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

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Mon, October 12, 2009
(39) 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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Toni Gmuer on Mon, October 12, 2009

I am so sad regarding the Franklyn Graham article, whenever I hear something about a ministry I always say everyone one should be like Billy Graham 50 years and never a scandal. I will work for free at 70 just give 2 pay checks a week and a ton of money for the next thirteen years yeah I could handle that. If he does not make it to that age do the ministry’s get the money back? This is a not good. What has happened to our leaders? I guess he has become a member of the elite jet set Christian’s. Do these people care or realize that their jets and Roll’s come from little old ladies and shut in’s that do without to support their ministry’s. Something has to be done to stop this. We give for a starving thirsty world tha need’s Jesus. I can see why the government will eventually need to step in unbelievable to save us from our own. Toni from LA
JOB on Mon, October 12, 2009

“The boards said they were playing catch-up and hoping to satisfy his goal of working for free when he reaches age 70.”

And then at 70 he’ll boast that he works for free. Manipulative games. Church planters play the same game when they boast they take little or no salary during the infancy of the church knowing fully well that if the church takes off they will be in a secure financial position the rest of their lives. A risk worth taking. A game I’m sick of seeing played.
DAvid on Mon, October 12, 2009

Hmmmm. Not much to say about this one. I’m not surprised. I’m so sick to my stomach seeing these “non-profit” “ministries of love” pay the worker-bees a pittance saying to them, “well the remainder of my pay is in heaven.” The workers themselves say, “well, it’s a ministry so I don’t ask for competitive pay.” I used to loathe the idea of the health and wealth preachers getting paid millions & asking people to give to help them “reach the lost.” .....UNTIL I found so many others were getting lucrative salaries. Hank Handigraff is another example. Sad. So sad. They are receiving their reward here on earth with mammon that will burn when examined by the Master.

When I see stories like this, I completely understand why people have little interest in joining a denominational church or contributing to an international cause.

Thanks for your comments Todd.
Peter Hamm on Mon, October 12, 2009

RevJay writes [I am a bi, 60 hours at each every now and again� fun, i think not, rewarding� absolutely! ]

Sustainable? in the long term? No.
Steve Long on Mon, October 12, 2009

The man Mr. Graham works for did not even have a place to lay his head. “Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Wow, doing the Lord’s work in the U.S. of A. sure can be….uh….rewarding.
davidbmclaughlin on Mon, October 12, 2009

There was a hint of whats up in the article but unless you are an accountant you probably missed it. The real crux of it has to do with changes in the acctg rules and recognizing deferred comp currently. Ask your accountant to explain it. It looks worse than it really is. Is he making a lot of money? Sure-but he also has a recognizeable name that brings in tons. avg out the salary over the length of his career. dont judge it by this yr’s acctg rules.
rbud on Mon, October 12, 2009

David, no disrespect intended, but by any accounting rules it’s still a huge amount of money for a humble man of God, especially when his empire is under enough financial fire that they have to lay off workers. This whole concept of working for free when he’s 70 yo doesn’t sit right either. At what income is he looking at in retirement, for a humble man of God? Many of us work, at least in part, for free long before 70. What’s more, he’s a silver spoon fellow, living off an empire he did not himself build. Where’s the sweat and sacrifice, for a humble man of God?

I suppose it’s perfectly justified on corporate paper, but not on spiritual paper, and not with my hard earned money.
David on Mon, October 12, 2009

Well said Bud. He’s a wealthy man now though. He likely could retire right now w/o working any more if he settled into a middle-class neighborhood and a sensible home. ..... like that’s going to happen. My biggest concern is the souls of the lost. They will continue to be lost when examples like this flourish w/no check by the Church. People see through that kind of stuff if they are real truth-seekers.
davidbmclaughlin on Tue, October 13, 2009

Paul made tents and Jesus didnt have a place to lay his head. But Paul also said to pay the minister what he is worth. In my opinion he is probably making too much-but there is a board that makes that decision.

My point is that when you compare his increase in salary to the current layoffs you are missing the acctg point. It only looks like an increase. You have to book it even when it is not really happening. I havent examined the books obviously but the article gave the hint enough that i understood what was probably going on.

i suspect some of the talk here is jealousy and faux humility. sounds easy to turn down $300k when it hasnt been offered to you.
Steve Long on Tue, October 13, 2009

David,
If you could pull one church leader out of the N.T that made that kind of loot I’m with you but consider the Apostle Paul who did more for Christianity than Franklin Graham will ever do as he recounts the financial benefits of his ministry. “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?” I think Paul was working for the wrong board.
About the envy thing. I live far more comfortably than Paul myself and with amenities (like electricity) that he would have never imagined. Don’t think that I do not consider my own situation (which is humble compared to Frank Grahams) with concern about excess compared to many in my community (homeless, disabled) etc. Although envy could figure into a persons motive in commenting here it does not diminish the shocking amount of compensation that Frank Graham and many others pull down with their message of Life to come, when it seems that their income is aimed at this life.
Oliver on Tue, October 13, 2009

I like the christopher post except I disagree that rock music has anything to do with lack of spirituality, I mean sorry you can’t understand the lyrics, I can and I think most can, and its ok to get excited about God, the problem isn’t separation from the world or anything like that, but you are right that we have the attitude that slaps God to everything in our culture without thinking so we get “events” that people attend and pay to go see, which really is just “entertainment”, I don’t think it would be any different than if people went to see a “concert” that was sacred music concert. The issue isn’t rock vs whatever, the issue is that we see church today as an “event” to “entertain” and we see the gospel as accepting Jesus into our heart, that was graham is about. I challenge anyone to give me scriptural support for accepting Jesus into your heart! That is not the gospel, that is our selfish american individualism and our commercial american culture “selling” the gospel, no different than Luther and the indulgences.
Shawn Wilson on Tue, October 13, 2009

Honestly does the church really hate it when people make money? All I hear right not in the church is how it’s wrong to make wealth and have a comfortable living…...odd given the fact we live in a capitalist society. When did the church become socialist? Is it wrong for Mr. Graham to make 1.2 million from what he does? I would say no! He put’s in the work, his name is what brings in the money, he spends time away from his family, etc to advance the Kingdom of Christ. Whether you like it or not folk it takes MONEY to fund missions, children’s hospitals, relief organizations, etc. What does the Bible say? Abraham was wealthy. King David was wealthy. Proverbs 13:22 says the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous.
Jesus uses money to get his message out!! Is it wrong for leader to make money? No! Should they have accountability? Of course but to say that a Christian leader can’t make a certain amount of money just because we don’t make it (cause that’s the real issues here) is jealousy and envy, plain and simple!
David Buckham on Tue, October 13, 2009

For some companies a full time job is 32 hours a week. I doubt Graham is punching a clock. I think in order to answer the first question we would need to know what is meant by full time and that will answer the second question. Some people get paid a full time salary on name alone, like was mention above. I think a lot of it comes down to name.

I don’t need facts though because ultimately, it ain’t that important to me.

all about Christ,
David Buckham
RevJay on Tue, October 13, 2009

Peter…

Sustainable in the long term? I’ve been doing it since 2001… Maybe not in the long term though.
Peter Hamm on Tue, October 13, 2009

RevJay,

Call me a naysayer, but I’m seriously doubtin’ it.

Peace out, until next week,
Peter