A big part of me figuring out how to DO SOMETHING against social injustice, is looking at different organizations that are really making making headway and making a difference.
There are so many and I have high-lighted a few on this blog. However lately I have felt led to look a little deeper at these organizations, and find out where the donations are going; specifically what salaries the CEO's are taking.
I was shocked.
And appalled.
At some of the numbers I found.
So I've been thinking about what constitutes a reasonable salary, and what is considered excessive. People's opinions will surely vary on this, and I haven't figured it out. But here is my processing.....
When it comes to for-profit companies I don't care much how they distribute their earnings. I would like to think that a profitable company shares the reward with all the employees providing a reasonable living wage to lowest on the totem pole. But to be honest, I don't lose sleep over this.
However, when I think about non-profits whose monies come directly in the form of donations, from hard-working people, I have a desire to know where that money is going. And even more directly, I want to make sure that the people on the top are not getting wealthy from money that we are giving for a cause we believe in.
Do I think that those who work for non-profits should have to live in poverty? No. But do I think they should give up the goal of an affluent lifestyle? Yes. I really do. I think that's a choice that should be made. They have the freedom to pursue money through working for many for-profit companies. So when they make a choice to work for a non-profit, I think they should also be choosing to make a modest living. Especially when the non-profit is faith-based.
Why? Because the bible teaches us to give sacrificially. As we forgo wants and even needs to support an organization, should that blood money then go to funding a CEO's elaborate lifestyle? Shouldn't there be sacrifice in choosing to do this kind of work?
I have so many more thoughts on this. I'm still processing. And researching. A great resource I found is www.guidestar.org where you can find the financial info on almost all non-profits. Go to the form 990, scroll down a bit and you can see what the CEO's and key employees are making.
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