Christian Charities' CEO Salaries that Support Disaster Relief

The Daily Caller highlighted that “Christians Provide More Aid To Hurricane Victims Than FEMA” and this is a good thing. UMCOR was mentioned, which seems to be a top charity choice. Key questions for me are: Is the CEO salary reasonable? Is the money actually going to the cause? Is there transparency in the finances?

To gain some perspective, a list of mainly secular charities shows 17 CEO salaries of over $1-Million per year. While Franklin Graham's annual salary of $572,145. at Samaritan's Purse is merely half of this, it still seems excessive to me. The purse strings might be a little loose compared to the following five choices. The "Compensation of Leaders" section at Charity Navigator will the CEO salary if it is transparent and public.

1. World Relief (Evangelical relief agency)

Based in Baltimore, Maryland, this organization founded by the National Association of Evangelicals offers this as a mission introduction: "We believe God has equipped the church - the most diverse social network on the planet - to be at the center of these stories, leveraging time, energy and resources to join the vulnerable in their time of need..."

The President, CEO Stephan Bauman has a salary of $124,419. while the Senior Vice President of International Programs, Kevin Sanderson has an annual salary of $129,423. according to Charity Navigator.

This is a link to their hurricane relief page.

2. HOPE International (Christian micro-finance faith-based organization)

Based in Lancaster, PA, has a long-term mission “to invest in the dreams of families in the world’s underserved communities as they proclaim and live the Gospel,” HOPE International now operates in 16 underserved countries and has assisted hundreds of thousands of people through over 2.7 million loans. This linked post that they do not supply emergency relief, but long-term building assistance in places like Haiti after a hurricane in 2016.

The CEO / President Peter Greer receives an annual salary of $137,683 according to Charity Navigator and has their top rating of four stars.

3. Convoy of Hope (Non-denominational relief agency)

Convoy of Hope is a non-denominational faith-based charity that was founded in 1994 by the Donaldson family. Many people helped their family after their father, Harold, was killed by a drunk driver in 1969 and this inspired their beginning. They are based in Springfield, Missouri with a goal to bring help and hope to those who are impoverished, hungry and hurting.

The annual salary of $275,118 for President (Chief Executive), Co-Founder Hal Donaldson seems reasonable, in the context of the CEO salary of Franklin Graham and secular charities.

The USA hurricane relief page is noted here.

4. The Salvation Army (Relief and other Services)

The Salvation Army has a longstanding good reputation with a summary mission as follows: "Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination."

The main issue would be its immense size and bureaucracy. “Many people believe that The Salvation Army is as American as apple pie but in actuality, it is a global organization with its headquarters in London, England.”

According to this quote from a 2016 article: "W. Todd Bassett, National Commander of the Salvation Army, was paid (along with his wife, who also works for the organization) an estimated $94,091 in salary and benefits in 2003 (including house and car). (Source: Fayetteville Observer)".

The Salvation Army states:  "During emergency disasters, 100 percent of designated gifts are used to support specific relief efforts."

If you have any recommendations for good Christian relief charities that I've missed that have reasonable CEO salaries and transparent finances, let me know.

5. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)

UMCOR has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Their website states, “UMCOR spends 100 percent of designated donations on the projects our donors specify. When UMCOR donors give their time, money, and supplies, they join UMCOR as the hands and feet of Christ."

Rev. Dr. Denise Honeycutt is the deputy general secretary (Cheif Executive) of UMCOR and is a former missionary. Her 2017 salary of $127,202 seems reasonable.

One might want to be aware of the PC politics at UMC. The United Methodist Church’s top court has ruled that the consecration of an openly gay pastor as bishop is against church law. But the same ruled that the Rev. Karen Oliveto, its first openly gay bishop, “remains in good standing.”

Their hurricane relief page offers helpful advice on how to respond if you wish to.

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