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PeerBasis
Compensation Comparability Determination

Joseph Campbell Foundation

Executive Director / CEO

EIN 990285097
CA · NTEE A77Z
FY ending 2024-12-31
June 9, 2026

This analysis benchmarks the total compensation of John Bucher, Executive Director / CEO ($84,000) against the 2000 closest of 3,047 comparable organizations — drawn systematically from IRS Form 990 filings, not a hand-picked subset.

Compensation sits at approximately the 72nd percentile of comparable organizationswithin the typical range

How comparable organizations were selected

3,047 organizations qualified on sector, size, and geography 2,000 within the band form the benchmarked peer set (closest by budget).

Distribution of comparable compensation

$1 total compensation of comparable organizations → $337,309 $84,000
$21,01610th
$42,12325th
$65,775Median
$86,99375th
$107,81890th
$84,000This org · 72nd
p10$21,016
p25$42,123
p50$65,775
p75$86,993
p90$107,818
$84,000

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

OrganizationStateTotal revenueTotal compSource
SenderosCA $403,770$21,234 990
Cultural Coalition IncAZ $403,582$69,378 990
Capitol Theatre Center FoundationPA $403,559$55,198 990
Yellow Tree TheatreMN $403,540$73,720 990
International Muslim Outreach IncFL $403,502$119,671 990
Wave Pool CorpOH $403,451$87,992 990
El Buen Samaritano Radio MinistryCA $404,005$35,750 990
Dance FremontWA $403,095$41,115 990
Joseph's House Holding CorporationNJ $403,006$140,995 990
Pacific Community Of AlaskaAK $402,914$114,331 990
45th ParallelOR $404,538$22,945 990
Hot House WestUT $402,831$27,185 990
Regina Klenjoski Dance CompanyCA $402,715$59,167 990
Gates Chili Color Guard Parents IncNY $404,683$13,323 990
Tropicalfete IncNY $402,617$2,155 990
French American Museum Exchange IncCT $402,616$110,953 990
Indian Cultural Heritage FoundationTX $404,841$20,275 990
Chapparells Baton & Drum Corps IncOH $402,428$22,962 990
Lukaba ProductionsIL $402,338$85,389 990
Amelia Park Children's Museum IncMA $402,328$15,328 990
Kaleidoscope Chamber OrchestraCA $405,189$41,181 990
Charlotte Art League IncNC $402,149$15,648 990
River Arts Of Morrisville IncVT $402,100$74,639 990
Ballet Frontier Of TexasTX $405,308$54,881 990
Skylight Theatre CompanyCA $405,316$85,000 990

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 CA 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 default72nd
Total compensation (D + F), as reported (no adjustments)81st
Reportable pay only (column D), adjusted74th
All sources (D + E + F), adjusted70th

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 (John Bucher) 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 2000 similarly situated organizations (Same NTEE major group (A), nationwide + budget 0.67–1.5× revenue).
  3. The authorized body determined that total compensation of $84,000 is reasonable (approximately the 72nd 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.