Why did Komen for the Cure give Nancy Brinker a 64 percent raise?

[DonViejo]

Komen, already under fire for shrinking contributions for breast cancer research, paid its CEO $684,000 last year

BY MARY ELIZABETH WILLIAMS

Last year may have been a very bad year for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, but it still was a very good year for its CEO, Nancy Brinker. Extravagantly good.

In 2012, the breast cancer organization ignited a firestorm by announcing it was pulling its funding for breast cancer screenings and services for Planned Parenthood – and then had to hastily and ineptly apologize, then backpedal. It watched as its conspicuously conservative vice president for public policy Karen Handel resigned in the wake of the scandal. It saw registrations for its events decline in Maryland, in Texas, and all over the damn place. It squirmed at increasing questions over why an organization that features the words “the cure” so heavily in its promotion, that boasts how its “research investment has changed the breast cancer landscape,” devotes a miniscule and declining portion of its dollars to actually finding one.

Turns out that in 2011, it spent just 15 percent of its donations on research — nearly half of what it did just a few years prior. And, significantly, its founder Nancy Brinker, the woman whose vow to the sister she lost to cancer has served as the organization’s poignant, relatable narrative, stepped down as its CEO. In August, Brinker announced she was taking on a new role, as chairwoman of the executive committee. (She is, however, still listed as its CEO and founder on the Komen site. Komen says it’s still looking for her replacement.) In short, the whole series of fiascos was so appalling that Deanna Zandt, author of “Share This! How You Will Change the World With Social Networking,” called the Komen fiasco a teachable “example of what not to do.”

Yet after more than a year of bad publicity and declining participation, Brinker herself seems to be doing just fine. As Cheryl Hall pointed out this weekend in the Dallas Morning News, Brinker made “$684,717 in fiscal 2012, a 64 percent jump from her $417,000 salary from April 2010 to March 2011.” That’s a whole lot of green for all that pink. Hall notes that’s about twice what the organization’s chief financial officer Mark Nadolny or former president Liz Thompson were making. And as Peggy Orenstein points out on her blog Monday, it’s considerably more than the average nonprofit CEO salary of $132,739.

full article
http://www.salon.com/2013/05/06/why_did_komen_for_the_cure_give_nancy_brinker_a_64_percent_raise/

[leftynyc]

1. No idea

They haven't seen a penny from me since this whole thing with Brinker started. I became a monthly donor to Planned Parenthood instead which I keep telling the komen folks when they call or email.

[Half-Century Man]

2. What did I miss

I thought the goal was stopping breast cancer for all women, not stopping poverty (actually middle-class status) of a certain woman. Was that in the fine print flashed at the bottom of the screen during the commercials?

[truebrit71]

3. 15% of donations goes to actual research and she made $600k last year...

...I think her dead sister would be spinning in her grave if she knew about that..

[joeybee12]

4. KNR for visibility on these crooks...nt

[demmiblue]

5. K&R

[Arugula Latte]

6. What a scam. Hope this gets around and more people stop donating to this organization.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Because she's no longer at risk of being poached by other charities

After all, what self-respecting charity would want to be associated with her now? Now, they're afraid she'll be poached by a right wing think tank, with deep pockets funded by the Koch brothers or similar. So, to hang on to their right wing ideologue, they have to pay right wing prices.

[Cal Carpenter]

8. It's a bullshit fundraising racket

like many other big nonprofits that don't actually provide any direct service. It spends most of it's money on fundraising, 'raising awareness', advertising, and big events (eg races). Oh yeah, and generous salaries for the top executives, of course.

Anyone who is surprised by any of this really needs to look into any organizations they support. Never assume that they are getting results from the money or time you contribute. Support agencies that do direct service or are very explicit about where the money goes and what the outcomes are. Support local programs or hospitals/research centers directly, if you are interested in cancer or other medical issues. These huge administrative orgs tend to be a racket.

[KamaAina]

9. Same reason Harken Energy gave Bush** a raise

Repukes fail upward, you see. Actual accountability for results, or lack thereof, is for the little people.

P.S. Please continue to support breast cancer research and awareness. Just do it through Avon.

http://www.avonwalk.org/

[Chan790]

10. Some other legitimate breast cancer organizations.

I mean Avon is good...but there's a lot of need and a lot people doing good work who can use some of that money Komen isn't spending on anything helpful or meaningful. The three I've highlighted below deal with very specific aspects of the disease: the first, prevention; the second, support for patients and survivors in coping with their cancer and the changes it brings to their lives; the third, a major funder of research for new treatments and possible cures. All three do incredible work and will be key in overcoming breast cancer (and cancer in general) in the coming years.

National Breast Cancer Foundation. (http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/) NBCF’s mission is to save lives through early detection and to provide mammograms for those in need. This mission includes increasing awareness through education, providing diagnostic breast care services for those in need, and providing nurturing support services.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer. (http://www.lbbc.org) Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers programs and services to women affected by breast cancer, caregivers and healthcare providers including a website, lbbc.org; a toll-free Survivors’ Helpline staffed by trained volunteers at (888) 753-LBBC (5222); national conferences; free teleconferences; community programs; newsletters and publications; recordings and transcripts; small grants to help improve quality of life; and workshops and trainings for healthcare professionals.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. (http://www.bcrfcure.org/) The mission of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime by providing critical funding for innovative clinical and translational research at leading medical centers worldwide, and increasing public awareness about good breast health. Currently, 91 cents of every dollar spent by BCRF is directed towards breast cancer research and awareness programs.

[KamaAina]

11. Mahalo!

(thank you)