RFF's mission is to improve environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 11 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Environment organizations in District of Columbia.
- Base
- $264k
- Bonus
- $118k
- Other
- $50k
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $370k
- Bonus
- $15k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $300k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $267k
- Bonus
- $15k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $264k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $268k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $4k
- Base
- $252k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $248k
- Bonus
- $15k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $1k
- Base
- $255k
- Bonus
- $3k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $4k
- Base
- $224k
- Bonus
- $3k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $7k
- Base
- $156k
- Bonus
- $15k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President & CEO (oct-apr) Above 90th percentile | $264k | $118k | $50k | $11k | $496k $544k |
President & CEO (may-sept) 75th to 90th percentile | $370k | $15k | — | $11k | $455k $499k |
Senior Fellow Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $300k | — | — | — | $360k $394k |
Vp, Fin. & Admin. Vice President Above 90th percentilevs Environment peers nationwide | $267k | $15k | — | $11k | $333k $365k |
Senior Fellow Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $264k | — | — | $11k | $327k $359k |
Senior Fellow Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $268k | — | — | $4k | $313k $343k |
Senior Fellow Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $252k | — | — | $8k | $310k $340k |
Vp, Dev. & Inst. Strategy Vice President Above 90th percentilevs Environment peers nationwide | $248k | $15k | — | $1k | $302k $331k |
Senior Fellow Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $255k | $3k | — | $4k | $301k $330k |
Vp, Communications Vice President Above 90th percentilevs Environment peers nationwide | $224k | $3k | — | $7k | $263k $288k |
Chief of Staff Officer (Unspecified) | $156k | $15k | — | $8k | $190k $208k |
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 24 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at Resources for the Future Inc equaled 3% 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.
Down 21%
from 2022
From $628k in 2022 to $496k in 2023.
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 fell 21% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 23%.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 11% from 2022 to 2023.
- Vice President pay fell 3% 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 Resources for the Future Inc
What does the Chief Executive Officer of Resources for the Future Inc earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of Resources for the Future Inc received $496,019 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Environment 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 Resources for the Future Inc compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Environment organizations in District of Columbia, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at Resources for the Future Inc falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at Resources for the Future Inc equaled 3% of the organization's total expenses. The median for environment organizations is 11%.
What are Resources for the Future Inc's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, Resources for the Future Inc reported $16.9M in total revenue and $18.1M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
Compare any role, sector, or revenue band
Build your own benchmark from millions of reported positions.
Learn More About Nonprofit Compensation
Guides to help you understand and use this data
Nonprofit Executive Director Salary
What nonprofit executive directors earn, what drives the number, and how to use public compensation data whether you are a candidate, a current ED, or a board member.
Read moreHow to Look Up Nonprofit Salaries
Two approaches to finding executive compensation at any tax-exempt organization, from raw IRS filings to searchable databases.
Read moreAre Nonprofit Salaries Public?
What IRS Form 990 discloses about executive compensation, who has to report it, and how to look it up.
Read more