Later, as the audience expanded enough to sustain independent media covering the rising animal advocacy cause in breadth and depth, I served as news editor of one of the periodicals that helped to bring it all together into a movement. HOW MANY ANIMALS CAN BE SAVED WITH THE EXCESSIVE SALARY PAID TO THE CEO? "The major problems that most SPCAs have is that the ASPCA does not fund these agencies," Rogers told CBS News chief investigative correspondent Jim Axelrod. On January 10, 2019, ANIMALS 24-7 discovered from the ASPCA filing of IRS Form 990, and promptly pointed out, that Bershadker took home $804,372 in pay for 2017, including a bonus of $276,000, and received benefits of $47,859, for total compensation of $852,231more than any two other animal welfare executives in one year ever. Its this string of thought that keeps pharma from curing disease and non-renewable energy monopolies in play. So I goggled what did the CEO of American Red Cross earn/get? What I found was that the most compensated Red Cross executive makes $720,000 a year. Mr. Bershadker will assume the position June 1, succeeding Edwin Sayres, President and CEO since 2003. But Charity Navigator only gave the ASPCA two out of four stars for its financials based on efficiency of fundraising, the percentage of revenue spent on fundraising and the practice of selling donor lists. Matt: Ive been very impressed to see shelters and rescue organizations looking outside the four walls of their facilities and exploring new and innovative ways to meet pet welfare needs in their communities, including making resources and veterinary care more accessible and affordable, pet behavior modification and rehabilitation services, and providing free pet food and supplies for families facing severe financial challenges. People want easy, convenient, and feel-good. I wish the US was as appreciative of animals. We wish him the very best. A lifelong animal lover, he first joined the nation's first animal welfare organization in 2001, serving most recently as Senior Vice President of the ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Group, the division responsible for programs that confront animal cruelty and suffering across the country. Millions of individual donors like her, and like you, contribute eight bucks a month, or many times more, depending on your income and ability, to dozens of animal charities each, around the U.S. and around the world. As ASPCA president, Bershadker through 2020 had presided over more than doubling donated income and assets, achieving an increase in program spending of approximately 50%. Over $150 million of that went to Eagle-Com Inc, a Canadian media production company, to produce and place ASPCA's ads. Doesnt PETA do this too? "If that spending pattern is something inconsistent with what donors expect, then that's where you run into trouble, even if it's the proper amount. Board Member. Neither is any local SPCA across the country. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Top Dems push Fox News to stop promoting "propaganda" about 2020 election, National animal welfare nonprofit ASPCA faces spending criticism, Lawsuits claim dental device wrecked teeth, Pandemic-era SNAP benefits end for millions of Americans as costs rise, Eye Opener: Millions face deadly winter storm. Im sure there is plenty of work that could be funded by the excess paid to make an individual human rich. This is why we provided $5 million in grant funding to help shelter and rescue organizations cover operating and program expenses and receive capacity support. During Mr. Bershadker's tenure, the ASPCA also launched the Cruelty Intervention Advocacy program, a ground-breaking new initiative to help protect companion animals that are in danger of potential abuse or neglect, helping hundreds of New York City's animals in jeopardy of becoming cruelty victims. At the end of 2020, the ASPCA claimed more than $407 million in assets. According to the newly released tax returns, ASPCA CEO Matthew Bershadker received about $770,000 in compensation in 2018. his net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. A major source of inspiration for me has been witnessing the growing understanding and application of behavior sciences in animal welfare and the lifesaving impact behavior rehabilitation has on shelter animals, specifically on victims of cruelty and neglect. Matt and his family have two dogs, Tarzan and Loki. Thats what you get from ANIMALS 24-7, in our unique dual role of watchdogging and reporting the news about animal protection & advocacy from a caring perspective, informed by decades of experience on animal-related news beats. ASPCApro: How did you develop an interest in animal welfare? For the CEO, you need to return all that money and do just what you want us to do DONATE TO STOP THIS CRULTY TO THESE ANIMALS THAT CANT FEND FOR THEMSELVES. . Since 2008, the ASPCA has raised more than $2 billion for animal welfare. ), CBS News investigative team Megan Towey, Jim Axelrod, & Rachel Bailey. According to the nonprofit's tax returns, the ASPCA took in nearly $280 million in 2019. By moving homeless animals from places of low demand to locations with high demand, we reduce the overcrowding that can lead to tragic and unnecessary outcomes. The nearest ASPCA is in Grand Junction Colo. All companies are still active. To see this knowledge then shared widely with the field through in-person and online mentoring, webinars, and online resources has been incredibly inspiring because of the enormous positive impact it can have on dogs and cats across the country. I just think everyone else should get proportionate consideration. Karen Davis, United Poultry Concerns http://www.upc-online.org. I do not need address labels or anything else. Last year in Oakland, California, I think it was, a tree fell down that had a bunch of egrets and babies, and they were rescued. Right now Matthew is a Vice President at A s P C A Other Aspca Services Cruelty Investi. The importance of shelter medicine cant be understated, having played a prominent role in significant animal welfare advances such as developing widespread animal shelter standards, supporting critical operational protocols, and generating new strategies to combat infectious disease and illness, which reduces the need for euthanasia. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Yes! And we are, arguably, the largest and most active animal protection group in India. Institutional prioritization among wildlife rehab organizations tend to focus on species scarcity, with endangered and threatened species getting first priority. Do you have any ideas on how to avoid giving the media, which is owned by a fraction of 1% of the public, a cut of the money people intend to donate to charity? The HSUS has $47 million in the Cayman Islands. The same with our GM Rescues, Mr Dawn William, a former Black Cat Commando who has made some spectacular rescues! Darryl Hinton These are pure white birds. ASNA, in particular, has been a national leader in high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter surgery since 2004, with training programs available for veterinary students, licensed veterinarians, and medical teams. CBS News decided to look at how each $19 donation is being spent. I donate to many many animal rescues, K-9 cops etc. My friends told me not to give a single cent. Just to line the CEO or upper managements pockets. After those iconic commercials debuted more than a decade ago, the ASPCA's revenues tripled going from $85 million in 2007 to nearly $280 million in 2019 making the ASPCA one of the nation's leading animal welfare charities. The ASPCA is among the oldest humane organizations in the world, founded in 1866, and has been among the richest right from the beginning, when founder Henry Bergh passed his famously deep top hat among fellow New York City investors, industrialists, and socialites to get it started. The nation-shocking expos that followed, researched by CBS reporters Megan Towey and Rachel Bailey, was partially informed by information shared by ANIMALS 24-7, and reported many times, over decades, with frequent updates. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Even after taking a pay cut of $91,975, which happens to be more than the top salary paid by most local humane societies around the U.S., ANIMALS 24-7 noted, Bershadker remained the highest paid person in the history of the humane movement, by a considerable margin.. The ASPCA says the vast majority of donor dollars go directlytoward its mission, Axelroad intoned, but a CBS News investigation found there arequestions about whether the money is going where donors expect.. Since becoming president and CEO, Matt has lent his voice to support essential local, state, and federal animal welfare legislation. Who shot pregnant harbor seals? Robert Dole: why did Pacelle, Amundson, & Bershadker inflate his record? The next year, 2018, Bershadker was paid $712,397, plus $57,129 in benefits, for total compensation of $769,526. Liars and egotism lead the fall. I cant even use the words that apply here to properly paste this #@&^%(. (See Why is the ASPCA stonewalling about the deaths of 20 dogs in transport? "We were denied access to that list specifically because there is a disclaimer on our mailings that says that we do not receive any support from national nonprofits, including national SPCAs," Sullivan said. When everyone in the community is working together and focused on keeping people and pets together, most animals will hopefully never need a shelter, and those animals who do need sheltering can get targeted help and resources, including medical care and behavioral rehabilitation. The good news is that the animal welfare community is very resilientperhaps taking our cue from irrepressible animals themselves. Merritt Clifton & feline news source, 1984. But during that same time period it spent nearly three times that, at least $421 million, on fundraising. It is sad. Text STOP to opt-out, HELP for more info. Those images stayed with me. I BELIEVE IN WELL PAID EXECUTIVES. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. This work has emotional valuewere changing and saving lives. With over 1,000 employees, the ASPCA's mission is to rescue, protect and care for animals in need through a wide range of activities like animal relocation, advocacy, training, legislative and veterinary services. But during that same time period it spent nearly three times that, at least $421 million, on fundraising., According to the nonprofits tax returns, the ASPCA took in nearly $280 million in 2019, Axelrod detailed. "I wish that they could do some soul searching within the organization and understand that their massive efforts to draw support from around the country to support their own efforts and the issues that they wish to focus on, does hinder the ability for local organizations like ourselves to do the good work that we do. ), The ASPCA, meanwhile, just ahead of April Fools Day 2020, urged U.S. animal shelters to sidestep or seek suspension of requirements that dogs and cats be spayed or neutered before adoption, a measure that ANIMALS 24-7 suggested was likely to result in about half a million additional puppy and kitten litters nationwide during the coming puppy and kitten season.. President And CEO Of The American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals (ASPCA), Nicholas Alexis Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, NetWorth & Know More, President and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Jonathan Kaufelt is a former Humane Society of the U.S. board member. Again I really appreciate your hard work and support for the animals. Ive never donated to the ASPCA because I felt management was way too handsomely compensated, but when they solicited my support around the same time as that transport debacle, I emailed them asking for an explanation of the circumstances as a pending donor and heard NOTHING back. Text STOP to opt-out, HELP for more info. The rest goes toward fundraising, image-building, fundraising and image-building done in the name of public education, and management expense. We always have. I am sickened to think that anything I donate would be to help pay his salary! One good way to do that is to go onto the Charity websites Charity Watch, Charity Navigator, etc., select the animal charity you are interested in, and look at the ratios of yearly income, yearly expense (outlay), and the ratios of how much goes to salaries, how much to fundraising and administrative expenses, and how much to the programs for animals that are the reason for their existence. Gary Rogers Nassau County SPCA(Beth Clifton collage), Said Sullivan, It is frustrating on this side of the table to realize that the bulk of our time and our staff time is spent trying to explain the difference between national and local. Matt: My inspiration comes from the animals and the dedicated animal welfare professionals and volunteers who work tirelessly to protect them. Watch Live: Closing arguments begin in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Watch Live: Garland testifies amid ongoing special counsel investigations, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. You cite that this isnt a personal attack but lets be fair here. When I was a little kid, my life was filled with a range of pets, including newts, lizards, birds, gerbils, and turtles. In 2013, I was honored to be named President and CEO. I think it has risen dramatically in the past decade, but dont have complete information. I called their phone number and and reported animal abuse to dogs in my area. A housing crisis resulting from the pandemic is also a significant threat to animals. ANIMALS 24-7 extensively covered the Ringling debacle, after warning the late Animal Welfare Institute founder Christine Stevens and the late Fund for Animals founder Cleveland Amory that their star witness Tom Ryder was not credible more than two years before the case was filed against Ringling in 2000 that led to the eventual payout when Ringling counter-sued and then sued for damages. treatment hotline: Talking with Matt Bershadker, President and CEO of the ASPCA, Julie Morris Shelter Medicine Residency Program, showed that more than 4.2 million pets were at risk of entering poverty, housing crisis resulting from the pandemic, 2021 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. ID MUCH RATHER MAKE LOCAL DONATIONS TO GROUPS THAT STILL REMEMBER THEIR TRUE PURPOSE . ", The ASPCA provided the following statement in response to CBS News' questions: "For more than 155 years, the ASPCA has been steadfastly dedicated to our mission 'to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.' Some, like Amory, who started the Fund for Animals, Animal Rights International founder Henry Spira, and Humane Society of the U.S. founder Fred Myer, left journalism to start animal advocacy organizations meant to help steer the old guard in more progressive and productive directions. From the perspective of having been familiar with the salaries, credentials, and accomplishments of all of the top-paid executives in the history of the humane movement, ANIMALS 24-7 can say with confidence that only three of the top-paid 50 or so ever demonstrated themselves to be capable of earning in the private sector what they made by heading humane organizations and Matthew Bershadker was not among them.