Compensation for Routine Board Service
All foundations rely on trustees for leadership, oversight, and planning. But many lean foundations also rely on trustees for a considerable amount of the labor needed to run a foundation. To acknowledge the crucial role that trustees play in their governance and operations, some foundations compensate members for routine board service, such as attending meetings, reviewing proposals, and setting policies. Others do not.
In the 2024 Foundation Operations and Management Report, one-third (33%) of participating foundations compensated members for routine board service.
Among the one-third (33%) of all participating foundations that compensated board members for routine service, the average annual compensation was $22,432, and the median annual amount was $8,700. These amounts have increased compared with findings in past years.
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