2008 News Coverage

United Way president paid $1.2 million

By STUART WATSON
WCNC-TV
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10:14 AM EDT on Wednesday, June 25, 2008

<Video: United Way President Paid $1.2 Million>

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The United Way of the Central Carolinas paid its president more than $1.2 million last year.

The disclosure comes in the latest IRS filing and includes bonuses of more than $800,000.

United Way’s Board Chairman says the board wants to boost President Gloria Pace King’s retirement account. But the head of a charity watchdog group calls the payments “grotesque” and “excessive.”

Gloria Pace King has been president of the United Way of the Central Carolinas for 14 years -- since 1994. The charity has grown exponentially under her leadership. She’s won awards and acclaim for her contributions to the community. She’s also earned scrutiny for her hefty paycheck.

Board Chairman Graham Denton says, “ She's done a terrific job. So we're just fortunate to have what I think is one of the best United Way CEO's in the country.”

She’s also one of the highest paid.

The 2006-2007 tax returns for the United Way -- made public on Monday -- show that in addition to King’s $365,000 salary, in addition to her $35,000 expense allowance, the board paid more than $822,000 into her employee benefit plan last year.
Denton says, “I think she's earned what we pay her.”

But Aaron Dorfman, the Director of the National [Committee] for Responsive Philanthropy, a charity watchdog, calls the figure “excessive.”

“People lose sight of the good they’re supposed to do in the community,” Dorfman said. “They come up with hair-brained ideas like this one.”

The $1.2 million is more than the United Way of the Central Carolinas gives to all the area’s YMCAs combined.

It’s also more than was contributed to the United Way campaign by all of Lake Norman and Mooresville contributors combined.
Denton counters that Lake Norman and Mooresville have grown significantly under the leadership of Gloria Pace King.

He says the $822,000 is a one time payment and that the number will diminish to around $500,000 next year.

Denton says he does not believe the number will discourage donors who have a long history with the local United Way.

But Dorfman, of the watchdog group, says he doesn’t think the lucrative benefit was what most United Way donors had in mind when they filled out their pledge cards.

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