Comparing executive compensation to the job market is especially important for non-profit organizations. Balancing a mission-driven purpose with the need to attract and retain skilled leadership is essential for non-profits. By benchmarking executive pay against the broader market—including other non-profits and, where relevant, private sector peers—organizations can ensure compensation is competitive. Helping secure leaders with the expertise required to manage complex operations, fundraising, and community impact.
At the same time, non-profits face heightened scrutiny around how resources are allocated. Stakeholders, including donors, regulators, and the public, expect executive pay to be fair, reasonable, and directly tied to advancing the mission. Market comparisons provide objective data that supports transparency and helps boards justify compensation decisions in ways that maintain trust and credibility.
Benchmarking also allows non-profits to align pay with organizational values. Leaders are rewarded at levels that reflect both their responsibilities and the financial realities of the sector, avoiding extremes that could either deter strong candidates or damage the organization’s reputation.
PRM’s Non-Profit Executive Compensation survey is a valuable resource empowering organizations looking to strike the right balance. Our data is helpful in compensating executives competitively enough to drive organizational success, while maintaining the stewardship, accountability, and integrity that their stakeholders demand.
The 2025 Not-for-profit Compensation Survey is now available. Non-profit organizations receive a discount on the purchase price. Survey bundles that include past issues are also available. Nonprofit organizations qualify for a discount on purchasing the Survey or the Big Bundle, which pairs past issues with the most current survey. You can find the survey in the PRM Survey Shop.