Does Milken Institute pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Milken Institute employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.8 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Milken Institute. This rating has improved by 16% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Milken Institute?

67% of Milken Institute employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Milken Institute 3.5 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.1 for culture and values and 3.3 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Milken Institute?

Senior Associate (10) , Associate Director (9) , Director (9) , Intern (7) , Associate (5) , Executive Assistant (3) , Executive Director (3) , Business and Program Development (2) , Senior Research Analyst (2)

What are the pros of working at Milken Institute according to real employee reviews?

"The people are great." ((in 10 reviews)); "Good work/ life balance" ((in 6 reviews)); "great team to work with." ((in 6 reviews)); "Pay is decent for a non" ((in 4 reviews)); "Great mentorship experience and strong emphasis on giving back and learning from senior leadership." ((in 3 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Milken Institute according to real employee reviews?

"Nepotism is blatant and rampant" ((in 6 reviews)); "Low salary and no bonus structure." ((in 6 reviews))

What are employees saying about Milken Institute layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about Milken Institute layoffs and their outlook for job security at Milken Institute in 2026.

What are the top reviewed Milken Institute locations?

Santa Monica , Washington , Los Angeles , Riverton , New York , Moorpark , Manhattan Beach

Milken Institute reviews

3.4

67% would recommend to a friend

(93 total reviews)

Richard Ditizio

69% approve of CEO

55% positive business outlook

Company ratings over time

Ratings trend for the last 6 months (93 reviews)

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Milken Institute has an employee rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars, based on 93 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Milken Institute employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Nonprofit & NGO industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

93 reviews

2.0

Apr 27, 2023

Milken Institute's Culture is Different Than They Claim

Executive director

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Global platform to explore solutions to some of the world's biggest problem. International travel for those in senior positions.

Cons

Their job announcements claim that "every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences." This claim could not be further from the truth. This so-called "think-tank" plays favoritism all of the time and treats employees differently depending on well they are liked by the C-suite. Employees are not supported with resources and training. Although it's supposedly a research organization, employees do not have access to leading journals and receive very little training in any professional development. Skills learned are mainly around event planning and fundraising -- substance is an after thought.

Milken Institute Response

3y

Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We appreciate your input. We will make sure to follow up in the areas where you feel we have an opportunity to improve. We value your opinion and we are committed to offering the best possible employee experience. If you have any further feedback to share please email us at HR-Staff@themi.org.

2.0

Dec 15, 2021

Poor management, toxic culture

Senior associate

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Junior level staffers keep this place running. Great to make friends & connections if you're a younger employee in LA/DC. Awesome travel opportunities (but not for everyone!). Pay is decent for a nonprofit think tank.

Cons

Executives are out of touch. Senior managers are devoted to the C-Suite rather than to the success and growth of their own teams. Managers take credit for the work of junior staffers. It's all about power and visibility at Milken- and if you don't have it, most colleagues won't give you the time of day. Mentorship is nonexistent and there is very little room for growth, even though you may be tricked to believe there is. Overall, style is valued over substance.

Milken Institute Response

4y

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are disappointed to read your experience with the Institute was negative, however the HR team welcomes your feedback to start conversations that will help us implement solutions. Please contact us at HR-Staff@milkeninstitute.org should you wish to discuss your experience further.

2.0

Feb 21, 2018

Culture starts from the top.

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great location, good work/life balance, mostly nice and smart people. You get the opportunity to interact with many high-level, impressive people, and the Institute looks good on a resume when you move on.

Cons

The quality staff members all eventually leave. There is a high disparity between value placed in senior and junior staff, evident in pay and promotions. Transparency and communication are clear issues, with a lot of miscommunication leading to animosity within teams and between departments. You do have the opportunity to do a bit of interesting, good work, but, at the end of the day, it’s all about Global Conference. I wish I would have trusted the negative reviews on here more before taking the position.

Viewing 10 - 12 of 93 Reviews

Jobs at Milken Institute

Director, Catering & Special Events

Associate, Advancement