Global Refuge CEO Compensation Drops for 2025
The Baltimore-based organization reports a reduction in executive pay alongside a decline in annual revenue.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Should non-profit executives receive high salaries even when their organization's annual revenue drops significantly?
In 2025, Global Refuge CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah received total compensation of $686,000, reflecting a 2% decrease from the prior year. During this same period, the Baltimore-based nonprofit saw its annual revenue fall to $170.4 million.
Why it matters
The change in executive compensation occurs as the organization navigates a significant adjustment in its overall financial scale. These figures highlight the fiscal shifts facing groups heavily reliant on federal grants from the State and Health and Human Services departments.
Global Refuge revenue decreased 44% year-over-year from $304.3 million in 2024 to $170.4 million in 2025. CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah saw her pay drop from $700,000 to $686,000 over the same timeframe.
The players
Krish O'Mara Vignarajah
She serves as the CEO of Global Refuge, a Baltimore-based nonprofit organization.
Global Refuge
This is a Baltimore-based organization that has received federal grants from the State and Health and Human Services departments since 2021.
The details
The Baltimore nonprofit has maintained a consistent funding model since 2021 by securing grants from the Department of State and the Department of Health and Human Services. The organization's latest financial filings reflect these shifting revenue streams and the corresponding adjustments to executive remuneration.
Timeline
Global Refuge began receiving federal grants in 2021.
In 2024, the CEO earned $700,000 while revenue reached $304.3 million.
During 2025, the CEO compensation totaled $686,000 and revenue was $170.4 million.
Market Landscape
The organization's financial trajectory mirrors the volatility often seen in nonprofits heavily reliant on the federal grant-making process under the Department of Health and Human Services. This reliance positions the group's operational health in direct alignment with changing government funding priorities.
For stakeholders and donors, these figures provide insight into the changing scale of the organization's operations in Baltimore. The reduction in total revenue may influence the breadth of services or community support programs the nonprofit can sustain in the coming cycle.
The takeaway
Large nonprofits often face significant revenue fluctuations when their funding models depend on federal government cycles. Donors should examine annual financial filings to understand how executive pay tracks with an organization's overall fiscal health.
Further reading
Learn more about local non-profit trends in the Baltimore Philanthropy section.
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Should non-profit executives receive high salaries even when their organization's annual revenue drops significantly?
