ASPCA Puts $20 Million Offshore Instead of Helping Animals
In the middle of an economic downturn, it’s more important than ever that charities show they are good stewards of the money donors entrust them with. Unfortunately, the well-known ASPCA doesn’t make the cut.
Just as with another national animal charity (the Humane Society of the United States), the ASPCA has a lot of corporate bloat and high executive salaries. Here are some key points from the organization’s latest tax return, covering 2019. (For our analysis of HSUS, click here.)
- ASPCA CEO Matt Bershadker made over $800,000 in compensation. In total, 172 people earned more than $100,000 in compensation.
- The ASPCA has $18 million sitting offshore in the Caribbean, and an additional $4 million in Europe. That’s money not helping animals.
- About 41% of the ASPCA budget is spent on corporate overhead. That’s a lot of waste.
The ASPCA recently got a “C” from CharityWatch, and we don’t expect that grade to change based on these newer figures.
The ASPCA, despite its name, is not affiliated with local SPCAs. It’s an independent corporation based in New York City. Some of those local SPCAs believe the ASPCA unfairly profits from this name confusion, with a state humane association saying, “Our member humane societies and SPCAs frequently report hearing from people who gave to the ASPCA believing they were giving to their local shelter. These shelters believe they are missing out on funds that were intended for them.”
If you want to help animals in your community, give to your local shelter directly. If you give to a national group like the ASPCA, your donation may wind up in another country.
