MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Franklin Graham Under Fire: 2 Full-Time Jobs; $1.2 Million in Pay

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Mon, October 12, 2009
Viewed 551
(43) comments so far

Franklin Graham Under Fire: 2 Full-Time Jobs; $1.2 Million in Pay

Franklin Graham is under fire for making over a million dollars from two full time positions last year, while at the same time, the organizations he heads were making substancial layoffs.

According to the Charlotte Observer, concerns about his rising financial compensation during tough economic times have prompted evangelist Franklin Graham to temporarily give up future contributions to his retirement plans at the two charities he leads.

As president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, he receives two full-time salaries and two retirement packages. Last year, his total compensation from the two Christian ministries was $1.2 million.

The size of Graham's total 2008 compensation - $535,000 from Samaritan's Purse and $669,000 from Charlotte-based BGEA - drew questions from nonprofit experts interviewed by the Observer. They doubted that one person - even the energetic, globe-trotting Graham - can do two full-time jobs leading organizations that employ hundreds and spend hundreds of millions around the world.

As head of the Boone-based Samaritan's Purse, Graham earned more last year than any other leader of an international relief agency based in the United States. That includes eight with larger budgets, according to data compiled by Guidestar, a group that monitors nonprofits.

Graham, 57, and his two boards of directors pointed out that most of his 2008 compensation came not from increases in his salaries, which have remained flat in recent years, but from accelerated contributions to his retirement. Graham received no retirement his first five-plus years at Samaritan's Purse and first year at the BGEA. The boards said they were playing catch-up and hoping to satisfy his goal of working for free when he reaches age 70.

In addition, Graham and the boards said, nearly half of what he received last year from BGEA - $300,000 - was deferred retirement money that had been committed and reported over three previous years. Under new IRS rules, which have affected other nonprofit CEOs, the money had to be reported as a lump sum in 2008, the year Graham became eligible for the money.

Even with that $300,000 - plus accrued interest - taken out, Graham's compensation at BGEA rose 21 percent in 2008, from $250,000 to $303,000. The median increase for CEOs at the nation's biggest charities in 2008 was 7 percent, according to an annual survey released last week by the Journal of Philanthropy.

Graham acknowledged last week that his compensation total "looks terrible" and that "people won't understand it."

News of his pay hike comes only months after BGEA laid off more than 10 percent of its staff.

A few thoughts here:

1. Can anyone hold down TWO full-time gigs? And even if they could... should they?

2. $300k retirement over three years? Wow.

3. BGEA income is down $33 million dollars A YEAR in the past four years.

4. It seems that there should be some middle ground between Franklin saying his salary "looks terrible" and that "people won't understand it." and "I enjoy and love what I do... It's not a job, it's a calling. ... I'd do it for nothing."

Some people would say... 'prove it'.

Todd

Comments

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bishopdave on Mon, October 12, 2009

I think I’m some people. We heavily get into the Christmas Shoebox from Samaritan’s PUrse, and we sometimes struggle to raise the money for shipping. Looks like he could pay a chunk of the shipping, and also “work for free.” Most of us (well, except for Todd) could make do on $150,000/year, and it’s time some of the people in the trenches saw the leadership bite the bullet.

If Christian non-profit executives are perceived as greedy as corporate execs, prepare to watch offerings continue to fall.
RevJay on Mon, October 12, 2009

An Iconic name like Franklin Graham is worth a million bucks. Rick Warren, TD Jakes, A-Rod, they all bring attention to people and the ‘game’ they represent. I make about $40,000 a year, I am not a big name or a wannabee. God will be the judge and He will reward accordingly. I am sure that if the economy was going great guns, no one would care that Mr Graham is making money to support himself, his family and his ministries. Our President just made $1.4 million in a day… donated it to his favorite charity (humm) and all we can say, God’s man is NOT worth his hire? Sour Grapes? Let the Lord sort this one out>
David Drake on Mon, October 12, 2009

Lol. Some of s are pastors in the ‘hood and 150,000 would be 6 years of pay!
rbud on Mon, October 12, 2009

Don’t know quite what to say. There’s too little information to understand clearly. However, it appears excessive for someone trying to get through the eye of the needle. I am naturally suspicious of any charitble organization where the leadership is highly paid. If you want me to sacrifice in your behalf, it seems to me that those leaders should be making the same sacrifices as they ask of me.

I know of many pastors and religious leaders who work the equivilent of two jobs, on one salary, I wonder what they think of this. Bottom line, from a Christian perspective, it doesn’t sit well with me at all.

These orgs have very limited income apart from contributions. Which means that contributions go largely to pay these salaries. Sorry, but that’s not where I want my hard-earned resources to go.
Jeff Jensen on Mon, October 12, 2009

I always think it is easiest to shoot at the ones who make more $ than ... OK well, than any of us. I get the same treatment for making (GROSS) 60,000. But after taxes, insurance, and professional expenses, I take home under 40,000… right at the average for this area’s households….

Headlines and quick quotes can be misleading. Graham has a board that manages all of those decisions… He’s not signing his own paychecks.
Peter Hamm on Mon, October 12, 2009

The most important question, imho, was the first one you asked.

[1. Can anyone hold down TWO full-time gigs? And even if they could… should they?]

NO!
RevJay on Mon, October 12, 2009

Peter…
Can anyone hold down TWO full-time gigs? And even if they could� should they?

You say no… What about the man who has to hold down a secular job and a ministerial position just to get by… do they count, just because they don’t make $1.2 mill?
Peter Hamm on Mon, October 12, 2009

RevJay.

I’m a big fan of bi-vocational pastors, but if they are working a full 40-hour week (or 50 or more) at each, it is unsustainable, and their family is hurting.
Wendi Hammond on Mon, October 12, 2009

Yes, there is some info missing, but I can’t really see how this makes sense, whether the $$ is paid in salary or retirement. And there are only so many hours a human being can work in a given month. To give a VERY generous FT salary to someone who is not able to live and breath the work is unreasonable, and this what is happening here. I hate what this makes me feel about Franklin.

Wendi
Oliver on Mon, October 12, 2009

I think this is an example of what Christ said would happen in the judgement when all these great leaders will say “lord lord” and Jesus will say, I never knew you, depart from me into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angles. Plain and simple, by their fruits you shall know them, you cannot serve God and mammon. Its obvious who is serving mammon. its time we call a spade a spade, this is a shame and I am embarrassed to be called a christian! what a shame!!!
Jared on Mon, October 12, 2009

Although we are never afforded all of the details, my initial reaction to the article was remembering the following Wikipedia entry about Rick Warren:

“Due to the success of his book sales, in 2005 Warren returned his 25 years of salary to the church and discontinued taking a salary. He says he and his wife became “reverse tithers”, giving away 90% of their income and living off 10%.”
dave anderson on Mon, October 12, 2009

Can anyone work two full time jobs? I am a bivo pastor and worked 60 hour weeks travelling 50% of the time and my church experienced nearly 300% growth in 11 months. I didnt take a dime from the church and used my secular job to make money and insurance.

Yes there was a price to pay but I am at a season in life where it was worth it. Now I am half time in the workforce and pastoring too and no longer travelling. We have nearly doubled again in the last year.

Its doable. For a high capacity leader its extremely doable. It may not be sustainable for a lot of us - but as a CEO there is a different kind of work involved. He’s not putting in 80 laying bricks.

While his salary may seem out of proportion to mine for instance think about what he brings to the table. If Joe Blow pastor became CEO of either organization how much revenue increase would they experience? Like it or not, Franklin Graham is getting paid because of his ability and his credibility that goes with his last name.

However, in light of layoffs and a tanking economy - none of which may have been fully understood when these board decisions were made - it may behoove him and his board to evaluate how decisions are made and compensation is set so that he wont undermine the great work he is doing.

I also bet that if you saw his giving record it might make us all think about how our giving might reflect on us if the numbers were exposed. I’ll bet he does more than tithe his income - so the more he makes the more good he can do in this world!
RevJay on Mon, October 12, 2009

Peter,

I am a bi, 60 hours at each every now and again… fun, i think not, rewarding… absolutely! Thank God I am OFF today and can catch up on a bit of life now and again. My family understands and is supportive 1000%... we are called to do this right now. I have been in a full time ministry and was unfulfilled, God uses us as we are, where we are.
Mark on Mon, October 12, 2009

I agree with Oliver. It is a shame and there is nothing more to say. I am a full time missionary travelling the world too. $535,000 is more than ten times what I receive, then double that to receive another check from another organization? When I was pastoring we did the Samaritans Purse shoeboxes every year, and we continue as a family to participate every year. To read this is just so totally demoralizing to those supporting world mission, THIS VALUE SYSTEM IS JUST TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE HUGE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS THAT HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED BY OUR CHURCH AND OUR NATIONS LEADERS TO GIVE!!
Christopher G Fontenot on Mon, October 12, 2009

My concern is the money wasted not only in salary but in the some of his events. We had a “Rock the River” event in Baton Rouge. Local churches and governments were petitioned for financial support as well as promotion. For 7 hours there were bands playing “contemporary Christian” (I use the term loosely) music and in all that time, Franklin Graham took a grand total of approximately 45 minutes to preach. This was billed as a way for “saved” youth to bring their lost friends to a concert where they can hear the Gospel. Sadly, Franklin blew his opportunity to share the whole Gospel. I’ll give him credit for actually mentioning sin and judgment but in the end it was come down to the stage, pray a sinner’s prayer and POOF! you’re in. They even gave out little credit card-like credential with the date of your “decision”. I guess you swipe it in the machine at the gates of heaven and it lets you in. 45 minutes out of 7 hours…..what a waste. I am 45 years old and you might consider that as being too old to appreciate the music of Red, Flyleaf, Da Truth, & Hawk Nelson but if their music praises God then shouldn’t we at least be able to hear the words? As Christians, aren’t we supposed to be separate from the world? Look at these bands and you see tattoos, makeup, multi-colored hair, smoke, jumping around like monkeys, and elevated volumes. Where is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit? So much of what is labelled Christian in America is impacted BY the culture instead of the culture being impacted by Christianity.

Franklin’s idea of a music tour as an evangelistic opportunity needs a lot of tweaking. Even the idea of charging admission makes me ill. Where is the Biblical precedent for charging people to gather to worship God or to hear the Gospel? Granted…had he called it Worship God on the River, he would not have drawn the crowds in the numbers that he drew but I would be willing to believe that the truth of the Gospel preached would have produced far more converts that the lame, cotton-candy message he preached for the 3 fifteen minute intervals. All that money and opportunity wasted.