UPDATE (Related Question) 7-24-24

Question: The Federal Funds received re COVID were listed in the Foundation under “philanthropy.” Were these included in assessing the President’s accomplishments in raising philanthropic gifts?

Answer:

Chautauqua Institution will not comment publicly on the details of any staff member’s compensation terms beyond that which is reported annually in our form 990 (available here). Additionally, it may be helpful for you to know that the Board of Trustees annually determines the metrics by which the Institution president’s performance will be evaluated. The Board conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the president’s performance annually, including any resulting compensation adjustment, and that compensation is informed by an outside consultant who specializes in non-profit compensation structures.

The federal shuttered venues grant, which Chautauqua applied for and was granted ($8 Million), is regarded by Chautauqua as philanthropic income. This decision is supported by the fundraising standards* to which we subscribe. The Shuttered Venues Grant is separate from payroll protection funds, which were also part of COVID relief and are not regarded by nonprofits, including Chautauqua Institution, as philanthropic income. 

*Adopted 1964, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Copyright AFP, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Original Post:

The President does not receive “a cut” from any gift given to Chautauqua. Among the Chautauqua Institution President’s areas of responsibility is fundraising. It is normal for not-for-profit leaders to have fundraising among their primary duties. As such, the president is evaluated in part on his ability to achieve fundraising goals, and any merit-based compensation the president would earn would, in part, be related to achievement of fundraising goals as one element of many on which his performance is assessed. Similarly, if the president does not achieve goals, any merit-based raise would be negatively impacted by that missed goal.