Many nonprofits are struggling to recruit, hire, and retain employees. To help, Kentucky Nonprofit Network is once again partnering with Associations TRENDS on the 2026 Kentucky Nonprofit Compensation Survey. This survey will shed light on current compensation trends in the sector and provide information to help nonprofits be employers of choice.

Requests for comparable salary and benefits data are among the most frequent we receive at KNN.

Association TRENDS has 30+ years of experience conducting compensation surveys and designed this one specifically for nonprofits. With over 100 job descriptions, an easy-to-use interface, and a responsive support team, the survey is quick to complete—and the resulting report will be a valuable resource for your nonprofit and others across Kentucky.

Good news! If you participated in 2022 or 2024, your previous responses are saved—making this year’s survey even faster to complete.

Your participation is very important - the more responses, the better the report!

PRICING

• Survey: Survey participation is free and open to any nonprofit. 
• Report:
  • FREE Kentucky-specific report for KNN members who complete the survey. 
  • Discounted ($99.50) report for potential members who do complete the survey (Full report price is $199)
  • Discounted ($139.30) report for KNN members who do not complete the survey. (Full report price is $199)
• *Note: A minimum of 100 Kentucky responses is required to generate a KY-specific report, so it’s important that we hear from YOUR NONPROFIT!
  

Not yet a KNN member? Join today, complete the survey, and get the Kentucky report FREE.

DATES

• Survey deadline: December 15, 2025  
• Report release (if 100+ Kentucky responses): Spring 2026

FAQ

• Why is this survey important? Nonprofits needs this data for budget planning with staff and board. Nonprofits are asked about compensation policies on their annual tax Form 990.
  Nonprofits need to complete the survey in order to provide the most accurate, comprehensive data on competitive salaries and benefits. The nonprofit workforce has value! It has a powerful impact on Kentucky’s economy.
• How do I complete the survey? Click here to learn more and register to complete the survey. Click "Start Survey" on the right side of the page, then enter your email. If you have an account with Association TRENDS, submit your email and your information will auto populate. If you do not, you will be prompted to create a login. Upon login or registration, you will automatically be taken to the survey start page. Feel free to complete your survey right away or save and come back later!
• What information is needed to complete the survey?
  • Compensation data: 
    • Full salary census for your organization
    • Bonus amounts awarded to employees in the last year
    • Annual budget for the 2026 fiscal year, and the projected salary increase percent for the upcoming year
    • "Disqualified person," "Key employee," and/or "Officer/Director" classifications for top level employees
  • Compensation practices:
    • Salary increase criteria
    • Compensation philosophy
    • Annual/long-term incentives
    • Supplemental executive compensation
    • Board member compensation
  • Benefits Information: 
    • Employee leave policies
    • Health care, dental, and vision coverage
    • Life insurance
    • Retirement plan
    • Executive benefits
• What if I can’t find a good match for an employee in the job title list? Select the job title that most closely matches the job description of your employee (here’s a list of all the job descriptions in the survey). However, if nothing comes close, please do not report that employee. If an employee matches multiple job titles, please select the job title that is the highest ranked or most senior position. Please do not report an individual employee for multiple job titles. 
• Is the survey interface secure? Absolutely. The user interface is encrypted, and password protected.
• How long will the survey take to complete? For most organizations, it will take about 30 minutes to complete the survey. 
• Is there a cost? It is free to take the survey, and as a member of KNN, you will receive a free copy of the final KY-specific report. See above for more information on report pricing for potential KNN members or nonprofits not completing the survey, as well as pricing for the national report.
• Can I save my progress in the survey and return later? Yes. You can click "save" or "save and come back later." Use this link to continue your survey after beginning.
• Anything else I should know? You will receive an email confirmation that you've completed the survey. Keep this email! It will also contain the discount code you can use to access the report when it's released in 2026.
• Who should I contact with technical questions? If you have any questions about technical issues or the survey interface, email the Association TRENDS team at mkratcoski@columbiabooks.com or call 888-265-0600.

Your participation matters—help us reach 100+ responses so Kentucky nonprofits can access this vital data!