The current President and CEO of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, James R. Downing, earns an annual salary of $1.3 million.
Understanding CEO Compensation at St. Jude
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a globally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to advancing cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. The compensation for its top leadership, including the CEO, reflects the scale, complexity, and critical mission of managing such a prominent and impactful institution.
Current CEO Salary Details
As of recent information, the annual compensation for the head of St. Jude's is structured as follows:
| Role | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| President and CEO, James R. Downing | $1,300,000 |
Factors Influencing Non-Profit Executive Salaries
Salaries for executives at large non-profit organizations like St. Jude are determined by a range of factors. These considerations are vital to attract and retain highly skilled leaders capable of managing extensive operations, driving critical fundraising efforts, and overseeing groundbreaking research. Key factors often include:
- Organizational Size and Budget: St. Jude operates with a significant budget and manages vast, complex operations, which typically corresponds with higher executive compensation levels.
- Complexity of the Mission: The hospital's unique mission encompasses pioneering medical research, providing world-class patient care, and managing extensive global outreach programs, demanding leadership with exceptional expertise.
- Fundraising Responsibilities: A substantial part of the CEO's role involves guiding and executing major fundraising campaigns, which are crucial for the hospital's ability to maintain its operations and provide care without billing families.
- Market Benchmarking: Executive compensation is often benchmarked against comparable positions in other large non-profit organizations, academic medical centers, or healthcare systems to ensure competitive pay.
- Board Governance: The compensation package for the CEO is subject to rigorous review and approval by St. Jude's independent Board of Directors, ensuring accountability and adherence to best practices in non-profit governance.
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded by Danny Thomas, stands out for its commitment that no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food—because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Its research and treatments have significantly increased the survival rates for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
