Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is a regional nonprofit advocacy organization fighting climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. As the region's go-to experts for more than three decades, WRA's on-the-ground work advances clean energy, protects air, land, water, and wildlife. WRA develops, advocates for, and implements science-based policies informed by diverse communities and stakeholders to create a healthier and more equitable future for all Western communities. WRA creates transformational change by driving action at the state level to effectively address complex conservation problems in the West.
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 Crime & Legal-Related organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $262k
- Bonus
- $40k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $22k
- Base
- $205k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $203k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $195k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $21k
- Base
- $191k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $162k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $153k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $14k
- Base
- $151k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $149k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $136k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $19k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President Above 90th percentilevs Crime & Legal-Related peers in Colorado | $262k | $40k | — | $22k | $336k $358k |
Executive Vice President Median to 75th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | $205k | $10k | — | $12k | $236k $251k |
VP of Finance and Administration Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $203k | $10k | — | $12k | $235k $250k |
VP of Policy and Programs Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $195k | — | — | $21k | $223k $238k |
VP of People, Equity, and Culture Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $191k | $10k | — | $12k | $223k $238k |
Clean Energy Director Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $162k | — | — | $12k | $183k $195k |
Healthy Rivers Director Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $153k | — | — | $14k | $175k $186k |
Government Affairs Director Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $151k | — | — | $12k | $170k $181k |
Western Lands Director Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $149k | — | — | $12k | $168k $179k |
Marketing and Communicatons Director Director (Operational) 75th to 90th percentile | $136k | — | — | $19k | $155k $165k |
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 22 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at Western Resource Advocates equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for crime & legal-related organizations is 11%.
Based on 3,267 crime & legal-related 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 20%
from 2023
From $280k in 2023 to $336k 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 20% from 2023 to 2024, while revenue fell 42%.
- Vice President pay rose 21% from 2023 to 2024.
- Board Vice President pay rose 18% 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 Western Resource Advocates
What does the Chief Executive Officer of Western Resource Advocates earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of Western Resource Advocates received $336,065 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Crime & Legal-Related organizations in Colorado: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at Western Resource Advocates compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Crime & Legal-Related organizations in Colorado, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at Western Resource Advocates falls in the top 10%. In 2024, the highest total compensation at Western Resource Advocates equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for crime & legal-related organizations is 11%.
What are Western Resource Advocates's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, Western Resource Advocates reported $10.8M in total revenue and $13.5M 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