CEO Salary vs Fundraising expenses
Posted by unnamed  |  October 26, 2009 5:50:23 AM

I have seen a lot of complaints about salary but even if overpaid CEOs contribute to the service given and are small part of 4.5% overall admin cost. However with fund raising so high should we give to an organization that uses 12.5 cents of every dollar to send us advertisements?

Solicitations
Posted by beanbag72  |  July 19, 2009 6:13:30 PM

I really don't like how habitat for Humanity calls and wants $120 for a donation. I feel like they are being pushy. I like in a mobile home myself, I could use $120 to fix my own place. If they could be happy with $20 right off the bat, they would seem more reasonable.

Salaries
Posted by JHERA  |  July 19, 2009 6:07:56 PM

How can people in America have issues with founders of this org making about 200K a year? You know there are dentists in my small northwestern town that are making close to that?

People....seriously, get over these salaries. These are very reasonable given this organization's size.

Salaries etc.
Posted by NY&NJ  |  June 25, 2009 9:48:50 AM

First - I volunteered with the HFH NYC affiliate & was very impressed with the non-sectarian nature of their work. One day, we had volunteer groups from a Jewish woman's student group and NYU's Islamic student council working together on the same floor of an apartment rehab in Harlem. I doubt there are any other organizations as capable at bringing people together as Habitat.

Regarding salaries - this Habitat idea has grown remarkably over the years. An organization this size needs experienced financial leadership and needed to go into the market to attract that talent. It may seem like a lot - but look at comparable organizations - grossing $350 million or so a year. The salary isn't that high. They will still get my donations.

Saleries
Posted by Trish  |  May 26, 2009 7:12:58 AM

I am confused as to the comments about the salleries of founders, the Fullers, as one of the comments states that he is deceased and his wife worked for free. In any event the saleries shown are for Jonathan Reckford President, CEO, $258,492 0.08% Other Salaries of Note Richard Hathaway Vice President, Asia Office $275,271 0.09%,Donald Shaszczyn Vice President, Europe Office $271,079 0.09%.

I at first looked at these saleries as high but then realized they were for different parts of the world so then they did not seem so out of line.

What I object to in this charity and some others are the gifts, in this case the Teddy Bear. Who is paying for these? If they are being contributed and not coming out of funds raised then that is fine but if they are being paid for by funds of people like me then I object and I always say to keep the gift but then the idea that other people are not saying that and monies may be drained off for them I am having second thoughts. Also, I am always willing to pay the postage but I am sure many take advantage of your free postage. I think that should be stopped. I am sure none of this will happen as it would cut into some funds.

I am at this point rethinking my gift to this charity.

a great cause
Posted by eli_bp  |  May 19, 2009 5:42:41 AM

As someone who worked with Habitat for almost four years in Europe I have only positive things to say about the organization and the people who work there.

I had colleagues who were very enthusiastic about their jobs, smart and ambitious and great team players. I took it for granted at the time that people working for a non-profit organization should be so dedicated but only when I left did I realize that it's not like that everywhere and that my bar was raised very high by my Habitat experience.

As someone whose religious beliefs can best be described as "vague," if not entirely missing, I remember being a bit worried about working for a Christian organization but I'd like to say that I never felt uncomfortable or faced any pressure, let alone discrimination on the basis of that. We had people of all kids of faiths in the European office and it has never been an issue.

It has been years since I left Habitat but I still support it and still sometimes say "we" when I talk about it. If you've been on a build site then you know how powerful that experience is for everyone involved--the families, the volunteers, the staff--and that great feeling of doing something tangible to help really stays with you.

Habitat Salaries
Posted by X-IP  |  May 5, 2009 1:01:46 PM

I agree that a talented person in the non-profit field should earn as much as they would in other sectors. The problem is, I worked with Habitat Europe/Central Asia for three years and never did meet a manager who could make it in the real world.

During training/orientation in Americus I found the staff to be prejudiced and close-minded. I was frequently harassed on religious grounds in a way that certainly would have warranted a lawsuit had I not been committed to the larger goal of building housing for the needy. Habitat’s talk of diversity is pure non-sense. I was told to my face several times in the presence of higher ranking staff that I shouldn’t be there because I “wasn’t Christian enough.”

Once I took my post in the field Habitat Europe waffled between indifference and incompetence. As long as I was left alone I ran one of the best affiliates in the region, but I always had trouble collecting my stipend because nobody could understand that my nearest Bank of America was four thousand miles away. Decisions from the Habitat Europe office were made by fiat with no consultation about their effects in the field. My only regret in resigning in protest was that I could only resign once, and there were so many decisions to protest.

When I left I went without a thank-you or a handshake, despite my years of service. I am still bitter about how I was treated and would not volunteer or donate to Habitat again.

HFH
Posted by Isiskc  |  April 30, 2009 6:02:23 AM

I have been to the Dayton, Ohio office of HFH and I can honestly say that it is one of the best charities I have ever seen or investigated. They don't just give out money, they give people a sense of pride and self worth by having them contribute time and work to creating a new home for them and their family.

Salaries
Posted by Geeze, people!  |  April 20, 2009 6:15:05 AM

I don't understand why people feel nonprofit CEO's Founders, Presidents and worker-bees should work for any less than they would be making in the for profit world. You SHOULD be compensated according to what you bring to a company or a charity and how successful the company or charity is because of your contribution - regardless of your title.

I worked for a husband/wife who founded a knock off wish organization. They made a combined $375,000 + have quite a few personal perks at the Foundations expense. It made me sick to see what they were willing to take from the sick children they were supposed to be serving. And their rating stinks - it's as bad as it gets! They NO stars! They spend 60 cents of every dollar on fundraising. That means only 40 cents goes to programing and admin. costs! AND they hit up senior citizens for support!

I believe it is more important to check out the charities business practices. See much they spend on professional fundraisers and how little on actual programing.

I have no problem with the head of any business, including non-profits, getting compensated what they are worth. Don't you expect the same for your hard work each day?? The key is are they actually "earning" what they are paid. The two I worked for do not. They would only work approximately 4 hours a day. The Foundation pays for the gas they put in their two Lexus's, which are also paid for by the Foundation. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. I wouldn't be so bad if they were actually fulfilling the amount of wishes they claim they are fulfilling, but they are not. It's criminal and pathetic as far as I'm concerned and they should be shut down.

So before you go pulling your support and begin badmouthing the Fullers or anyone else working for a non-profit, based on their salaries, check out the work they do. See if the charity is successful and highly rated... I do, and I have NO problem donating to Habitat... the work they do is phenomen

Habitat founder salaries
Posted by ful456  |  March 30, 2009 6:49:09 AM

My father (the late Millard Fuller) is the founder of Habitat for Humanity and more recently The Fuller Center for Housing. I can tell you with personal experience that our family lived in an unairconditioned house growing up and my father drove around in an old 1990 Ford Taurus until his death earlier this year.

He did not believe anyone should get rich off helping the poor. He always told me that if I wanted to get rich to work in the for-profit business world, not in the non-profit sector. (He made a million dollars in business before I was born, but gave it away to charity when he and my mom decided to go into mission work)

When my father was the President of Habitat (1976 - 2004), he was at one point identified as "the lowest paid top executive of the country's one hundred largest charities" My father wore that distinction proudly. In fact, he often would negotiate for himself a lower salary if he felt he was getting offered more pay than he needed. (When he separated with Habitat in 2004, he was making about $78,000/year.. but for many years before that me made $12,000 and my mom worked for free)

He truly did not believe in big salaries for non-profit executives and that became a major point of contention between him and the current leadership at Habitat who felt their top executives needed to be paid more. (It is certainly an interesting debate that I will not get into here)

My father's new organization, The Fuller Center for Housing, is based on those original founding principles of keeping administrative costs to an absolute minimum so that as much donated money as possible is going toward building homes for the needy.

Losers
Posted by TJM  |  February 12, 2009 7:29:03 PM

I cannot believe the constant complaint about salaries of those running multimillion dollar organization. Get over the Marxist attitude. The people complaining probably need help thinking much less run a top-notched organization. Get over and keep your pennies. Someone with a brain will give.

With our current President, it is popular to attack success and reward failure.

Co-founders Salaries
Posted by pkn  |  January 2, 2009 6:48:16 AM

I believe the information listing the Fuller's salaries is a bit of a red herring. In actuality I believe that the amount listed as salary is in reality a severance package and they are not receiving that amount as an annual salary.

If you recall when Millard was forced out there was some negative publicity concerning Jonathon’s salary because prior to this Millard was making around 60,000 a year. I'd bet that if they post FY07 amounts this would show a different picture, that is no money would be paid to the Fullers.

I don't know this for a fact but I will try to get hold of Millard and ask him about this to see if I am right.

support your LOCAL Habitat chapter
Posted by AllyW  |  December 29, 2008 6:28:35 AM

Folks, PLEASE don't stop supporting this amazing organization! I've volunteered for them since college, my best girlfriend lives in a house built by Habitat, and I can't say enough positive things about the organization. Go to the following link and find your local chapter and support them directly if you want to have the most impact.

Salaries
Posted by Pat P  |  December 18, 2008 7:31:26 AM

Why are Millard and Linda Fuller paid $425,000 a year? Millard Fuller doesn't even run the organization anymore.

Fullers' Salaries
Posted by JS  |  December 18, 2008 7:28:40 AM

I very much enjoy volunteering with HfH and until now have contributed financially as well. But until I get a reasonable explanation of the former founders' very high salaries I will withhold my annual donation.

Fund Raising Appeals
Posted by Carl F  |  December 16, 2008 7:20:59 AM

This once great charity seems to have lost its way. I get about one appeal per month made up of multiple expensive inserts and usually with a stamped reply envelope. How many millions of unused stamps are just thrown away in each Habitat mailing?

Equally odd is that "From the desk of Jonathan Reckford, CEO" is almost always printed in large type across the top of the letter. "Habitat for Humanity" is invisible in tiny type at the bottom of the page. When the staff publicizes themselves more than the mission - you've got a problem.

HFH Salaries
Posted by Art  |  December 12, 2008 7:10:09 AM

My wife and I have been long time contributors to HFH - since 1986. I had no idea that the Founders were drawing such a high salary - in addition to paid vacations, paid health benefits and other "perks", I'm sure. I have absolutely no issues with these people earning a decent living, but these salaries seem exorbitant to me for a charity. My wife and I are both very disappointed and will be finding a new charity to which we'll contribute our hard-earned money. One that truly understands that you don't need to earn a half million dollars a year to live a decent life. I will also not be renewing my membership with HFH as well.

Salaries
Posted by Benedict  |  December 8, 2008 6:45:57 AM

My wife and I agree with KMReno's concern about salaries. If we are to continue to donate we need to know why the cofounders are still salaried and at a level approximately equal to or significantly more than the current director.

Habitat Salaries
Posted by KMReno  |  December 1, 2008 9:03:13 AM

Was considering a donation but was concerned about 2 co-founders (Fuller's)drawing combined salaries over $400,000.