The 2021 Pay and Equalities Survey attracted over 1,000 respondents, the largest sample size since the survey began. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impacts on the sector there are some warning signs in the data that usage of some key governance tools has reduced. This includes 49% of CEOs reporting having no formal salary review on a regular basis, a steep increase on the 39% figure from 2020 and a return to the levels seen in 2018 and previous years. The number of CEOs holding an up-to-date job description has dropped from the encouraging lift to 75% in 2020, down to 69% in 2021. Those with a current statement of delegated authorities dropped to 45% in 2021 from 47% in 2020, while less than a fifth of CEOs (17%) have personal development plans. As the sector builds back better, it is more vital than ever that boards provide robust professional frameworks to support leaders.
The 2021 survey shows that 60% of respondents feel their board prioritises their wellbeing, an encouraging increase on 54% last year. More than eight in 10 CEOs would recommend a career in the sector, but there remains a need for stronger career support in some areas; just half of charity leaders are satisfied with chair/board support for the investment of time or resources in their learning and development.
The median CEO salary in 2021 was £58,000, up from £55,993 in 2020, but England-based CEOs were less likely to have received a pay rise than CEOs based in Scotland or Northern Ireland. However, it is encouraging to notice that 88% of respondents did not need to take a pay cut as a result of the pandemic, and it is also positive that the overallpay gap between male and female CEO respondents continues to fall: at 7.6% in 2021, down from 12.1% in 2020 and 13.8% in 2018.
Awareness of diversity, inclusion and representation continues to rise among CEOs, but this does not correspond to them feeling satisfied with the composition of their boards. 43% of respondents stated that they planned to address ethnic diversity on their boards within the next year while just 25% of respondents were happy with the ethnic diversity of their boards. While leaders are continuing to identify the lack of diversity, equity and inclusion as a sector-wide issue, more ambitious action is needed quickly to see a marked change in representation in charities.
- The annual Pay and Equalities Surveyis sponsored by Sarasin & Partners.
- The annual pay survey, a valuable benchmarking tool for salaries across the sector, covers England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- The Pay and Equalities Survey is the only survey that looks at the pay, benefits, diversity, leadership and governance of CEOs of charities of all sizes across the UK. Alongside the full report are two shorter briefings looking at Pay and Equalities in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- The report is priced at £48 for ACEVO members, £65 for non-member charities and £95 for corporates. A free copy of the report is available for those who responded to the survey.
The Pay and Equalities Survey is facilitated by CAF and supported by the Scottish and Northern Irish leadership networks ACOSVO and CO3. The survey was conducted online between 19 March and 6 May 2021 and attracted 1,080 responses, the largest ever sample size.
