ASPCA Charity Rating Downgraded

If you’ve given money to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), you might want to ask for a refund.

CharityWatch, one of the most well respected charity watchdogs, downgraded its grade of the ASPCA in a new rating released Wednesday. CharityWatch now gives ASPCA a “C-minus” grade.

CharityWatch finds that as much as 49% of the ASPCA’s spending is overhead (instead of programs). This calculation is based on the ASPCA’s most recent tax return, covering 2021.

Here are some other details from the ASPCA’s finances for that year:

• ASPCA CEO Matt Bershadker made $990,000 in compensation;
• More than 250 ASPCA employees made over $100,000 in compensation;
• The ASPCA had $11 million offshore in the Caribbean;
• The ASPCA had $500 million in assets.

The Humane Society of the United States also earns a poor grade from CharityWatch. HSUS scores even worse than the ASPCA, getting a “D” grade. CharityWatch finds HSUS spends as much as 53% of its budget on overhead.

Despite their misleading names, ASPCA and HSUS are not affiliated with local SPCAs and humane societies that run animal shelters. Little of the money raised by these groups is given to local pet shelters. The ASPCA runs just one adoption center in New York City; HSUS runs zero pet shelters.

Bloated national charities that care more about money than their missions are sadly all too common. If you want to help animals, give locally to a shelter near you that performs hands-on care for animals.