REASON FOUNDATION ADVANCES A FREE SOCIETY BY DEVELOPING, APPLYING, AND PROMOTING LIBERTARIAN PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, FREE MARKETS, AND THE RULE OF LAW. WE USE JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH TO INFLUENCE THE FRAMEWORKS AND ACTIONS OF POLICYMAKERS, JOURNALISTS, AND OPINION LEADERS.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 12 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Education organizations in California.
- Base
- $344k
- Bonus
- $75k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $177k
- Bonus
- $55k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $14k
- Base
- $169k
- Bonus
- $55k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $18k
- Base
- $215k
- Bonus
- $20k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $180k
- Bonus
- $40k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $18k
- Base
- $215k
- Bonus
- $20k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $360
- Base
- $162k
- Bonus
- $60k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $152k
- Bonus
- $50k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $18k
- Base
- $142k
- Bonus
- $20k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $319
- Base
- $130k
- Bonus
- $18k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $154k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $319
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President, CEO Above 90th percentile | $344k | $75k | — | $8k | $532k $587k |
Vice President Policy Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $177k | $55k | — | $14k | $246k $271k |
Chief Financial Officer 75th to 90th percentile | $169k | $55k | — | $18k | $242k $268k |
Editor at Large Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $215k | $20k | — | $8k | $242k $268k |
Vp/editor-in-chief Officer (Unspecified) | $180k | $40k | — | $18k | $238k $263k |
Founder, Dir of Transportation Policy Officer (Unspecified) | $215k | $20k | — | $360 | $235k $260k |
VP Government Reform Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $162k | $60k | — | $8k | $229k $254k |
VP Operations Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $152k | $50k | — | $18k | $220k $243k |
Director of Development 25th percentile to median | $142k | $20k | — | $319 | $162k $180k |
Dir of Donor Communications Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | $130k | $18k | — | $8k | $156k $172k |
Marketing Director Director (Operational) Median to 75th percentile | $154k | — | — | $319 | $155k $171k |
Executive Editor Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $148k $163k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 22 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE REASON FOUNDATION equaled 3% 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 1%
from 2022
From $526k in 2022 to $532k in 2023.
Estimated with Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 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 1% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 51%.
- Vice President pay rose 3% from 2022 to 2023.
- Chief Financial Officer pay rose 5% 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 REASON FOUNDATION
What does the Chief Executive Officer of THE REASON FOUNDATION earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of THE REASON FOUNDATION received $531,582 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Education 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 THE REASON FOUNDATION compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Education organizations in California, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at THE REASON FOUNDATION falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE REASON FOUNDATION equaled 3% of the organization's total expenses. The median for education organizations is 7%.
What are THE REASON FOUNDATION's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, THE REASON FOUNDATION reported $23.3M in total revenue and $19.9M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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