THE SANTA FE INSTITUTE IS A TRANSDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH COMMUNITY THAT EXPANDS THE BOUNDARIES OF SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING. ITS AIM IS TO DISCOVER, COMPREHEND, AND COMMUNICATE THE COMMON FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES IN COMPLEX PHYSICAL, COMPUTATIONAL, BIOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS THAT UNDERLIE MANY OF THE MOST PROFOUND PROBLEMS FACING SCIENCE AND SOCIETY TODAY.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 10 reported individuals · Filing year 2024
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Science & Technology organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $345k
- Bonus
- $100k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $14k
- Base
- $292k
- Bonus
- $300
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $2k
- Base
- $202k
- Bonus
- $60k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $231k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $22k
- Base
- $225k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $186k
- Bonus
- $1k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $31k
- Base
- $174k
- Bonus
- $38k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $216
- Base
- $162k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $28k
- Base
- $189k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $551
- Base
- $150k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $20k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President 75th to 90th percentile | $345k | $100k | — | $14k | $472k $503k |
Distinguished Professor Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $292k | $300 | — | $2k | $306k $325k |
VP - Science Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $202k | $60k | — | $11k | $283k $301k |
Professor Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $231k | — | — | $22k | $262k $279k |
Professor Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $225k | — | — | $12k | $247k $263k |
Professor Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $186k | $1k | — | $31k | $227k $241k |
VP - Strategic Partnerships Board Vice President 25th percentile to median | $174k | $38k | — | $216 | $219k $233k |
Secretary/vp - Admin Secretary (Operational) 75th to 90th percentile | $162k | — | — | $28k | $197k $210k |
Professor Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | $189k | — | — | $551 | $197k $210k |
Chief Financial Officer 25th percentile to median | $150k | — | — | $20k | $177k $188k |
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 27 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at SANTA FE INSTITUTE equaled 3% of the organization's total expenses. The median for science & technology organizations is 9%.
Based on 1,078 science & technology 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 18%
from 2023
From $402k in 2023 to $472k 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 18% from 2023 to 2024, while revenue rose 461%.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay fell 8% from 2023 to 2024.
- Board Vice President pay fell 6% 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 SANTA FE INSTITUTE
What does the Chief Executive Officer of SANTA FE INSTITUTE earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of SANTA FE INSTITUTE received $472,082 in total compensation. This pay is in the top quarter for Chief Executive Officer roles among Science & Technology organizations nationwide, though not the top 10% of comparable filings. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at SANTA FE INSTITUTE compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Science & Technology organizations nationwide, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at SANTA FE INSTITUTE falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles. In 2024, the highest total compensation at SANTA FE INSTITUTE equaled 3% of the organization's total expenses. The median for science & technology organizations is 9%.
What are SANTA FE INSTITUTE's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, SANTA FE INSTITUTE reported $51.8M in total revenue and $17M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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