New CEO Of Spirit Of The North Healthcare Foundation Paid $125,000.00 Per Year

Thursday, May 27, 2010 04:00 AM

Prince George- The new CEO of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation is being paid $125,000.00 per year salary for the new position.

That was confirmed by the President of the Foundation, Carole Beebe, who said that after an exhaustive look for a replacement for David Warrie, "The Foundation feels it has attracted a good man to fill the position". She says after due diligence the committee, comprised of Roy Spooner, Judy Jackson, Hugh Nicholson and Darren Masse felt the best person for the job was Don Gowan, and the Board approved the appointment.

Gowan says that while he has never been involved in raising money on this scale, he has raised money for sports teams etc. He doesn’t see a problem raising the kind of money needed for the Healthcare Foundation. Gowan says he was approached by Hugh Nicholson who he had met on a couple of previous occasions, and a short time later he was contacted by the head hunters from Toronto.

Gowan says he was “Set to go to work for Commonwealth Financial as a mortgage broker after passing the necessary exams, when Marty, the head hunter phoned me”.

Gowan says “Money was not the main feature that I took the job. I had not been working since May of 2008, so money was not the entire reason to take the job.”

Gowan did apply for the position of position of President of the Prince George Regional Airport in early 2009 when the Airport was looking for a successor to Stieg Hoeg.

The Chairman of the Foundation, Carol Beebe, says “We would like to raise money for a number of related health care projects like Hospice, raising the total amount that we take in to around $4 million dollars." Previously the Foundation raised between $2.3 and $2.5 million dollars a year and had operating expenses of just under $250,000.00 dollars. The position she says has been upgraded from Executive Director, which had been held by David Wharrie and his salary was between $75 and $80 thousand per year. The position Gowan holds is that of "Chief Executive Officer".

Opinion250 was told during our interview that Roy Spooner was part of the hiring committee. That prompted this response today from a member of the family;

“Dad is out of town and unreachable but I'm certain he would want to clarify that he had withdrawn from the committee and was NOT on the committee that selected Mr.Gowan”.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Thursday, May 27, 2010 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: gus on May 27 2010 4:31 AM

So we know that a person who has had the position for some time was paid $75 to $80 thousand. Now there is a person that has no experience doing this who get roughly $50,000 more.

The justification given is that the title has changed.

The questions that is sitting unanswered out there are:

What is the scope of the job that has changed to warrant the increase which will no doubtedly have some increments after a year and onward that will take this individual to heights that are going to quickly approach $150k and $175k.

What is the expectation of the amount of money that he will need to raise and how much more will he be asking for to increase the staff and or contracts to allow him to raise the fundraising level substantially?

I would think that unless this fellow has some magic bullets that he will need some increased staff help.

Posted by: Denaljo on May 27 2010 5:49 AM

Gus - the $50000 was because of the name change!?#*

Posted by: gus on May 27 2010 6:41 AM

Yes, I know..... :-)

Generally a name change comes with new business cards not with a salary increase. The scope of the work the position entails may come with a salary change. it often also comes with an increase in staff that has to be supervised.

I wonder if the new communications guy at the City wished he had this job now. He will most certainly be looking for a salary increase shortly upon hearing this.

It is a labour shortage, obviously.

Posted by: He spoke on May 27 2010 7:40 AM

Can you donate more .... so that I can justify my high wages!

I think I am going to reconsider my usual support for these guys.

Posted by: mikmak on May 27 2010 7:48 AM

good call, he spoke. there is nothing worse than charitable organizations that spend this kind of money on overhead costs, instead of passing it on to their cause. look at the names, look at commonwealth financial...seems like trying to add a buddy to the old boys' club. what kind of position was gowan employed in when hugh nicholson 'met him a couple times'? ridiculous.

Posted by: Outwest on May 27 2010 8:08 AM

This is it, no more Donation of any kind for anyone and don't ring my Doorbell any more , no Phone Calls please. You give Money from your small Pension for a good cause and now you read, this so called CEO make a small Fortune a Year. I will support this any more.

Posted by: willowynde on May 27 2010 8:12 AM

This is sick -- really sick. I won't be donating to this, or any other "charities". Maybe, while on the subject of administration-heavy healthcare institues, someone should have a look at the salaries and structure of Northern Health.

Posted by: metalman on May 27 2010 8:32 AM

My thoughts certainly mirror some of the above comments. It has always bothered me that some charitable organizations have a lot of overhead to cover, it's almost as if they have lost sight of their original purpose. 125K for a 'top executive' is not outrageous - in a corporation whose mandate is to make a profit, but two things really stick in my craw; the salary is so much higher than the last person received for the same "job", and the Spirit of the North Foundation is supposed to be a non profit society. The positions should be filled by people who have already made their own money and have maybe retired, or semi retired or for some other reason do not have to work for a living. Compensation should be limited to covering expenses, that's all. Think of how much more money would actually filter down to where it is needed, some of us might even be inclined to start giving to this charity, or give more, knowing it is mostly going to a good cause.
metalman.

Posted by: vocer on May 27 2010 8:43 AM

This seems wrong to me also. Although I realize its hard work to raise dollars in the millions, this salary is awfull high for someone who indicates he has no experience. I wish I could earn that much without experience. It seems like a kick in the you know whats to all those that raise money for charities and do it for nothing.

Posted by: He spoke on May 27 2010 9:19 AM

Seems like a lot of people unhappy about this. I think we need to start a petition.

Posted by: kolberg on May 27 2010 9:38 AM

FYI. You can get summary financial information on any registered charity at the CRA website
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts/menu-eng.html

In 2009 the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation generated revenue of $2,635,681 of which $627,031 was from donations, the rest was gifts from other charities, interest income and "non-tax receipted revenues" (?).

Of the $2,635,681 it appears that $1,223,243 was used for charitable purposes. It looks like the rest was used for management, administration and fundraising.

$660,451 was spent on fundraising. The total amount of all gifts for which the charity issued tax receipts was $627,031.

Posted by: kolberg on May 27 2010 9:44 AM

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts/menu-eng.html

Posted by: rattyboy on May 27 2010 10:31 AM

Good old boys club. 125K for a guy that has no experience. the pulisher of the citizen (hugh nicholson) sits on the board who hired this guy and knows him. he was about to start working as a mortgage broker with commonwealth financial (owned by dan mclaren). Must have hit rock bottom not working for Two year to have to consider working for dan M and commonwealth. same 2 that over took the board of directors for the dbia. the smell the smell the smell. I had to cancel my subscription to the citizen as a matter of pricipal, now I will not be giving any more money to the spirit of the north health care fundation. was good for $500-$1000 per year approx. Wake up prince george. As people we have the free will to do something about this. if you agree consider canceling your paper, stop giving to the foundation(till they right the ship as it is a good cause), and dont use any business owned by dan.m and commonwealth. If this is ok with you then proceed and carry on as usual. I have made up my mind.

Posted by: Dot on May 27 2010 10:49 AM

This is completely outrageous! I find it VERY interesting as well that this story involves Hugh Nicholson & Dan McLaren @ Commonwealth Financial. Too cozy for comfort...for me!!! I do not subscribe to the Citizen...and (for the time being)I will be cancelling my donations to the Spirit of the North Health Care Foundation as well. One: because they would pay SO MUCH for someone will virtually NO experience, because they are an 'aquaintance'? Two: because a charity that spends almost 50% for admin & overhead has lost it's integrity in my books!

Posted by: newly retired on May 27 2010 11:14 AM

I have to agree with all of the post. I too feel this is outrages. Here is a man that has not worked since May 2008, said he has no experience in fund raising on this scale, only raised funds for sports teams etc. Carole Beebe, who said that after an exhaustive look for a replacement for David Warrie, "The Foundation feels it has attracted a good man to fill the position". I wonder just how hard they looked, if this is the best they came up with and then raise the salary by $50,000. this is unbelievable. I too will not support the foundation any longer.

Posted by: rattyboy on May 27 2010 12:06 PM

just a question? is don gowan a newly apointed member of the DBIA. if he is, then we need no more proof of what is realy going on. what are the names of the new appiontees?

Posted by: newly retired on May 27 2010 12:22 PM

I was doing some research on the net with regards to Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation and came across an article from one of our local papers dated April 22, 2010 that stated Don Gowan is the new CEO of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, replacing David Wharrie, who retired from the position last fall. So I am curious, just when was he hired?

Posted by: verballabel on May 27 2010 12:54 PM

I'm a commerce student and will be looking to start a career in the near future. I look at the job postings there are next to no companies paying even in the $40,000-$50,000 range that would hire me without at least 3-5+ years experience.

It is a shame that Mr. Gowan is going to be compensated this much for running a not for profit..

Posted by: PrinceGeorge on May 27 2010 1:29 PM

I have a lot of experience in a field unrelated to fund raising and I have absolutely no fund raising experience.

That means I am eminently qualified for the job being scrutinized here!

Should I file a grievance because I wasn't considered first?

BTW, I am regularly donating to the foundation and I am more then upset by all this financial largesse.

Years ago I found out that the CEO of the United Way was receiving compensation of more than half a million per annum.

I stopped my donations. Hmmmm.

Posted by: forthegoodofmankind on May 27 2010 1:52 PM

Not very intelligent comments from a man who is about to make $125K a year. Maybe if they paid David Wharrie that amount he would have stayed. I thought Mr. Wharrie did a fantastic job. Hopefully Mr. Gowan will do an even better job.

Posted by: Eagleone on May 27 2010 7:04 PM

I have a degree in accounting as well as management and there is nothing out there that pays more than $40,000 a year for anyone without the inside connections. I'd bet I have more experience than this guy running a $2.5 million dollar non profit budget with a staff of 10 and I didn't make $40,000 a year (which is why I moved on). This guy admits he has no prior experience and I would suggest his education is limited as well considering he was looking at a job as a mortgage broker and hasn't worked in two years.... outrageous.

Posted by: apoliticalgeek on May 27 2010 8:39 PM

Don't like what you see/smell? Vote with your wallet.

Posted by: Harbinger on May 27 2010 10:00 PM

I own a jacket and tie. I can carry on a conversation. I gotta network, I guess.

Posted by: Eagleone on May 27 2010 10:20 PM

lol good one Harbinger. Too much information though.

Posted by: Eagleone on May 27 2010 10:27 PM

Being constructive with other peoples money is always good. Here's a good link to a good cause that will see Visa pay $1 every day for you towards children in poverty. Its a click a day type thing... probably mining for data? But its a good cause if you have nothing to hide.

http://www.liftone.org/liftone/?MLN=5

Posted by: alex1212 on May 27 2010 10:32 PM

why is this such a suprise ????? comon people think ,, look around from ottawa to union to gas prices to lottery scams icbc salariers lalalalala omg !! what a suprise

Posted by: gus on May 28 2010 6:56 PM

"It is a shame that Mr. Gowan is going to be compensated this much for running a not for profit.."

With that kind of salary, he is setting a good example for others that the foundation will remain without a profit. :-)

Posted by: gus on May 28 2010 6:59 PM

"I own a jacket and tie."

There is your problem right there. Jacket and tie is one thing. People will simply shy away from you if you don't have any pants.