Mental Health America Took In Less Than NAMI, But Paid Its CEO More. Covid Awareness Increased Donations.

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(4-19-22) Mental Health America saw its gross receipts jump by $3 million during 2020. In total, it received $8.2 million in gross receipts, according to its IRS Form 990, as reported by Guidestar. In 2019, it received $5.1 million.

I’ve already reported that the National Alliance on Mental Illness had a $5.6 million jump in its donations/receipts during 2020. Overall, it received an impressive $27.5 million.

Increases in donations to both are being credited to public awareness of mental illnesses during COVID.

NAMI and MHA are generally regarded as the nation’s two best-known grassroots, mental health nonprofits. NAMI began as a parent run organization largely focused on schizophrenia. It now brands itself as the nation’s voice for all mental disorders and those families and individuals who are living with mental illnesses. MHA was created by former mental hospital patients and continues to be the voice of those with lived experiences.

NAMI listed net assets of $25.7 million during 2020 after deducting expenses. MHA’s net worth as a nonprofit was considerably less – $9 million.

Despite its much smaller balance sheet, MHA paid its President/CEO a higher compensation package in 2020 than NAMI paid its leader. Outgoing MHA CEO Paul Gionfriddo received $271,089 in salary, collected a $10,000 bonus, and ended up with a total compensation package of $295,271. By comparison, NAMI’s CEO, Daniel Gillison received $265,046 – or roughly $30,000 less than Gionfriddo.

MHA also hired Mary Giliberti, after she abruptly left her job as NAMI CEO in 2019. MHA paid her a compensation package worth $244,178 – only a tad bit lower than the $257,392 compensation that she’d received when she was NAMI’s top executive.

Average Salaries

The average Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Non-Profit Organization salary in Washington, DC was $197,021 as of February 25, 2022, but the salary range typically falls between $148,863 to $253,871, according to Salary Com.  

This puts NAMI and MHA compensation packages higher than the 2022 national average based on Salary.Com. (MHA’s package in 2020 was almost a $100,00 higher than average paid during 2022.) Salary ranges can vary widely depending on education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years an individual has spent in their profession.

NAMI and MHA both had PPP Loans forgiven during 2021. MHA received $432,438 in crisis funding. NAMI got $1,691,557.

Treatment Advocacy Center

It’s difficult to compare the Treatment Advocacy Center’s public financial reports with NAMI and MHA because its most recent Form 990, according to Guidestar, listed 2018 figures. TAC was created to eliminate barriers to mental health treatment – initially by promoting greater use of Assisted Outpatient Treatment. Unlike NAMI and MHA, it doesn’t accept money from Big Pharma.

It’s 2018 report shows that it received $2.2 million in gross receipts and ended the year with net assets of $890,670. Its former director, John Snook, who left TAC in 2021, received a salary and compensation package in 2018 that totaled $200,509.  Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, who founded TAC, was paid $27,844.

In 2020, TAC received $248,400 in PPP funds, which are listed separately from Form 990 IRS reports.

Other Big Names

National Council For Behavioral Health

The National Council describes itself as “the unifying voice of America’s mental health and addiction treatment organizations with 3,000 member organizations, serving more than 10 million adults, children and families.”  Its members are treatment service providers who pay membership dues. But the council’s biggest money earner is training and support services that it sells, earning $13 million annually. During 2018 – the latest information on Guidestar – the council took in $66 million in gross receipts. It ended the year with net assets of nearly $33 million. Linda Rosenberg, who was responsible for building the national council into a powerhouse during her 15 years at the helm, received an annual compensation package of $831,208 before leaving in 2019.

The national council is identified as having received two PPP Loans. In 2020, it had a $1.6 million loan forgiven. In 2021, it received an additional $1.7 million.

Fountain House, Inc.

Based in New York City, Fountain House is the premier nonprofit at promoting the Clubhouse Model, where individuals with lived experience are in charge of social programs, job training and, in some cases, housing. It raked in $57 million in contributions/receipts during 2019. Its new worth as a nonprofit was $45 million and it paid Kenneth Dudek during 2019 a salary of $291,779.  Dudek retired in 2019. 

Fountain House received $1,691,557 in PPP loans.

The Stanley Medical Research Institute

Another brainchild of Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, the institute funds scientific research to find the “causes of and better pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.” Created by the multi-millionaire Ted and Vada Stanley family, the institute had gross receipts of nearly $10 million during 2019 and a net worth of $85 million. It paid its director, Maree J. Webster, a compensation package worth $248,129.  Dr. Torrey was paid $27,563.

There was no record of the research institute receiving a PPP loan.

Smaller Nonprofits

SARDAA – the Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America

SARDAA, which rebranded itself and now is known as the Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance, took in $743,043 in gross receipts and listed its net worth in 2020 on its Form 990 at $654,851. The organization, which was founded and run for 14 years by Linda Whitten Stalters, does not pay any salaries to its volunteer staff.

It received two PPP loans. 2021 – $28,021 and$19,433 in 2020.

Bring Change to Mind

Founded by actress Glenn Close, Bring Change to Mind focuses on fighting stigma. It took in $2.1 million in 2019 and ended up with assets after deductions of $2.2 million. It paid its director, Pamela Harrington, a total of $212,380. She was the only paid staff member.

It received a PPP loan of $116,111 during 2020.

One Mind Institute

Co-founded by advocate Garen Staglin, California based, One Mind Institute says its goal is “to radically accelerate cures for brain illnesses and injuries by funding and fostering scientific collaborations and initiatives.” It took in $9.7 million in donations/receipts and had a net worth as a nonprofit of $2.6 million in 2019. Its president, Brandon Staglin, was paid $187,578 in compensation. The Staglin Family owns the Staglin Vineyards. 

One Mind Institute received PPP loans of $136,719 and $128,975 during 2021 and 2020.

Mad In America Foundation

The creation of author/journalist Robert Whitaker, Mad in America says its mission “is to serve as a catalyst for rethinking psychiatric care in the United States (and abroad). We believe that the current drug-based paradigm of care has failed our society, and that scientific research, as well as the lived experience of those who have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, calls for profound change.” Its Form 990 from 2019 shows gross receipts of $464,471 and a nonprofit net worth of $318,307. It paid Whitaker $40,480.

There is no record of Mad In America receiving a PPP loan.

Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

The Bazelon Center says its mission is to “protect and advance the rights of adults and children who have mental disabilities.”  It has been TAC’s main opponent when it comes to AOT, which it opposes. It had gross receipts of $2.3 million in 2019, and was worth nearly $5 million as a nonprofit. Its CEO, Holly O Donnell, received $175,000 in compensation.

It received PPP loans of $204,152 in 2020 and $134,672 in 2021.

 

About the author:

Pete Earley is the bestselling author of such books as The Hot House and Crazy. When he is not spending time with his family, he tours the globe advocating for mental health reform.

Learn more about Pete.