Compensation and Benefits Assessment

Scope & Deliverables

Wilderness Torah is evolving from a start-up into a more mature-stage organization. Participation in our programs continues to grow in the double digits and we are about to launch a national training initiative. To prepare for this next stage, we need to professionalize our compensation and benefits package. Specifically, we need to up-level our compensation and benefits to attract and retain the best talent, and ensure we are appropriately classifying workers.

Discrete tasks and deliverables:

Compensation and Benefits Analysis:

1. Assess compensation for 7 employee positions against Bay Area median for comparable nonprofits (i.e., similar by staff size, budget, etc.) using the 2015 Nonprofit Compensation and Benefits Survey

2. Assess benefits, including medical, time off, and BYOD (Bring Your own Device) policies, against Bay Area median

3. Make recommendations, perhaps a low/medium/high investment scenario: what salaries and benefits we would need to offer to be at 25%, median, and 75% of comparable Bay Area nonprofits

4. Estimate of costs to achieve 25%, 50%, 75% scenarios.

5. Deliverable is a written report, with backup data (such as photocopies of data on particular positions from Nonprofit Compensation Survey and other data used to draw conclusions.)

Employee vs. Contractor recommendation:

1. Review 30+ contractor jobs (many are same roles--over a dozen youth educators, for example) and determine whether the particular position should be classified as a contractor or employee

2. If a contractor should be an employee, advise how to structure that (i.e., Temporary employee? Seasonal worker? Do they need a w-4?) and note any particular issues to be aware of (i.e., do we need to provide something for employees we don't for contractors, such as technology?)

3. Deliverable is a written report, including backup materials (such as legal definitions of contractors/employees, etc.)

Project Results

Wilderness Torah's plan over the next three years is to expand our programs regionally and to launch a national training institute to answer the call for training and consulting in our proven models for Jewish education and community. We are now seeking to strengthen our organization operationally to prepare for this exciting next phase!

This engagement will allow Wilderness Torah to build to its next stage, by ensuring that our compensation package is appropriate for our existing excellent talent, and to attract wonderful new employees as we grow.

Organization Description

Wilderness Torah, located in Berkeley, reconnects Jewish traditions to nature. Since 2007, we have served more than 6,000 participants with multi-generational holiday festivals; K-7 outdoor Jewish education; and custom programs for Jewish institutions. Named one of the nation's most innovative Jewish nonprofits four years running, Wilderness Torah's programs consistently sell out and have remarkable impact, especially in connecting young adults and the disengaged enthusiastically back to Judaism.

Areas of Expertise Being Sought

Human Resources/Legal