Candid releases most comprehensive report on U.S. nonprofit executive compensation

NEW YORK, Aug. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Candid today released its 2025 Nonprofit Compensation Report, the most comprehensive large-scale study of executive compensation in the social sector. Now in its 25th edition, the report draws exclusively from IRS Forms 990 and 990-EZ, analyzing 217,556 compensation records from 130,794 tax-exempt organizations for fiscal year 2023.

The data provides a detailed view of compensation trends across the sector, revealing consistent patterns based on organization size, location, and mission area, along with persistent gender disparities in executive pay.

Key findings from the 2025 Nonprofit Compensation Report include:

• Executive compensation varies widely by mission area. In 2023, median executive compensation was $68,958 at religion-related organizations and $109,600 at food, agriculture, and nutrition nonprofits. By comparison, science and technology research organizations reported a median of $202,490.
• Gender pay gap persists, especially at larger organizations. Female CEOs earned 75 cents for every dollar earned by male CEOs at nonprofits with annual budgets over $50 million. Women led 58% of nonprofits with budgets under $250,000, but just 31% of those with budgets over $50 million.
• Geographic location continues to influence compensation. In 2023, the District of Columbia reported the highest median executive pay at $189,088, followed by states in the Northeast. At the other end of the spectrum, Puerto Rico reported the lowest overall median at $73,600. Among U.S. states, Wyoming had the lowest median at $85,517.

"This continues to be the most comprehensive study of executive compensation in the social sector, and the largest to date," said Reina Mukai, senior data services manager at Candid. "The data helps organizations ask better questions and make more informed decisions about executive compensation grounded in what's happening across the field."

The full report breaks down compensation data by job title, budget size, state, metropolitan area, gender, and mission area.

To learn more about Candid's 2025 Nonprofit Compensation Report and download a sample report, visit this webpage. To request a media copy of the report, contact [email protected].

About Candid
Candid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides the most comprehensive data and insights about the social sector. Every year, millions of nonprofits spend trillions of dollars around the world. Candid finds out where that money comes from, where it goes, and why it matters. Candid was formed in 2019 when GuideStar and Foundation Center merged. Candid combined GuideStar's tools on nonprofits and Foundation Center's tools on foundations with new resources to offer more comprehensive, real-time information about the social sector. Find out more at candid.org and on LinkedIn and Instagram.

SOURCE Candid