Compensation Comparability

This analysis benchmarks the total compensation of Earl Thomas, Executive Director / CEO ($44,734) against every comparable organization that fit the selection criteria — 729 in total — drawn systematically from IRS Form 990 filings, not a hand-picked subset.

Compensation sits at approximately the 49^th percentile of comparable organizationswithin the typical range

How comparable organizations were selected

Distribution of comparable compensation

Comparable organizations

Each figure is Form 990 Part VII columns D + F (reportable pay plus other compensation and benefits; column F may include amounts from related organizations), normalized to NJ cost of living (BEA RPP, 2023) and to its filing year (CPI-U); the reported amount is on each linked 990.

Organization	State	Total revenue	Total comp	Source
The Inclusive Oceania Alliance	HI	$200,500	$3,275	990
Ministries Of Pastoral Care Inc	WA	$200,458	$4,492	990
Inspiring Tomorrows Leaders	TX	$200,582	$72,108	990
Lichen Health	CA	$200,779	$91,295	990
Christmas Magic Inc	NY	$200,181	$5,949	990
Chen Teng Hsiu Compassion Foundation	CA	$200,181	$43,315	990
Feeding People Through Plants Nfp	IL	$199,826	$71,959	990
Renew Life Center Inc	NJ	$201,337	$29,068	990
Alamance Citizens For A Drug Free	NC	$201,440	$57,317	990
Hope For The Hopeless	AZ	$199,482	$18,625	990
Connecticut Nurseryman's Foundation Inc	CT	$201,614	$16,657	990
Scottish Rite Research Society	DC	$201,857	$13,066	990
Eagles Nest Ranch	CO	$199,115	$42,087	990
Volunteers In Service	MI	$201,970	$47,539	990
Third Phase Christian Center	IN	$198,870	$44,082	990
Wheeling Forward Inc	NY	$202,236	$17,500	990
Klamath Grown	OR	$198,684	$12,321	990
Seven Baskets Community Development Corporation	OH	$202,529	$4,271	990
Destination Canal Winchester	OH	$202,723	$51,280	990
Life Factors Ministries	PA	$198,228	$105,595	990
Project Outpour	NC	$198,088	$47,764	990
Washington African American Chamber Of Commerce	WA	$197,951	$10,114	990
Basics In Milwaukee Inc	WI	$203,191	$59,845	990
The Still Place Inc	NC	$203,343	$36,408	990
Vineyard Community Services	MN	$203,346	$12,757	990

Methodology

Comparable organizations were drawn from electronically filed IRS Form 990 returns and matched on sector (NTEE code), budget (a size-adaptive revenue band that tightens as the organization grows), and geography (same-state first, broadening only when too few peers qualify); every organization within the band forms the peer set. To compare fairly across regions and years, peer compensation is normalized to NJ cost of living (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023) and to the subject's filing year (CPI-U). The figure benchmarked is Form 990 Part VII, Section A, columns D + F — reportable pay plus other compensation, benefits, and deferred amounts (column F may include amounts from related organizations) — with the chief executive matched by role. Related-organization amounts (column E) and institutional trustees are excluded. Full methodology: peerbasis.org/methodology.

Sample, role match & sensitivity

Sensitivity — the subject's percentile under alternative compensation definitions:

Basis	Subject percentile
Total compensation (D + F), cost-of-living + inflation adjusted — the PeerBasis default	49^th
Total compensation (D + F), as reported (no adjustments)	51^st
Reportable pay only (column D), adjusted	51^st
All sources (D + E + F), adjusted	46^th

If the percentile moves materially across these definitions, the result is sensitive to methodology choices, and the board should weigh which basis best fits its facts.

Rebuttable presumption of reasonableness · 26 CFR 53.4958-6

Compensation paid by a tax-exempt organization is presumed reasonable — shifting the burden to the IRS — when three requirements are met. This report supplies the comparability data for the second. The board should record the following in its minutes concurrently with its decision:

Draft board minutes — executive compensation

The compensation of the Executive Director / CEO (Earl Thomas) was approved in advance by [the Board / Compensation Committee], composed of members with no conflict of interest with respect to the arrangement.
Prior to its determination, the authorized body obtained and relied upon appropriate comparability data, namely the PeerBasis Compensation Comparability Determination dated June 9, 2026, comparing compensation against 729 similarly situated organizations (Same NTEE sector (P20), nationwide + budget 0.67–1.5× revenue).
The authorized body determined that total compensation of $44,734 is reasonable (approximately the 49^th percentile of comparable organizations) and documented the basis for this determination concurrently, on [date], by a vote of [__ for / __ against].