Nonprofit Compensation Studies
Data-driven guidance to help nonprofits offer competitive, compliant compensation.
Nonprofit compensation decisions require balancing mission, market realities, donor expectations, and regulatory requirements. CapinCrouse’s Nonprofit Compensation Studies provide objective, documented analysis to assist nonprofit leaders and boards in making informed, defensible compensation decisions that help attract and retain qualified employees.
What Are Nonprofit Compensation Studies?
Nonprofit compensation studies are structured analyses that evaluate whether an organization’s compensation levels are competitive, reasonable, and aligned with IRS requirements and nonprofit best practices.
Nonprofit leaders and boards often ask:
- Are our salaries competitive in today’s job market?
- Are our executive compensation packages reasonable and compliant?
- How can we support recruitment and retention while stewarding our resources wisely?
CapinCrouse provides clear, practical insights to help nonprofits answer these questions with confidence.
Why Compensation Studies Matter for Nonprofits
Like all employers, nonprofits need to find and keep talented employees. But they also need to do this while stewarding limited resources, maintaining donor and stakeholder trust, and competing with other nonprofit and for-profit organizations for top talent.
A well-designed compensation study helps nonprofit organizations:
- Recruit and retain qualified, mission-aligned staff
- Demonstrate financial transparency and accountability
- Support board oversight and governance responsibilities
- Comply with complex IRS rules around executive compensation
- Reduce the risk of penalties or reputational harm
How Nonprofits Can Benefit from Customized Reporting and Market Benchmarking
Unlike general nonprofit salary surveys and reports, each CapinCrouse nonprofit compensation study is tailored to your organization and prepared by our experienced compensation specialists.
We use:
- The most current nonprofit compensation salary data available
- Comprehensive peer comparisons
- Job-specific benchmarking and market analysis
This saves you time and effort while providing detailed information specific to your organization. Your nonprofit is unique, and your compensation strategy should be as well.
Our Nonprofit Compensation Study Services
CapinCrouse offers two types of nonprofit compensation studies to meet your needs.
1. Nonprofit Executive Compensation Study
Our Nonprofit Executive Compensation Study focuses on executive-level positions. It is designed to help boards and leaders evaluate executive compensation effectively and responsibly.
This study helps nonprofits:
- Assess the competitiveness and reasonableness of their executive compensation
- Support compliance with IRS rules
- Strengthen governance and documentation practices around executive compensation
- Protect executives and board members from costly penalties
2. Nonprofit Employee Compensation Market Study
Our Nonprofit Employee Compensation Market Study equips organizations to make informed compensation decisions for non-executive roles across the organization.
This study includes:
- Analysis of each unique position and compensation using industry databases
- Development of job matches and market benchmarks
What You’ll Receive
Each CapinCrouse nonprofit compensation study provides a detailed report and targeted data to help your organization make informed compensation decisions and align your salary and benefits packages with market best practices.
Why Choose CapinCrouse for Nonprofit Compensation Studies?
With over 50 years of experience exclusively serving nonprofits, we know how crucial it is to find and keep dedicated, passionate employees who align with your mission.
CapinCrouse has a deep understanding of the complexities of the nonprofit sector, the operational and financial challenges you face, and the complex IRS rules around nonprofit executive compensation.
Get the Compensation Insight You Need
A thoughtful, well-documented compensation strategy can help your nonprofit fulfill its mission now—and into the future.
Contact CapinCrouse to learn how our nonprofit compensation studies can help you make confident, informed compensation decisions.
Additional Nonprofit Compensation Resources
We are committed to helping nonprofits current on the latest compensation trends and considerations. Explore these insights from our team:
How to Create a Compensation Philosophy and Policy for Your Organization
5 Common Questions About Nonprofit CEO Compensation
Planning for Success: Key Factors for Nonprofit Executive Compensation
Four Questions to Ask About Executive Compensation at Your Organization
Nonprofit Founder Compensation Considerations
Economic Forecast and Impact of Inflation on Revenue and Compensation