Claim:   E-mail compares the salaries of top executives of several large charitable organizations.

Status:   Multiple — see below.

Example:   [Collected via e-mail, 2005]

Food for thought As you open your pockets for yet another natural disaster, keep these facts in mind: Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross salary for year ending 06/30/03 was $651,957 plus expenses. Brian Gallagher, President of the United Way receives a $375,000 base salary, plus numerous expense benefits. The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization.

Origins:   According to Forbes magazine's reporting for the fiscal year ending June 2003, the total revenue and top executive compensation (including benefits) for the three large charitable organizations referenced above were as follows:

Organization	Total revenue	Top executive	Compensation
American National Red Cross	$2.9 billion	Marsha Evans	$651,957
United Way of America	N/A	Brian A. Gallagher	$500,768
Salvation Army	$3.0 billion	W. Todd Bassett	$166,850

Financial figures for these organizations are difficult to compare directly for a number of reasons. The United Way of America, for example, is not one large organization, but a body that coordinates 1,400 independent local United Way member organizations, each separately incorporated and governed by local volunteers. As well, the Salvation Army is classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a "church or convention or association of churches" and is therefore not required to file Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) reporting with the IRS.

Additional information:

America's Most (and Least) Efficient Charities (Forbes)

Last updated:   14 November 2005

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