Wake Forest University, a 501(c)(3) institution of higher education, is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the liberal arts and in graduate and professional education. The organization is comprised of seven constituent parts: Wake Forest College; the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; the School of Law; the School of Medicine; the School of Business; the School of Divinity; and the School of Professional Studies. It seeks to honor the ideals of liberal learning, which entail commitment to transmission of cultural heritages; teaching the modes of learning in the basic disciplines of human knowledge; developing critical appreciation of moral, aesthetic and religious values; advancing the frontiers of knowledge through in-depth study and research; and applying knowledge in the service of humanity.
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 Education organizations in North Carolina.
- Base
- $4.7M
- Bonus
- $30k
- Other
- $80k
- Benefits
- $45k
- Base
- $2.2M
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $44k
- Benefits
- $38k
- Base
- $1M
- Bonus
- $359k
- Other
- $74k
- Benefits
- $75k
- Base
- $798k
- Bonus
- $310k
- Other
- $39k
- Benefits
- $52k
- Base
- $563k
- Bonus
- $49k
- Other
- $430k
- Benefits
- $30k
- Base
- $651k
- Bonus
- $60k
- Other
- $302k
- Benefits
- $51k
- Base
- $1M
- Bonus
- $45k
- Other
- $8k
- Benefits
- $40k
- Base
- $672k
- Bonus
- $238k
- Other
- $6k
- Benefits
- $16k
- Base
- $848k
- Bonus
- $45k
- Other
- $8k
- Benefits
- $31k
- Base
- $671k
- Bonus
- $55k
- Other
- $16k
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $463k
- Bonus
- $48k
- Other
- $180k
- Benefits
- $35k
- Base
- $385k
- Bonus
- $273k
- Other
- $6k
- Benefits
- $13k
- Base
- $490k
- Bonus
- $38k
- Other
- $11k
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $498k
- Bonus
- $40k
- Other
- $12k
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $516k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $258
- Benefits
- $30k
- Base
- $296k
- Bonus
- $75k
- Other
- $16k
- Benefits
- $18k
- Base
- $278k
- Bonus
- $75k
- Other
- $423
- Benefits
- $37k
- Base
- $234k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $56k
- Benefits
- $7k
- Base
- $218k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $635
- Benefits
- $21k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Football Coach Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $4.7M | $30k | $80k | $45k | $4.9M $5.3M |
Men's Bktball Co Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $2.2M | — | $44k | $38k | $2.3M $2.6M |
President & Trustee Board Member Above 90th percentile | $1M | $359k | $74k | $75k | $1.8M $2M |
Director of Athletics Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $798k | $310k | $39k | $52k | $1.3M $1.4M |
Former Evp, Cfo, Treas Former Officer/director/trustee Above 90th percentilevs Education peers nationwide | $563k | $49k | $430k | $30k | $1.2M $1.3M |
SVP - Advancement Senior Vice President Above 90th percentilevs Education peers nationwide | $651k | $60k | $302k | $51k | $1.1M $1.3M |
F'ball Offensive Coordinat Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $1M | $45k | $8k | $40k | $1.1M $1.2M |
Baseball Coach Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $672k | $238k | $6k | $16k | $965k $1.1M |
F'ball Defensive Coordinat Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $848k | $45k | $8k | $31k | $948k $1M |
Provost Officer (Unspecified) | $671k | $55k | $16k | $27k | $902k $985k |
S.vp, Sec, G.c. Vice President Above 90th percentile | $463k | $48k | $180k | $35k | $799k $873k |
Evp, Cfo, Treas Above 90th percentile | $385k | $273k | $6k | $13k | $794k $867k |
Dean, School of Profession Former Officer/director/trustee Above 90th percentilevs Education peers nationwide | $490k | $38k | $11k | $27k | $684k $747k |
Dean, School of Business Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $498k | $40k | $12k | $27k | $594k $649k |
Former Provost Former Officer/director/trustee Above 90th percentilevs Education peers nationwide | $516k | — | $258 | $30k | $579k $632k |
Vp, Corp. Sec, G.c. Vice President Above 90th percentile | $296k | $75k | $16k | $18k | $420k $458k |
Interim Dean, Wake Forest College Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $278k | $75k | $423 | $37k | $417k $456k |
Dean, Wake Forest College Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $234k | — | $56k | $7k | $309k $337k |
Asst Secretary Secretary (Operational) 75th to 90th percentilevs Education peers nationwide | $218k | — | $635 | $21k | $262k $286k |
EVP Health Aff. Executive Vice President 10th to 25th percentilevs Education peers nationwide | — | — | — | — | $50k $55k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the South region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 49 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY equaled 0.7% 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 $4.8M in 2022 to $4.9M in 2023.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the South region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 1% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 11%.
- Board Member pay rose 5% from 2022 to 2023.
- Key Employee pay rose 18% 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 WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
What does the Highest Compensated Employee of WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY earn?
In 2023, the Highest Compensated Employee of WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY received $4,852,642 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Highest Compensated Employee roles among Education organizations in North Carolina: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Highest Compensated Employee pay at WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Education organizations in North Carolina, the 2023 pay of the Highest Compensated Employee at WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY equaled 0.7% of the organization's total expenses. The median for education organizations is 7%.
What are WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY reported $764.4M in total revenue and $705.7M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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