Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey FAQs
- What are the benefits of participation?
- Can I participate?
- How do I participate?
- What information will I need to complete the survey?
- What positions do you collect data for in the survey?
- Where does my state fall within the geographic breakdowns in the report?
- How much does the report cost?
- When is the report/data made available?
What are the benefits of participation?
Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Survey participants who are not members of the Council on Foundations receive the Report for free. Survey participants also receive early access to comparative data and custom benchmarking reports in Benchmark Central before the GSB Report is published.
Can I participate?
Organizations that meet the following criteria are eligible to participate:
- File annual IRS Forms 990 (corporate giving programs excepted)
- Based in the U.S.
- Have at least one part-time, paid CEO/Executive Director
How do I participate?
The GSB Survey is conducted through Benchmark Central. If you have never participated in the Survey, contact communications@cof.org with your organization name and the first and last name, title, and email address of anyone who will be participating and we'll set up your Benchmark Central account(s).
What information will I need to complete the survey?
Most participants refer to the following:
- Current year's IRS Form 990 (estimates are fine)
- Organizational budget
- Payroll reports
- Benefit summary plan documents
- Job Descriptions
- Compensation data from your HR system (current salaries, job titles, reporting relationships, years in position)
- Last year's survey responses (if relevant)
What positions are included in the Survey?
Our goal is to collect data on all full- and part-time positions at your foundation. We provide a list of 38 position titles in the survey; however, position titles can vary greatly between foundations and the titles provided do not need to exactly match those at your foundation. Use the job function descriptions as a guide to select the appropriate position title. If you have questions about which title would be the best fit for a position at your foundation, please email communications@cof.org.
Where does my state fall within the geographic breakdowns in the report?
GSB Survey and Report geographic designations follow the U.S. Census Bureau's Region and Division breakdowns: Census Regions and Divisions of the United States.
How much does the Report cost?
The GSB Report and related products are free to Council on Foundations members and to nonmember GSB Survey participants. When the 2025 GSB Report is released in fall 2025, nonmembers who did not participate in the Survey will be able to download the 2025 GSB Report for $549 and the 2025 GSB Administrative and Program Expense Tables for $99.
Nonmembers can download the 2024 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report for $549 and the Board Compensation Tables for $99. The Key Findings are available for free.
When are the data and the Report made available?
The 2025 GSB Survey will open March 6, 2025. Survey participants are scheduled to gain early access to the data in September 2025, and the 2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report is scheduled for publication in October 2025.
The 2024 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report was released in October 2024.
