At Words Alive, we know that whole communities thrive when everyone reads. Our programs empower learners facing extraordinary life circumstances such as unstable housing, poverty, foster care, and impact by the justice system. Words Alive prioritizes the populations disproportionately impacted by the literacy crisis.
Executive compensation
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 3 reported individuals · Filing year 2024
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California.
| Position | Total |
|---|---|
Executive Director Median to 75th percentile | $79k $85k |
Executive Director 25th percentile to median | $54k $58k |
Director of Finance Below 10th percentile | $1k $1k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 16 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at Words Alive equaled 7% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
Based on 17,098 arts, culture & humanities 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.
Fell 24%
over 2 years
From $105k in 2022 to $79k in 2024.
Estimated with San Diego-Carlsbad, 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 fell 24% from 2022 to 2024, while revenue fell 62%.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2022 and 2024.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about Words Alive
What does the Chief Executive Officer of Words Alive earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of Words Alive received $79,388 in total compensation. This pay is above the median (the midpoint) for Chief Executive Officer roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California, within the top half of comparable filings. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at Words Alive compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at Words Alive falls between the median and the 75th percentile. In 2024, the highest total compensation at Words Alive equaled 7% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are Words Alive's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, Words Alive reported $1.2M in total revenue and $1.1M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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