Charity boss 'earning more than £100,000' a year says six-figure salaries 'aren't an issue for donors'

Pressure was growing on charity bosses last night after it was revealed at least 30 were enjoying salaries of more than £100,000 a year.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the finances of major aid organisations – which receive hundreds of millions of pounds from taxpayers – must be open to scrutiny.

But as the head of the Charity Commission said the deals ‘risk bringing the charitable world into disrepute’, one aid boss insisted donors ‘don’t mind’ funding executives’ six-figure salaries.

In an astonishing outburst, Sir Stephen Bubb said raising the issue was a ‘disgraceful distraction’.

He claimed their high salaries would not put people off giving saying: ‘This simply isn’t an issue for donors. They are more concerned about the outcomes, the performance and the efficiency of these organisations.’

Sir Stephen, head of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, whose own salary is believed to be more than £100,000, added: ‘To keep talent, really strong people, at the top of these organisations, they need to be paid properly.

‘These are still not excessive salaries when you compare them to the public and private sectors. It’s essential that the sector attracts skilled and experienced professionals, not keen amateurs.’

He insisted top charity executives earned far less than the leaders of councils, or their counterparts in the private sector, and that the average salary for a charity boss was £58,000.