To increase and diffuse geographic knowledge in the broadest sense, using the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of the world.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 31 reported individuals · Filing year 2024
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Education organizations in District of Columbia.
- Base
- $1.6M
- Bonus
- $451k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $39k
- Base
- $640k
- Bonus
- $520k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $337k
- Bonus
- $193k
- Other
- $310k
- Benefits
- $19k
- Base
- $632k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $37k
- Base
- $586k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $38k
- Base
- $593k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $15k
- Base
- $563k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $31k
- Base
- $358k
- Bonus
- $163k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $2k
- Base
- $476k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $427k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $30k
- Base
- $445k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $7k
- Base
- $438k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $417k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $22k
- Base
- $383k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $36k
- Base
- $391k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $389k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $380k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $342k
- Bonus
- $6k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $34k
- Base
- $342k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $37k
- Base
- —
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $111k
- Benefits
- —
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CEO Above 90th percentile | $1.6M | $451k | — | $39k | $2.1M $2.2M |
Chief Investment Officer Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $640k | $520k | — | $27k | $1.2M $1.3M |
Former President/coo/treasurer Former Officer/director/trustee Above 90th percentilevs Education peers nationwide | $337k | $193k | $310k | $19k | $859k $912k |
Chief Advancement Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $632k | — | — | $37k | $668k $710k |
Chief Legal Officer Officer (Unspecified) | $586k | — | — | $38k | $624k $663k |
Chief Communications Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $593k | — | — | $15k | $608k $645k |
Chief Science & Innovation Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $563k | — | — | $31k | $594k $630k |
Director, Investments Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $358k | $163k | — | $2k | $523k $556k |
Chief Human Resources Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $476k | — | — | $27k | $503k $534k |
Chief of Staff & Program Alignment Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $427k | — | — | $30k | $458k $486k |
CFO & COO Above 90th percentile | $445k | — | — | $7k | $452k $480k |
Explorer in Residence Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $438k | — | — | $11k | $448k $476k |
Chief Education Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $417k | — | — | $22k | $439k $466k |
Chief Technology Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $383k | — | — | $36k | $419k $445k |
Chief Storytelling Officer & SVP Senior Vice President 75th to 90th percentilevs Education peers nationwide | $391k | — | — | $27k | $418k $444k |
Chief Explorer & Engagement Officer Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $389k | — | — | $27k | $415k $441k |
Chief Campus and Experiences Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $380k | — | — | $27k | $406k $432k |
Interim CFO Jan-apr Above 90th percentile | $342k | $6k | — | $34k | $382k $406k |
Chief Community Engagement & Social Impact Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $342k | — | — | $37k | $379k $403k |
CFO 10th to 25th percentile | — | — | $111k | — | $111k $118k |
Trustee Board Member Median to 75th percentile | — | — | — | — | $51k $54k |
Trustee Board Member 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $9k $10k |
Trustee Board Member 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $6k $7k |
Trustee Board Member 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $6k $7k |
Trustee Board Member 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $6k $7k |
Chairman Board Chair 10th to 25th percentilevs Education peers nationwide | — | — | — | — | $6k $7k |
Trustee Board Member 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $6k $7k |
Vice Chairman Board Vice Chair 25th percentile to medianvs Education peers nationwide | — | — | — | — | $6k $7k |
Trustee Board Member 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $6k $7k |
Trustee Board Member 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $6k $7k |
Trustee Board Member 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $6k $7k |
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 11 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY equaled 0.9% of the organization's total expenses. The median for education organizations is 7%.
Based on 26,320 education 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 39%
from 2023
From $1.5M in 2023 to $2.1M in 2024.
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 39% from 2023 to 2024, while revenue fell 10%.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 21% from 2023 to 2024.
- Key Employee pay rose 7% 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 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
What does the Chief Executive Officer of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY received $2,078,124 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Education organizations in District of Columbia: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Education organizations in District of Columbia, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY falls in the top 10%. In 2024, the highest total compensation at NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY equaled 0.9% of the organization's total expenses. The median for education organizations is 7%.
What are NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY reported $209.3M in total revenue and $220.5M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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