Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) litigates nationwide to secure all Americans' inalienable rights to live responsibly and productively in their pursuit of happiness. See Schedule O for full mission.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 14 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Crime & Legal-Related organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $545k
- Bonus
- $75k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $23k
- Base
- $328k
- Bonus
- $18k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $18k
- Base
- $252k
- Bonus
- $19k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $23k
- Base
- $244k
- Bonus
- $15k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $257k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $232k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $18k
- Base
- $222k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $23k
- Base
- $224k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $18k
- Base
- $215k
- Bonus
- $8k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $212k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $1k
- Base
- $214k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $23k
- Base
- $210k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $23k
- Base
- $215k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $18k
- Base
- $188k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $23k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President & CEO Above 90th percentilevs Crime & Legal-Related peers in California | $545k | $75k | — | $23k | $696k $762k |
Exec. VP Vice President Above 90th percentile | $328k | $18k | — | $18k | $415k $454k |
Secretary Secretary (Operational) Above 90th percentile | $252k | $19k | — | $23k | $340k $372k |
Treasurer Above 90th percentilevs Crime & Legal-Related peers in California | $244k | $15k | — | $12k | $314k $344k |
Director of Sop Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $257k | — | — | $12k | $291k $319k |
Seperation of Powers Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Crime & Legal-Related peers in California | $232k | — | — | $18k | $279k $305k |
Dir.of Equ & Opp Lit. Key Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $222k | — | — | $23k | $276k $302k |
VP of Legal Affairs Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $224k | — | — | $18k | $274k $300k |
VP of Comm & Marketing Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $215k | $8k | — | $12k | $265k $290k |
VP for Development Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $212k | $10k | — | $1k | $259k $284k |
Senior Attorney Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Crime & Legal-Related peers in California | $214k | — | — | $23k | $257k $281k |
Senior Attorney Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Crime & Legal-Related peers in California | $210k | — | — | $23k | $246k $270k |
Dir.of Prop Rights Lit Key Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $215k | — | — | $18k | $244k $267k |
Senior Attorney Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Crime & Legal-Related peers in California | $188k | $10k | — | $23k | $240k $262k |
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 16 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at Pacific Legal Foundation equaled 3% of the organization's total expenses. The median for crime & legal-related organizations is 11%.
Based on 3,267 crime & legal-related 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.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about Pacific Legal Foundation
What does the Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Legal Foundation earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Legal Foundation received $695,722 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Crime & Legal-Related organizations in California: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at Pacific Legal Foundation compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Crime & Legal-Related organizations in California, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at Pacific Legal Foundation falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at Pacific Legal Foundation equaled 3% of the organization's total expenses. The median for crime & legal-related organizations is 11%.
What are Pacific Legal Foundation's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, Pacific Legal Foundation reported $47.9M in total revenue and $27M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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