UPDATE: Aug. 30, 8:50 p.m. ET
NEW YORK — The president and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is defending the nonprofit’s executive salaries following a report last week by The New York Post detailing high salaries to its top leaders amid hefty losses.
According to The New York Post, Elizabeth Hillman defended the salaries in an email sent to the foundation’s trustees on Monday: “Our executive compensation lags well behind that of peer institutions,” adding, “recent compensation studies have supported adjustments across the organization.”
ORIGINAL REPORTING: Aug. 25
NEW YORK — The nonprofit that operates the National September 11 Memorial and Museum is awarding sharply higher salaries to its top leaders while continuing to post hefty losses, leading to outrage among many victims’ families, according to the New York Post.
Created to honor the nearly 3,000 people killed in the 2001 terror attacks, the institution draws about 9,000 visitors a day, yet still struggles to balance its books. In 2020, it finished the year $47 million in the red after a six-month pandemic shutdown that forced the layoff or furlough of 60% of its workforce.
But in 2020, the museum’s board granted bonuses to its 12 highest-ranking executives, adding to frustrations over the organization’s financial priorities as budget woes persist, according to data obtained by The Post.
IRS filings show the museum lost nearly $20 million in 2024, taking in $93 million (including $4.5 million in taxpayer funds) but spending $112 million, even with tickets priced at $36, or $85 for the full tour.
Top executives’ salaries topped the list of expenses:
- Elizabeth Hillman, President & CEO – $856,216 total ($775,084 base), a 63% increase since 2022
- Joshua Cherwin, EVP & Chief Advancement Officer – $486,298 total ($410,379 base), a 78% increase since 2020
- Allison Blais, Chief Strategy & Operations Officer – $458,652 total ($388,458 base)
- Clifford Chanin, Museum Director – $444,999 total ($398,114 base), a 66% increase since 2021
- David Shehaan, CFO – $432,958 total ($392,653 base), a 294% increase since 2019
“How can you justify these salaries?” Jim McCaffrey, a retired FDNY firefighter whose brother-in-law, Battalion Chief Orio Palmer, died on 9/11, said. “It’s just another slap in the face of the families, more pain and grief to add to the heartache.”
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Families say rising executive pay is out of step with ongoing deficits. Of the $93 million in revenue, only $10.3 million came from donations, while $69 million was generated through tickets, tours and souvenir sales.
Charity watchdog GuideStar gave the foundation its lowest rating. Trustees include Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal and Jon Stewart, with board chair Michael Bloomberg, who lent the museum $15 million at launch, contributing up to $250,000 through Bloomberg Philanthropies in 2024.
“From the very beginning, it was very clear that the 9/11 Memorial and Museum would not only be the most expensive memorial museum ever built on the planet, but also the most expensive to operate as well,” Glenn Corbett, professor of fire science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and advisor to 9/11 firefighter families, said.
Corbett and many victims’ families want the National Park Service to take over the memorial and museum.
A 2016 House bill to give the foundation up to $25 million annually died in the Senate.
What do you think? Should the 9/11 Memorial and Museum be turned over to the National Park Service?
FireRescue1 readers respond
- Salaries are ridiculous for an organization that is losing money. Remembering those lost is an honorable mission, but there are so many still living with the effects of that day, both physical and mental, who need the funds more than a group of overpaid executives. These are salaries for executives in a “for-profit” company where results are tied to compensation. Many of these positions should be honorary, with folks only receiving a stipend to cover their expenses.
- I’m not sure if the NPS should take over, but something has to be done. Those salaries are absolutely ridiculous, especially the percentage of raises in such a short time. $36 a person admission is pretty steep. That’s $144 for a family of four. It needs to be overhauled for sure!
- What is the purpose of the museum and organization? Is it to ‘Never Forget’? It seems like these listed salaries are out of line for a non-profit. Maybe some of the positions should be honorary, not paid. It appears that would allow the museum to continue on. Not sure our National Parks Service is able to take care of what obligations it already has, which may allow the museum fall into disrepair.
- Absolutely. It makes me sick to see what these individuals are making, as well as the trustees allowing it to happen. It absolutely should be under the park service.
- If it was paid with taxpayers’ money, it should be free to all United States citizens.
- As a retired career chief whose department was placed on standby during 911, I’m appalled at this travesty and decadence of this “scam” by the Board. They should be terminated immediately.
- Sacrilege! Dirt bags turning a sincere memorial into a personal piggy bank.
- If the Board of Directors and the C-Suite officers are as incompetent as it sounds, then definitely. No businessperson would operate at a loss and continue to extract money from the business. The whole lot of them should be ashamed!!!
- This is a memorial museum, but it seems like it is a golden cow for a few individuals. I am a volunteer firefighter in PA who also works in our county EOC. On 9/11, I was in the EOC for 23 hours. I would like to see the museum; however, at $85 per ticket, my wife and I are unable to go. Let NPS take over and make it affordable for volunteers and the public.
