RUN, RUN, RUN, ..., RUN RUN AWAY!
Andrew's latest on the HRC makes two things plain. One, if you value your heart and sanity, just run away from gay organized politics. Two, if anyone thinks that there is a 'gay agenda', just read AS's flap. What there is are a few amorphous goals and near zero consensus on how to achieve any of them, yet 30,000 thousand voices irretractably convinced of themselves.
Have a look, though, at the compensations and other points that Andrew raises, across the board.
Did you know that the awesome Exec Director of the NGLTF, J. Matt Foreman made $139,093 plus $8.7K in benefits, according to the last filed IRS documents? Did you know that the Exec Dir of GMHC pulled down $199,832 and the Assoc Exec Dr., $148,147? GMHC carries their snappy building at $17M (and even received a small amount of rental income of some sort).
Did you know that Lamda Legal pays in the same range, but MassEquality, who boosted the victory in their state significantly, pays almost nothing and got a $350,000 pledge from ... the HRC? Pat Guerriero of Log Cabin Republicans was paid $70,416 plus $2K in benefits (the group has a material travel budget, too). Did you know that Freedom to Marry New York is a project of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, and FTM's popular, hardworking, and visible director was paid $132,248 plus $13K in benefits? Did you know that NAACP Legal Defense and Ed. Fund lead guy was paid $247,906 plus $23K in benefits?
Did you notice how many groups, like GLAAD, do not even post an annual report or any financial statments on their website (that I could find), even though they solicit donations? And how few have BBB ratings (except SLDN, who seem to really have an act together from a financial and management perspective, even though they are not wealthy).
THE GILL FOUNDATION
Next up, the Gill Foundation, which Andrew suggests is for those who are "really fighting for gay rights". Did you know that they own their own building? Did you know that you could get paid $134K to oversee grant making? Did you know that grants included $300,000 to Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy Research at UCLA School of Law? Or $80,000 to PAC folks who actually do throw a Champagne Brunch? Or $55,000 to Denver Art Museum and Denver Zoo? And heavy support for public broadcasting?
More to come ...
ADVOCACY
Wtih all those high salaries, I couldn't help but wonder if there were jobs open for those who ignore items 1 and 2 above.
Did you notice how many job descriptions ask for people to have extensive fundraising and membership development capabilities? Did you notice how many "bios" of directors talk about how they took a small-dollar organization and grew it into a large-dollar organization.
I'm just saying that people do what is expected. Career successes in the non-profit industry are frequently and clearly measured and rewarded by how much you grow membership and fundraise for causes. It's just a way to understand the beasty, what I mean by pointing it out.
