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PeerBasis
Compensation Comparability Determination

The Journey Fund

Executive Director / CEO

EIN 832831864
WA · NTEE E86
FY ending 2024-12-31
June 9, 2026

This analysis benchmarks the total compensation of Abra Kelson, Executive Director / CEO ($45,500) against every comparable organization that fit the selection criteria — 68 in total — drawn systematically from IRS Form 990 filings, not a hand-picked subset.

Compensation sits at approximately the 26th percentile of comparable organizationswithin the typical range

How comparable organizations were selected

68 organizations qualified on sector, size, and geography 68 within the band form the benchmarked peer set.

Distribution of comparable compensation

$1,813 total compensation of comparable organizations → $149,434 $45,500
$26,06410th
$43,46725th
$66,737Median
$92,17075th
$115,10190th
$45,500This org · 26th
p10$26,064
p25$43,467
p50$66,737
p75$92,170
p90$115,101
$45,500

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 WA cost of living (BEA RPP, 2023) and to its filing year (CPI-U); the reported amount is on each linked 990.

OrganizationStateTotal revenueTotal compSource
MomcaresMD $343,012$148,329 990
Our Promise Cancer ResourcesAR $348,767$75,329 990
Restoring Hope Transplant HouseWI $350,781$79,364 990
305 Pink Pack IncFL $329,849$55,196 990
Melodic Caring ProjectWA $357,898$82,363 990
Doula Program To Accompany And ComfortNY $358,318$121,115 990
Canandaigua Comfort Care Home IncNY $326,213$72,669 990
Parkinson's Body And Mind IncCT $359,945$124,536 990
Matthew House IncNY $322,055$74,192 990
His Kids IncIL $365,319$14,122 990
Hunter Hospitality House IncMI $365,651$63,537 990
Friends Of Patients At The Nih IncMD $368,164$129,566 990
Young Adult Survivors UnitedPA $371,993$83,538 990
Verdecares IncAZ $374,099$54,905 990
Light CollectiveWA $310,471$99,605 990
East Texas Cancer Alliance Of HopeTX $307,959$68,757 990
Claire's Place Foundation IncCA $378,719$83,427 990
Puulu LapaauHI $307,256$46,200 990
Wellness Within CorporationCA $302,747$79,007 990
Josh Provides Epilepsy AssistanceFL $302,293$86,565 990
Helping Horse IncNC $302,116$43,119 990
Fisher House Of Grt Cleveland IncOH $300,450$40,989 990
Abundant LifeAR $299,851$58,582 990
American Pregnancy AssociationTX $296,882$40,222 990
Veterans2veterans GroupNH $389,519$47,067 990

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 WA 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:

BasisSubject percentile
Total compensation (D + F), cost-of-living + inflation adjusted — the PeerBasis default26th
Total compensation (D + F), as reported (no adjustments)28th
Reportable pay only (column D), adjusted28th
All sources (D + E + F), adjusted22nd

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

  1. The compensation of the Executive Director / CEO (Abra Kelson) was approved in advance by [the Board / Compensation Committee], composed of members with no conflict of interest with respect to the arrangement.
  2. 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 68 similarly situated organizations (Same NTEE sector (E86), nationwide + budget 0.67–1.5× revenue).
  3. The authorized body determined that total compensation of $45,500 is reasonable (approximately the 26th percentile of comparable organizations) and documented the basis for this determination concurrently, on [date], by a vote of [__ for / __ against].

Sources: IRS Form 990 e-file data (apps.irs.gov); IRS Business Master File (NTEE classification). This report is comparability data to support a board's good-faith determination under IRC 4958; it is not legal or tax advice. Generated by PeerBasis on June 9, 2026.