Compensation Solutions for nonprofits

We bring unparalleled expertise and knowledge and problem solving skills to help nonprofits solve compensation issues.

Nonprofits need good people, fairly paid.

We design programs to attract and reward high-performing teams, while being reasonable in the eyes of donors and regulators.

We encourage transparency in all our work, preferring clear and open communications to arcane formulas.

Recognizing our clients’ budget constraints, we price our services to ensure that their value exceeds their cost.

We believe that the only measure of our success is the level of our clients’ satisfaction.

Our Services

Executive Pay

Determining Competitive Compensation

Learn More

Reasonableness Opinions

Complying with Intermediate Sanctions

Learn More

Pay Philosophy

Defining Compensation Strategies

Learn More

Incentive Compensation

Evaluating Variable Pay

Learn More

Salary Structures

Developing Pay Grade Systems

Learn More

Expert Witness

Testimony on Pay Issues

Learn More

Who We Serve

We're proud to help our clients serve their communities.

See Full Client List

Thank you for your important contribution in helping the Board fulfill one of its most critical functions. Our committee is in your debt.

Trustee, international child advocacy ministry

I was pleased with the resolution of the contractual issues attributable, in no small measure, to your sagacious and practical advice.

Chief Executive, major sports nonprofit

Again, thanks for all your help. Not only was your expertise invaluable but you were a great help in keeping things moving along smoothly. You made our job much, much easier.

Compensation Committee Chair, leading conservation organization

Thanks again for your outstanding work. It elegantly solved a long-standing issue.

Compensation Committee Chair, animal welfare nonprofit

Our Team

Rebecca Pilot

President & CEO

Rebecca Pilot is a human resources professional with over twenty years of experience in consulting to private and nonprofit organizations. In addition to leading the firm, she directs a variety of client engagements involving nonprofit compensation and benefits issues.

Pete Smith

Founding Partner

The former chief executive of Watson Wyatt Worldwide (now Willis Towers Watson), Pete Smith has significant experience in both the private and public sectors. Pete now focuses on executive compensation consulting services for nonprofit clients.

Meet Our Full Team

Insights

The articles below are representative of our thinking regarding important executive compensation issues and may be helpful in addressing specific matters in your organization.

When it hits the fan: advice for nonprofits on negative compensation publicity

What to do if your executive compensation becomes a public issue...

The Board’s Role in Setting Nonprofit Compensation Levels

Common governance mistakes, and how to avoid them...

How Much Is Too Much? Assessing Leadership Pay in Nonprofits

Thoughts on setting a reasonable and competitive level of executive pay...

Our Clients

Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, Arlington, VA
Active Minds, Washington, DC
American Forest Foundation, Washington, DC
Americans for Financial Reform, Washington, DC
Annual Reviews, Palo Alto, CA
Arbor Day Foundation, Lincoln, NE
Arizona Animal Welfare League, Phoenix, CA
Association Innovation and Management, Inc, Washington, DC
American Traffic Safety Services Association, Washington, DC
Bellweather Education, Sudbury, MA
Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, Cleveland, OH
BioBus, New York, NY
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Verona, VA
California Community Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
Car Donation Foundation, St Louis Park, MN
Cardigan Mountain School, Canaan, NH
Carleton College, Northfield, MN
Casey Family Programs, Seattle, WA
Catalyst Miami, Miami, FL
Catholic Charities of Southern MN, Winona, MN
Catholic Leadership Institute, Wayne, PA
Center for American Progress, Washington, DC
Center for Humans and Nature, Chicago, IL
Center for Internet Security, East Greenbush, NY
Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Washington, DC
Children’s Inn at NIH, Bethesda, MD
Children’s Law Center, Washington, DC
Chinese American Service League, Chicago, IL
Civic Nation, Washington, DC
CLASP, Washington, DC
Combined Jewish Philanthropies for Greater Boston, Boston, MA
Community Catalyst, Boston, MA
Community Housing Partners, Christiansburg, VA
Community Partners, Los Angeles, CA
Conservation Colorado, Denver CO
Conservation Law Foundation, Boston, MA
Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Disability Rights California, Sacramento, CA
Economic Policy Institute, Washington, DC
Educational Media Foundation, Rocklin, CA
Edward P Evans Foundation, Casanova, VA
EMILY’s List, Washington, DC
Episcopal Day School, San Mateo, CA
Fair Elections Center, Washington, DC
FilmLA, Hollywood, CA
Financial Health Network, Chicago, IL
Ford House, Gross Pointe, MI
Glide Foundation, San Francisco, CA
Grand Teton National Park Foundation, Moose, WY
Greater Boston Food Bank, Boston, MA
Greater Boston Legal Services, Boston, MA
H.E. Butt Family Foundation, Kerrville, TX
Habitat for Humanity Hillsborough, Tampa, FL
Hass Avocado Board, Mission Viejo, AR
Health Resources in Action, Boston, MA
Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Washington, DC
Irish Arts Center, New York, NY
Justice for Migrant Women, Fremont, OH
KnowledgeWorks, Cincinnati, OH
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Washington, DC
Leader Dogs for the Blind, Rochester Hills, MI
League of Conservation Voters, Washington, DC
Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, San Francisco, CA
Live Oak School, San Francisco, CA
Manna Food Center, Gaithersburg, MD
Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Boston, MA
MDC, Inc, Durham, NC
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, St. Paul, MN
Miriam’s Kitchen, Washington, DC
Money Management International, Sugar Land, TX
Mosaic, Omaha, NE
Ms. Foundation, New York, NY
murmuration, New York, NY
Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Nantucket, MA
National Association of Subrogation Professionals, Pittsburg, PA
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Johns Creek, GA
National Consumer Law Center, Boston, MA
National Employment Law Project, New York, NY
National Foundation for Credit Counseling, Washington, DC
National Partnership for Women and Families, Washington, DC
National Trust for Historic Preservation, Washington, DC
NC Biotech, Research Triangle Park, NC
New Tech Network, Napa, CA
Ocean Conservancy, Washington, DC
Ojai Valley School, Ojai, CA
Path Foundation, Warrenton, VA
Pennsylvania School Boards Association, Mechanicsburg, PA
Physician Assistant Education Association, Washington, DC
Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, Washington, DC
Points of Light Foundation, Atlanta, GA
Presidio Hill School, San Francisco, CA
Out Teach, Florence, MA
RIP Medical Debt, New York, NY
St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
States United Democracy Center, Washington, DC
StriveTogether, Cincinnati, OH
Texas Diaper Bank, San Antonio, TX
The Breakthrough Institute, Berkely, CA
The Moth, New York, NY
Together for Girls, Washington, DC
United Way of the Greater Triangle, Durham, NC
UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, Washington, DC
Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco, CA
Washington Area Bicycle Association, Washington, DC
Wespay, San Francisco, CA
Western PA Conservancy, Mill Run, PA
Western Resources Advocates, Boulder, CO
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, Washington, DC
YMCA of Greater New York, NY
YMCA of South Hampton Roads, Hampton Roads, VA

Let's Talk.

We would be glad to discuss whether our services meet your needs.

Please email us info@smithpilot.com and let us know what kind of services you are seeking and how best to contact you.

Post Office Box 39101

Washington, DC 20016