Yael Eckstein – Salary Inequalities Continue for Female Non-Profit CEOs, but Progress is Evident

As the president and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship), Yael Eckstein salary reflects her leadership over all ministry programs and her role as the international spokesperson for thse organization, which is the largest humanitarian aid provider in Israel. In 2021, The Fellowship raised over $200 million, assisting 2 million Jews in need both in Israel and globally.

Each year, Candid releases its Nonprofit Compensation Report, which examines key employee compensation, utilizing data from the IRS. Yael Eckstein, a prominent advocate for addressing the salary gap among female executives in the non-profit sector, pointed out that while the 2021 report from Candid highlights some positive strides, female CEOs still earn less than their male peers across organizations of all sizes.

In the for-profit sector, after consistent improvements in the gender pay gap since 2015, the salary disparity between men and women remained stagnant from 2021 to 2022. Currently, women earn $0.82 for every $1 men earn across all professions.

However, when factors such as job level, title, education, experience, industry, and hours worked are accounted for, the gap narrows significantly, with women earning $0.99 for every $1 men earn—showing a considerable reduction in the pay gap.

The apparent disparity between these two figures can be explained as follows: Women who remain continuously employed tend to earn nearly the same as men. However, when factors like career breaks for motherhood and the wage penalty women often face when re-entering the workforce are considered, working women overall earn less than men.

In the U.S., the fields with the largest gender pay gaps include Physicians, Surgeons, Veterinarians, and Directors. Religious Activities and Education is also among the top 10 sectors with significant pay disparities.

Jenna Allen, a senior data services analyst at Candid, noted that despite progress shown in Candid’s 2021 report, the gender pay gap remains, with female CEOs earning less than their male counterparts in organizations of all sizes.

Science and health organizations offer the highest median executive compensation at $196,000, while religious institutions remain in the bottom three (along with animal-related and arts organizations) with a median salary of $65,000.

James Skogsbergh, CEO of Advocate Aurora Health, a 26-hospital system, is the highest-paid non-profit CEO in the U.S., earning $8,511,655 annually. Advocate Aurora Health reported $5.5 billion in revenue in 2018.

Forbes ranks United Way Worldwide as the top charity, with annual revenues of $5.2 billion, and a CEO salary of $1,578,515.

The Society for Human Resource Management reported, “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.”

More organizations are now focusing on pay equity analyses to ensure they offer competitive salaries to attract and retain top talent.

Yael Eckstein, IFCJ President, stated, “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.”