THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION (BROOKINGS) IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC POLICY ORGANIZATION THAT CONDUCTS IN-DEPTH, INDEPENDENT RESEARCH THAT LEADS TO NEW IDEAS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS FACING SOCIETY AT THE LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL LEVEL. HEADQUARTERED IN WASHINGTON, DC, BROOKINGS IS ORGANIZED INTO FIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS, FOREIGN POLICY, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, GOVERNANCE, AND METROPOLITAN POLICY. BROOKINGS ACHIEVES IMPACT BY PROVIDING POLICY ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON PRESSING POLICY CHALLENGES, WHICH ARE DISSEMINATED THROUGH REPORTS, BOOKS, MEDIA APPEARANCES, OP-EDS, BLOG POSTS, MEETINGS, EVENTS, CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY, AND BRIEFINGS.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 20 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at nonprofits nationwide, across all sectors.
- Base
- $683k
- Bonus
- $50k
- Other
- $345
- Benefits
- $727
- Base
- $596k
- Bonus
- $25k
- Other
- $990
- Benefits
- $37k
- Base
- $496k
- Bonus
- $24k
- Other
- $990
- Benefits
- $26k
- Base
- $485k
- Bonus
- $32k
- Other
- $990
- Benefits
- $26k
- Base
- $402k
- Bonus
- $19k
- Other
- $990
- Benefits
- $28k
- Base
- $356k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $975
- Benefits
- $29k
- Base
- $325k
- Bonus
- $17k
- Other
- $645
- Benefits
- $37k
- Base
- $342k
- Bonus
- $5k
- Other
- $975
- Benefits
- $32k
- Base
- $292k
- Bonus
- $41k
- Other
- $21k
- Benefits
- $24k
- Base
- $320k
- Bonus
- $16k
- Other
- $345
- Benefits
- $31k
- Base
- $360k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $645
- Benefits
- $31k
- Base
- $316k
- Bonus
- $15k
- Other
- $150
- Benefits
- $35k
- Base
- $306k
- Bonus
- $6k
- Other
- $990
- Benefits
- $30k
- Base
- $324k
- Bonus
- $12k
- Other
- $345
- Benefits
- $1k
- Base
- $326k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $939
- Benefits
- $727
- Base
- $271k
- Bonus
- $38k
- Other
- $345
- Benefits
- $23k
- Base
- $234k
- Bonus
- $13k
- Other
- $645
- Benefits
- $43k
- Base
- $210k
- Bonus
- $11k
- Other
- $225
- Benefits
- $14k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President (thru 12/23)/pres. Advisor/sr. Fellow Above 90th percentilevs Social Science peers in District of Columbia | $683k | $50k | $345 | $727 | $796k $872k |
General Counsel Officer (Unspecified) | $596k | $25k | $990 | $37k | $659k $723k |
Sr Fllw & Dir, Tax Policy Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Social Science peers nationwide | $496k | $24k | $990 | $26k | $586k $643k |
Sr VP of Finance & COO Above 90th percentile | $485k | $32k | $990 | $26k | $567k $621k |
Chief Investment Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $402k | $19k | $990 | $28k | $490k $537k |
Sr Fellow & Chair, Dillon Board Chair Above 90th percentile | $356k | — | $975 | $29k | $425k $466k |
VP & Dir., Foreign Policy Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $325k | $17k | $645 | $37k | $420k $460k |
Sr Fellow & Dir, Hutchins Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Social Science peers nationwide | $342k | $5k | $975 | $32k | $419k $459k |
Chief Information Officer 75th to 90th percentile | $292k | $41k | $21k | $24k | $416k $456k |
VP & Director, Global Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $320k | $16k | $345 | $31k | $407k $446k |
Sr. Fellow, Brookings Metro Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Social Science peers nationwide | $360k | — | $645 | $31k | $401k $439k |
Vp, Chief Devel. Officer Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $316k | $15k | $150 | $35k | $389k $427k |
Interim VP & Dir., Global Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $306k | $6k | $990 | $30k | $381k $418k |
Interim VP and Director - Metro Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $324k | $12k | $345 | $1k | $377k $413k |
Senior Fellow Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Social Science peers nationwide | $326k | — | $939 | $727 | $367k $403k |
VP & Chief HR Officer Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $271k | $38k | $345 | $23k | $366k $401k |
Vp, Executive Affairs Executive Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $234k | $13k | $645 | $43k | $321k $352k |
Chief Communications Officer Key Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $210k | $11k | $225 | $14k | $260k $285k |
Dir Board Rltns, Asstnt Sec Board Officer (Unspecified) | — | — | — | — | $146k $160k |
President (as of 01/24) 10th to 25th percentilevs Social Science peers in District of Columbia | — | — | — | — | $56k $61k |
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 53 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION equaled 0.8% of the organization's total expenses. The median for social science organizations is 12%.
Based on 435 social science 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 33%
from 2022
From $597k in 2022 to $796k 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 rose 39% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 22%.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 1% from 2022 to 2023.
- Chief Operating Officer pay rose 152% 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 THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION
What does the Chief Executive Officer of THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION received $795,755 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Social Science 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 THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Social Science organizations in District of Columbia, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION equaled 0.8% of the organization's total expenses. The median for social science organizations is 12%.
What are THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION reported $109M in total revenue and $102.3M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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