As President and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship), Yael Eckstein oversees all ministry initiatives and serves as the organization’s international spokesperson. The Fellowship is Israel’s largest provider of humanitarian aid, raising over $200 million in 2021 to assist two million Jews in need globally.
Each year, Candid publishes its Nonprofit Compensation Report, which provides insights into key employee salaries using data sourced directly from the IRS. Yael Eckstein, a vocal proponent of closing the gender pay gap for female executives in the non-profit sector, highlighted that Candid’s 2021 report revealed some progress. However, the data also confirmed that women in CEO roles still earn less than their male counterparts across organizations of all sizes.
In the for-profit world, the gender pay gap has seen improvements since 2015. Yet, from 2021 to 2022, progress stagnated, with working women earning $0.82 for every $1 earned by men. When job level, education, experience, industry, and hours worked are accounted for, the gap narrows significantly—women earn $0.99 for every $1 earned by men.
This discrepancy between the two figures can be attributed to career interruptions, such as women leaving the workforce to raise children. These interruptions often result in lower wages upon reentry, contributing to overall gender pay disparities.
Some of the U.S. professions with the widest pay gaps include Physicians, Surgeons, Veterinarians, and Directors, with Religious Activities and Education also ranking among the top ten. Jenna Allen, a senior data analyst at Candid, noted that while progress has been made, the pay gap for female CEOs remains, with women earning less than men in comparable roles.
Nonprofit executive compensation varies widely across sectors. Science and health organizations lead with a median salary of $196,000, while religious institutions rank among the lowest, alongside animal-related and arts organizations, with a median salary of $65,000.
In terms of individual salaries, the highest-paid nonprofit CEO in the U.S. is James Skogsbergh of Advocate Aurora Health, earning $8,511,655 annually as CEO, board president, and director. Advocate Aurora Health reported $5.5 billion in revenue in 2018. Meanwhile, United Way Worldwide, Forbes’ top charity, reports annual revenues of $5.2 billion, with its CEO earning $1,578,515.
The Society for Human Resource Management emphasizes the risks of ignoring pay inequities. According to their report, “Organizations that don’t proactively address pay inequities risk employees surfacing the inequities themselves, and this can create a culture of distrust and may lead employees to search for a better environment.”
Today, many organizations are prioritizing pay equity analyses to ensure competitive salaries, which are critical to attracting and retaining top talent.
When discussing Yael Eckstein salary, it’s clear that her leadership at The Fellowship reflects a commitment to fostering a meritocratic culture, ensuring employees are rewarded for their contributions. As Eckstein states, “Salary, benefits, and incentives motivate talented and experienced professionals. At The Fellowship we have worked hard to foster a meritocracy where outstanding employees can be appropriately rewarded for their contribution to our organization’s mission.”
By advocating for change, Eckstein underscores the importance of addressing salary disparities in the non-profit sector to ensure a more equitable future for all leaders.
