在非營利組織治理議題中，執行長的角色極為重要，其在組織中不僅須扮演承上（董事會）啟下（員工）之中介功能，還須肩負維繫組織生存與永續發展，並確保使命達成與組織目標之實踐，因此，執行長被視為組織的核心人物。本論文乃根據作者2006-2007年國科會研究計畫「非營利組織執行長在治理過程中的角色與功能之探討」之部份調查資料，對於台灣地區的全國性社會福利慈善基金會的執行長之角色職能做一綜觀性、基礎性的分析，目的在於瞭解該類基金會執行長的個人特質、工作生涯與薪資福利、聘任因素，以及角色職能。本研究的主要發現有：該類型基金會的執行長在男女性別比例上的差距已然縮小，甚至女性執行長有逐漸取得優勢地位的趨向；在年齡分佈上，有偏高的趨勢；而在宗教信仰方面，有甚高比例的執行長表示有個人的宗教信仰。在工作生涯與薪資福利方面，該類型基金會的執行長以專職身份出任的比例雖超過一半，然僅高出以兼職與志工身份者一成；至於執行長的薪資幅度，確實受到組織規模因素的影響，但這樣的正向關係卻有其成長的停滯臨界點。最後，在執行長角色職能扮演與發揮上，大多仍是以組織內部管理事務為主，對於外部職能發揮上較不明顯。

In this paper, we mainly examine the roles played by nonprofit executives of social welfare & charity foundations in Taiwan. Empirical data used in this study is from the authors’ 2006-2007 NSC project titled “The Governance of the Nonprofit Sector in Taiwan－A Preliminary Review on the Roles Played by Executive Directors.” The result of this study reveals the following characteristics found in those inquired nonprofit executives in the area of Taiwanese social welfare and charty foundations: First, the gender difference has been narrowed rapidly. Second, the age of persons who hold the CEO position is over 55 averagely. Third, most of executives point out that they have religious beliefs personally. Fourth, although the ratio of executives assigned as full time positions is about 55%, it is only 10% higher than those whose positions are part-time or volunteering. Most importantly, we found that even though one of the determinants influencing salaries of executives is obviously the size of organization, the impact is rather moderate and unlike the pattern popularly shown in the business sector. Finally, we discover that the most important factor which will produce a great impact on executives’ performance can be attributed to the affairs concerning the intra- organizational management.