By Mary Dell Hayes, Together SC

South Carolina’s nonprofit and philanthropic organizations need to know what constitutes competitive wages and benefits to attract and retain the “best and the brightest” to address the most pressing issues in our community and make them wonderful places to live and work. That’s why Together SC engaged Kahle Strategic Insights to conduct the first statewide nonprofit compensation study in a decade. 

Nearly 500 charitable nonprofits that employ one or more professional staff replied to the 70-question survey last March. The study, funded in part by the Spartanburg Joint Funders, found pay and benefit disparities that indicate a critical need for funding to attract, invest in and retain quality staff.

Why do we need a comprehensive compensation and benefits study?

• This data will help nonprofit and philanthropic organizations meet changing workforce expectations; address inflation-related pressure on salary and benefits, and identify the scope of Covid-19 related workplace changes
• Nonprofits need to know if total compensation is competitive and if their compensation practices are equitable.
• They need support identifying creative HR solutions while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
• This data will provide a starting point for grantmakers to support nonprofits in offering equitable compensation and help identify steps to improve equity in hiring and compensation practices.
• It will enable nonprofits to attract the talent necessary to address pressing community issues

Based on key findings, we know that nonprofits cannot compete for the best and brightest when:

• They are not able to offer employee benefits – 50% of the nearly 500 nonprofits that participated in Together SC’s 2022 Comp. Study do not offer any type of medical insurance benefit. Even fewer offer health savings accounts, short and long-term disability, dental, or vision coverage.

• They are not able to pay a living wage. More than 40% of nonprofits do not provide their lowest-paid employee with a wage that will sufficiently cover market costs of rent, utilities, transportation, and other basic costs of living.

• Significant pay disparities based on gender and race continue to divide communities and perpetuate inequities in the organizations at the forefront of disrupting these generational issues.

How will the survey findings be used?

• A series of webinars and events helping folks to understand the implications of the data will be held throughout 2022.
• Technical assistance will be available to help nonprofits and funders understand the data and its implications for their work and operations.
• Data will be used to support advocacy around equity and other issues identified as impacting the nonprofit sector.

December is also when we as nonprofit executives need to begin making plans for the new year, and coming fiscal year, which includes taking care of our staff.

Don’t forget, there’s lots of data to help inform your HR planning efforts in the 2022 SC Nonprofit Compensation & Benefits Study.

Join us for the Spartanburg Gathering December 14

To help build understanding and support for offering living wages and meaningful benefits, Together SC will be facilitating a regional gathering on December 14 from 1:30-3 pm at the Robert Hett Chapman the III Center for Philanthropy hosted by Mary Dell Hayes, so we may consider the local impact of the study’s findings. 

Today is the last day to register for Spartanburg!