Worldandnation: He's the highest-paid charity executive around

Worldandnation: He's the highest-paid charity executive around: "He's the highest-paid charity executive around

Among nonprofits, the CEO of Goodwill Industries-Suncoast Inc. makes more than most: $530,693 in 2003.

By EMILY STEEL
Published August 15, 2005

Things were looking up for Goodwill Industries-Suncoast Inc. Revenue was on the rise after some lean times in the aftermath of 9/11. A new plan for the nonprofit's trademark secondhand stores was set to provide more services than ever.

The corporate board attributed such success to its visionary leader, R. Lee Waits.

When it came time to set Waits' annual compensation that day in the late summer of 2003, the board deliberated for less than an hour.

Then it awarded Waits a salary of $304,974. And there was more: Under a contract Waits negotiated in 1992, the board paid another $200,000 into his retirement fund."