Survey addresses benefit, salary issues for nonprofit organizations

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Late last year, the chief executive officers of approximately 60 nonprofit or-ganizations mailed out a survey to all of the nonprofits in Springfield.|ret||ret||tab|

The survey, published in early Decem-ber 2001, was done under the auspices of the Springfield Area Chamber of Com-merce, which started a roundtable for the chief executive officers of not-for-profit organizations about 10 years ago. According to Suzette West, program coordinator for the chamber's community de-velopment department, the survey in-cludes a list of all the full-time positions of participating organizations, the salary of each position and what benefits each organization offers its employees. The benefits range from employee parking to health and dental benefits, maternity leave and paid vacation time. |ret||ret||tab|

West said the survey divided organizations according to their annual budgets, with the highest being more than $5 million. Of the 40 organizations represented in the survey, the largest percentage 25 percent fell into the $1 million to $2 million annual budget category. |ret||ret||tab|

The survey indicated that the median pay for the CEO of a nonprofit in this area is $68,279. The minimum a nonprofit CEO is paid is $60,742, and the maximum is $94,547. |ret||ret||tab|

Among the more common benefits provided by nonprofit entities are individual health and dental insurance and vacation time. |ret||ret||tab|

However, most area nonprofit employers don't pay for family benefits. Of the 40 organizations whose CEOs completed the survey, 17 paid for family dental care, but the other 23 organizations don't pay for family dental coverage.|ret||ret||tab|

Nine of the surveyed nonprofit em-ployers pay for family health insurance, but the remaining 31 don't contribute anything toward it. |ret||ret||tab|

In regard to pension plans, 26 of the organizations surveyed do have pension plans, and the average amount paid into those plans is 5 percent. |ret||ret||tab|

The benefits not offered by most nonprofits include bonuses, child care, education reimbursement and a relocation package, should the employee decide to relocate for a position. |ret||ret||tab|

"The members of the roundtable realized it was a different world in the non-profit sector as opposed to the for-profit arena," West said. "We realized that it's difficult to attract employees and keep them if you can't keep up with the benefits and salaries of for-profit companies. The survey was defined as a need in the community."|ret||ret||tab|

West added that the chamber hopes to update and re-publish the survey every two years so the information stays fresh and accurate. |ret||ret||tab|

Jim Weaton is the CEO of the YMCA and a member of the roundtable.|ret||ret||tab|

"Last year, we began to work on an annual project we could complete that would benefit nonprofits," he said. "That's how the survey came about. The purpose of the roundtable is to share information about current issues affecting nonprofits."|ret||ret||tab|

Weaton said the YMCA is using the information from the survey as an educational tool.|ret||ret||tab|

"We use it as a tool as we seek to retain staff and work to bring a greater awareness of the information gathered from the survey to our volunteer board when it comes time to give raises or hire a new employee," he said. "You have to take a serious approach to how you do business because nonprofits are fiscally responsible to the communities they serve."|ret||ret||tab|

According to Weaton, the YMCA doesn't have a problem getting good employees.|ret||ret||tab|

"But to keep good people, you have to pay them an adequate wage," he said. "There's a correlation between having a good wage and benefit plan and retention of employees."|ret||ret||tab|

Carlana Fitch, executive director of the Springfield Symphony Association, also is a member of the roundtable. She said the symphony doesn't have a hard time attracting qualified candidates and retaining them, even though the Sym-phony Association is a nonprofit organization.|ret||ret||tab|

"Nonprofits can never pay their employees what they're worth," Fitch said. "So, they try to make it up to us in benefits, such as paid vacation time and comp time."|ret||ret||tab|

The association has three full-time employees including Fitch. In addition, there are 80-plus musicians, a music conductor, a librarian, a personnel contractor and a stage manager who work seasonally.|ret||ret||tab|

Fitch said that in addition to paid vacations and comp time, the symphony of-fers health insurance and other benefits to the full-time employees.|ret||ret||tab|

"I think the people we have are top-notch and excellent in their field," Fitch said. "They find that it's a pleasant environment and that there's a lot going on here. We're all good friends and co-workers."|ret||ret||tab|

While she said that fundraising can be a struggle for the symphony, Fitch said it's that way for all nonprofit organizations.|ret||ret||tab|

Every nonprofit organization that participated in the survey was given a complimentary copy of the results. For companies that didn't participate in the survey, but are members of the chamber, copies are available for $35 each. Nonmembers can purchase copies for $50 each.[[In-content Ad]]