NAO's 2023 Oregon Nonprofit Compensation & Benefits Report

NAO's 2023 Oregon Nonprofit Compensation & Benefits Report analyzes information shared by 366 charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofits throughout Oregon. This report is critical to evaluating your organization’s compensation and benefits strategy to help attract and retain the best talent. Produced by your own nonprofit state association, this report should be used as one resource to determine appropriate compensation and benefits levels for staff, in addition to many others, including equity, skill level, budget, etc.

The 2023 Oregon Nonprofit Compensation and Benefits Report consists of an Executive Summary (Free) and a Full Report (for purchase), including a digital copy and access to a robust online interactive interface tool.

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Systems, Services and Solutions

A Study of Government to Nonprofit Contracts in Oregon

Produced by: Nonprofit Association of Oregon

Public contracting is one of the primary means by which legislation and budget decisions are implemented – it is the operationalizing of the policy intent of a legislative body elected by the will of voters. The impact of creating a sound system and process for contracting is tremendous and the positive change will be felt throughout the communities served. From June to August 2022, NAO conducted a survey of charitable nonprofit organizations that work with the public sector. Through the Oregon Government-Nonprofit Contracting Survey, NAO set out to determine if current public sector contracting systems and practices are in alignment with the policy intent and whether they are conducive to successful partnerships. You can read the illuminating results of that study in this report.

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Board Finance Workbook (Digital Copy)

Produced by: Nonprofit Association of Oregon

The nonprofit board of directors is an integral part of the success of any charitable nonprofit organization and is one of the only organizational structures in a nonprofit that has specific requirements under federal and state law. This workbook is designed to develop, enhance, and refine the finance skills of your nonprofit organization’s board of directors. You’ll find ten exercises that provide practical tools and assessments that your board can use to strengthen their financial skills and the oversight roles that you play in keeping your nonprofit financially solvent. Practicing these exercises together also strengthens relationships as you complete the workbook as a team.

Cost: $20 NAO member, $35 nonmembers

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Board Management Workbook (Digital Copy)

Produced by: Nonprofit Association of Oregon

The nonprofit board of directors is an integral part of the success of any charitable nonprofit organization and is one of the only organizational structures in a nonprofit that have specific requirements under federal and state law. This workbook is designed to develop, enhance, and refine the management of your nonprofit organization’s board of directors. You’ll find ten exercises and two icebreakers that provide practical tools and assessments that your board can use to, not only strengthen the important work you do, but also strengthen relationships as you work through the workbook as a team.

Cost: $20 NAO member, $35 nonmembers

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The Scope and Impact of Nonprofit Workforce Shortages in Oregon

Produced by: National Council of Nonprofits in coordination with the Nonprofit Association of Oregon

As part of a national survey conducted in November 2021, the National Council of Nonprofits released The Scope and Impact of Nonprofit Workforce Shortages, a study of the data collected. In Oregon, the Nonprofit Association of Oregon acted as promotional partner to ensure the state had a robust response to the survey. The information in this report is an analysis of the Oregon specific data captured in the survey.

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NAO's 2021 Oregon Nonprofit Compensation & Benefits Report

In response to a groundswell of requests from nonprofits across the state, NAO's 2021 Oregon Nonprofit Compensation & Benefits Report analyzes information shared by 230 charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofits throughout Oregon. After an unprecedented 2020, the use of this survey is key to evaluating your organization’s compensation and benefits strategy to help attract and retain the best talent. Produced by your own nonprofit state association, this report should be used as one resource to determine appropriate compensation and benefits levels for staff, in addition to many others including equity, skill level, budget, etc.

The 2021 Oregon Nonprofit Compensation and Benefits Report consists of two parts: Executive Summary (Free), and a Full Report (for purchase) which includes a digital copy, and access to a robust online interactive interface tool.

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Oregon Nonprofits: A Year Into The Pandemic

Produced by: Public Interest Management Group (PIMG) and the Nonprofit Association of Oregon

In April of 2021, Public Interest Management Group (PIMG) in partnership with the Nonprofit Association of Oregon (NAO) and The Impact Foundry surveyed nonprofit leaders nationwide to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their organizations about one year after the first cases and stay at home orders. We gathered 158 responses from a wide-range of organizations in the nonprofit sector across the country. In this report, we are extracting the data specifically from 77 Oregon respondents to extrapolate themes and gain insight from nonprofit leaders throughout our state.

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Impact of COVID-19 on Oregon Charitable Nonprofits

Full Report - August 27, 2020

Researched by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon (NAO), Portland State University’s Nonprofit Institute, Mercy Corps Northwest, and Oregon Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (ORVOAD)

In June, NAO partnered with the above organizations to quantify the challenges to 501(c)(3) charitable benefit nonprofits through a survey. The findings are quite compelling and underscore not only the importance of the nonprofit sector at this time, but also the pain these organizations are feeling and the hope and concerns they have for the future.

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NAO's 2020 Compensation and Benefits Report

Oregon’s nonprofit sector plays a critical role in the health and vibrancy of Oregon communities. Nonprofits are a powerful contributor to the leadership, economy, social and cultural transformation, and health and well-being of our state. While we know that many who work in the nonprofit sector do so for the love and passion of a specific cause or calling, the Nonprofit Association of Oregon (NAO) firmly believes that nonprofits should, and need, to be appropriately compensated for the great work they do in making a positive difference in the lives of Oregonians.

The 2020 Oregon Nonprofit Compensation and Benefits Report consists of two parts: Executive Summary (Free), and a Full Report (for purchase) which includes a digital and printed copy, and access to a robust online interactive interface tool.

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Impact of COVID-19 on Oregon Charitable Nonprofits

Preliminary Report ― Key Findings Summary - July 30, 2020

Researched by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon (NAO), Portland State University’s Nonprofit Institute, Mercy Corps Northwest, and Oregon Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (ORVOAD)

The Nonprofit Association of Oregon (NAO), Portland State University’s Nonprofit Institute, Mercy CorpsNorthwest, and Oregon Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (ORVOAD) partnered to quantify the impact and challenges of the COVID-19 crisis on 501(c)(3) charitable benefit nonprofits through a survey that ran from June 2 to June 28, 2020. This preliminary report is a summary of key findings from responses shared by 490 Oregon nonprofit leaders. The respondents represent a broad cross section of charitable nonprofit types and sizes from across the state.

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NAO’s Planning During Change: A Toolkit for Nonprofits

NAO’s Planning During Change: A Toolkit for Nonprofits is a new tool for nonprofits to plan and forecast your financial health through the current COVID-19 crisis and into recovery. The “Planning During Change: A Toolkit for Nonprofits” was developed to provide nonprofits a starting point as they consider near- and mid-term plans for their organizations amid the uncertainty we are all facing. The toolkit presents an opportunity to begin framing your position and response, is a launching point for conversations for team members, and has practical templates for building action plans for your programs and finances.

The tool was originally developed by our colleagues at the Montana Nonprofit Association and adapted with permission by NAO in partnership with our colleagues at the Center for Nonprofit Stewardship (CNS). The toolkit is specifically designed for smaller all-volunteer or small-staffed nonprofits and is provided free for your use. NAO, together with CNS, will be developing a set of trainings to walk nonprofits through the use of the toolkit; however it is designed as a self-study tool and can be used by any nonprofit.

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NAO's 2020 State of the Sector Report

Published by: Nonprofit Association of Oregon

Nonprofit Association of Oregon’s 2020 State of the Sector Report is designed to provide current and easily accessible data on the health of the public benefit nonprofit sector in Oregon. Charitable nonprofits work in every Oregon community and enrich the lives of all Oregonians.

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Nonprofit Health Check Quick Assessment Tools and Resources

Published by: Nonprofit Association of Oregon

The assessment tools found in this document were developed by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon for 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit corporations operating in the state of Oregon. They are intended to provide nonprofit leaders with the ability to conduct a quick self-assessment of the organization’s overall health, to prompt deeper inquiry in areas that need attention, and to connect leaders with helpful tools and resources. These assessment tools are not exhaustive and are not intended to be a substitute for legal or financial advice. If you wish to be certain about the proper course of action for your organization, you may need to contact a licensed attorney or certified public accountant.

If you need additional guidance, NAO can connect you with information, resources, professional development opportunities, and referrals to qualified nonprofit services providers. NAO will continue to add to and revise these resources. This document was first published in May 2019 and updated in January of 2020.

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NAO's Equity & Inclusion Lens Guide

Published by: Nonprofit Association of Oregon

The NAO Equity & Inclusion Lens Guide is an interactive tool that will help you learn about equity and inclusion and how to apply it to your work. Change takes place in different ways and is ongoing. We are all learning. It is a lifelong process. When we consider our own diversity, check our assumptions, ask about inclusion, and apply our insights to our work, we can create change. The end result is that we become a change agent and take action.

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Best Practices - Fact or Myth?

Authors: Scott Schaffer (Public Interest Management Group) & Jim White (Nonprofit Association of Oregon)

Public Interest Management Group conducted an applied research project in partnership with the Nonprofit Association of Oregon, The Impact Foundry and 43 charitable nonprofits between 2015 and 2017. The research objective was to identify nonprofit management practices linked to organizational success. In this paper we present findings and discuss implications for nonprofit leaders, funders and capacity-builders. The results confirm some commonly-held assumptions about best nonprofit practices and challenge others. The findings further suggest that nonprofits and technical assistance efforts may be out of synch with a range of success factors. We summarize a prevailing approach employed by successful nonprofits in the study and identify important questions for further research.

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Race to Lead: Women of Color in the Nonprofit Sector

Author: Ofronama Biu

This report applies an intersectional analysis to the data from the Building Movement Project (BMP) national survey of more than 4,000 nonprofit staff. BMP’s research has already emphasized the need to address deeply embedded biases and systemic barriers that negatively impact the career advancement and experiences of people of color working in the nonprofit sector. By examining the impact of both race and gender on survey respondents, this report adds important nuance to the conclusions drawn from the other reports in the Race to Lead series.

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2018 Year-End Charitable Giving in Oregon

Nonprofit Association of Oregon is pleased to share with the 2018 Year-End Charitable Giving in Oregon report. The findings are very interesting, surprising in some cases, and give us much food for thought for future planning.

In partnership with the Association of Fundraising of Oregon and SW Washington, NAO conducted a survey to hear directly from nonprofit executive directors and development officers on the results of their fundraising efforts in 2018.

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2018 Oregon Nonprofit Disaster Preparedness Report

Prepared by: Grace L. Chikoto-Schultz, Andrew Russo, & Paul Manson (Portland State University) with Jim White (Nonprofit Association of Oregon)

To assess the region's level of disaster resilience, Portland State University in collaboration with the City Club of Portland's Earthquake Report Advocacy Committee, and Nonprofit Association of Oregon, developed and distributed a disaster preparedness survey to Oregon nonprofit organizations in spring 2018. The objective of the survey was to understand the concerns, resources, and actions that nonprofits organizations have taken to prepare for disasters. Given the critical role nonprofits play in supporting our communities today, undoubtedly, this role will be even more critical following a disaster.

On November 11, 2018, Portland State University, in collaboration with NAO released the 2018 Oregon Nonprofit Disaster Preparedness Report. The report summarizes results from the survey. Based on the responses of nearly 200 nonprofits, the results are quite revealing regarding how concerned and informed nonprofits are about potential hazards, what actions they have taken to prepare for disasters, as well as their perceived roles should a major disaster like the Cascadia Subduction Zone event occur.

Downloadable PDF files:

Race to Lead: Confronting the Nonprofit Racial Leadership Gap

Published by: Building Movement Project

TThe nonprofit sector is experiencing a racial leadership gap. Studies show the percentage of people of color in the executive director/CEO role has remained under 20% for the last 15 years even as the country becomes more diverse. To find out more, the Building Movement Project conducted the Nonprofits, Leadership, and Race survey in 2016. Over 4,000 respondents answered questions about their current nonprofit job, interest in leading a nonprofit, training/supports, views of leadership, and personal background.

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The Oregon Nonprofit
Corporation Handbook - 5th Edition

Authors: Cynthia Cumfer & Kay Sohl

The Oregon Nonprofit Corporation Handbook is the essential how-to guide for both emerging and established nonprofit organizations. The only complete guide for Oregon nonprofits, the Handbook is four reference books in one: legal, tax exemption, management, and accounting.

Purchase here

5th Edition Updates Available
5th edition updates will be posted by Handbook authors on their website and digital chapter downloads of the 5th edition can also be purchased there. 

6th Edition
The 6th edition is planned for release by end of 2023. In the meantime, digital downloads of the 6th edition will be made available as they are completed. 

For further details, reach out to Handbook Co-Author Kay Sohl: kay@kaysohlconsulting.net

2017 Oregon Nonprofit Economic Snapshot

As of March 2017, Oregon’s nonprofit sector consists of 31,224 nonprofit organizations. The majority of them – 19,786 – are public charities who conduct “public benefit” activities. The indirect economic impact of nonprofits is considerably more than basic metrics of employment and average wage payroll indicate. NAO has created a snapshot sheet of the affects our local nonprofits have on Oregon's economy.

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Principles for Good Governance
and Ethical Practice

Publisher: Independent Sector (February 2015), Co-branded with NAO

Independent Sector’s Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice is the foremost guide for sound and successful practice by charities and foundations in the United States. Thirty-three principles succinctly provide clarity about legal compliance and public disclosure, effective governance, strong financial oversight, and responsible fundraising. The Nonprofit Association of Oregon has partnered with Independent Sector to disseminate this co-branded version of the Principles as a means to provide a strong guide for private foundations and public charities that aspire to high standards of governance and ethical practice.

Price: Free

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2016 Northwest Nonprofit
Capacity Report

Our Strengths – Our Challenges – Our Resilience

A consortium of five northwest state nonprofit associations has released a comprehensive study on the capacity, strengths, and challenges of the region’s nonprofit sector. The 2016 Northwest Nonprofit Capacity Report: Our Strengths – Our Challenges – Our Resilience was developed using survey data from over 1,000 nonprofits in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The report highlights the progress nonprofits are making in creating a resilient sector. Learn more.

Financial support for the survey came from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Philanthropy Northwest, and GiveGab.

Price: Free

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2014 Oregon Nonprofit Sector Report

In November of 2014, the five state associations serving nonprofits in the Northwest collaborated on a joint data collection and analysis effort to gauge the organizational health and practices of nonprofits. From those survey findings, NAO has produced The Oregon’s Nonprofit Sector in Brief, providing an overview of key indicators. There are areas to celebrate and areas that continue to challenge us as a sector.

Financial support for the survey came from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

Price: Free

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State of Giving

Authors: Greg Chaillé & Kristin Anderson

State of Giving makes the case for nonprofits and their supporters as undervalued pillars of civic structure, as cornerstones of progress, and as crucial to the future of a prosperous Oregon. It’s an accessible call-to-arms, and an essential text for anyone interested in strengthening their community and their state. State of Giving introduces readers to the men and women from all walks of life at the forefront of efforts to combat Oregon’s most enduring challenges, including: Education Inequity, Environmental Conservation, Social Inequity and Discrimination, Hunger and Homelessness, The Urban/Rural Divide, and the Arts, Culture, and Heritage Funding.

Prices: NAO members receive 15% off

  • $21.21: NAO Member
  • $24.95: Nonmember

Purchase from the publisher.

Accessing discount codes:

Members must log into their individual user account on the top right corner of NAO’s website then visit our Members Only Area and find the discount code under “Publications”. Enter that code into your cart on the publisher’s website. The discount will be calculated at checkout.

Need help creating your individual user account or linking your existing user account to your organization’s membership record? Access this user account info sheet for instructions. Contact Member Services at membership@nonprofitoregon.org for any questions.