59k
- Base
- $263k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $18k
- Base
- $197k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $45k
- Base
- $199k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $39k
- Base
- $197k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $37k
- Base
- $212k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $18k
- Base
- $208k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $3k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President and Director-counsel Above 90th percentile | $534k | — | — | $53k | $623k $700k |
Assoc. Dir. Counsel Officer (Unspecified) | $343k | — | — | $38k | $400k $449k |
Chief Development Officer Above 90th percentilevs Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy peers nationwide | $352k | — | — | $20k | $392k $440k |
Director of Litigation Key Employee Above 90th percentilevs Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy peers nationwide | $282k | — | — | $52k | $371k $416k |
Chief Financial Officer Above 90th percentilevs Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy peers nationwide | $270k | — | — | $42k | $350k $392k |
Dir. of Strategic Int. Key Employee Above 90th percentilevs Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy peers nationwide | $243k | — | — | $59k | $338k $380k |
Chief Operating Officer Above 90th percentilevs Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy peers nationwide | $263k | — | — | $18k | $299k $335k |
Senior Counsel Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $197k | — | — | $45k | $254k $286k |
Manager, Redistricting Project Project Manager Above 90th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | $199k | — | — | $39k | $251k $281k |
Exe. Dir. Instit Giving Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $197k | — | — | $37k | $248k $278k |
Senior Counsel Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $212k | — | — | $18k | $243k $272k |
Of Counsel Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $208k | — | — | $3k | $224k $251k |
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 24 unpaid individuals.
Browse compensation in Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy →
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC 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 23%
from 2022
From $812k in 2022 to $623k in 2023.
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.
Chief Executive Officer pay rose 15% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 157%.
- Chief Development Officer pay rose 3% from 2022 to 2023.
- Key Employee pay rose 7% from 2022 to 2023.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2022 and 2023.
Revenue and expenses over time
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC reported revenue and expenses across 2 filing years.
What Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy executives earn in New York
Comparable civil rights, social action & advocacy organizations in New York pay their highest-earning executive a median of $125,000.
These are civil rights, social action & advocacy sector-wide figures, not this organization's reported pay. Based on 213 organizations across 213 filings (2022 – 2024).
See full Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy pay data for New York →Common questions about NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC
What does the Chief Executive Officer of NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC received $623,431 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy 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 NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy organizations in New York, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for civil rights, social action & advocacy organizations is 12%.
What are NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC reported $75.7M in total revenue and $58.5M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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