Skip to content

Wages and Compensation in the Nonprofit Sector

Your resources for everything wages, compensation and benefits related for nonprofits in Oregon.

Why It Matters

NAO has worked on a series of studies to lift the veil on what’s really happening with wages, compensation and benefits in the nonprofit sector. Through our research and comparison of nonprofits to public and private wage structures, we have found that nonprofit employees are being paid significantly less for the same job than other sectors. We believe that nonprofit employees are amongst the best, mission-minded individuals and problem-solving talent. Through our research, we hope to make systemic change in how nonprofits are funded – especially through government funding – to be able to increase wages and benefits to those working in our sector.

Our Work on Wages and Compensation

Through support from local foundations and government, the team at NAO has worked in partnership with leading researchers in Oregon to produce several publications that dive deeply what is causing wages to be suppressed in Oregon’s nonprofit sector.

Here are just some of the studies that NAO published in recent years:

  • NAO Compensation and Benefits Report – An NAO-produced report used to determine appropriate compensation and benefits levels for staff, in addition to many others including equity, skill level, budget, etc.
    • The 2026 Compensation and Benefits Report will be released in Spring 2026! Sign up for NAO’s newsletter to receive alerts when it has been released.
  • An Econometric Study of Nonprofit Wages in Oregon – in partnership with ECOnorthwest, this study and accompanying summary sheet validate long held beliefs that wages are suppressed in Oregon’s social service nonprofits, which are predominantly funded by government entities.
  • Impacts of Government Contracts and Grants on Nonprofit Wage Disparities in Oregon – in partnership with the Coalition of Communities of Color’s research team, this study completed a qualitative deep-dive into the suppressive factors contributing to inequities in nonprofit wages and identified some possible solutions.

NAO Wage Resources

Additional Wage Resources

Members Get More!

As a member of NAO, you become part of an important network of organizations, affiliates, and individuals who believe in the vitality of the sector.

Explore Memberships

Newsletter Sign Up

Our NAO Update arrives in your inbox regularly – it’s a one-stop shop for timely advocacy updates, upcoming events, nonprofit resources, funding opportunities, and more.

Sign up