Executive Compensation at the American Humane Association

The American Humane Association (AHA) is “committed to ensuring the safety, welfare, and well-being of animals through many programs including:  

1. Certifying the safety of animals on film sites through their No Animals Were Harmed certification program;
2. Certifying the humane treatment of animals in North America food production through the American Humane Certified Farm Animal Welfare Program (Note: how slaughter and humane can be used together is disturbing);
3. Certifying zoos, aquariums, and conservation centers;
4. Humane intervention providing emergency field response and community outreach;
5. Reuniting dogs with their military handlers (2 in 2016);
6. Helping veterans to obtain service dogs (34 in 2016); and
7. Providing free healthcare to dogs that have served the country (12 in 2016).

Based on the most recent IRS Form 990’s (2015 and 2016), AHA raises about $16 million a year and spends about $15 million on 6 major expenses:  staff ($7 million), office overhead ($2 million), travel including first class travel for the CEO and Board members($1 million), subcontractors ($1 million), trade shows and advertising ($1 million), and other expenses – no detail provided ($3 million). The organization has about $14.5 million in net fund assets as of June 30, 2017.

The organization employs 94 individuals who were paid a collective $7 million which equates to about $75,000 each. 13 individuals were given more than $100,000 in compensation.  It is also important to point out AHA paid nearly $1 million to subcontractors (no further detail provided). $1.4 million in compensation was given to the following 6 individuals:

• $398,971:  Robin R Ganzert, President and CEO
• $218,244:  Audrey Lang, SVP and COO
• $215,795:  Shannon (Kwane) Stewart, Chief Veterinary Officer
• $202,644:  Clifford J Rose, CFO
• $181,342:  Mark Stubis, Chief Communications Officer
• $170,654:  Stephanie Carmody, General Counsel

Of the six most highly compensated staff, 4 (or 66%) are women while 2 (or 34%) are men.

Based on the above information taken from the IRS Form 990, the AHA appears to be heavily focused on certification programs which explains why staff costs are the primary expense of the organization although it is unclear which services the AHA is providing and which program services are completed by subcontractors who were paid $1 million in 2016.  The emphasis on animals in need including dogs who have served the country also appears to be a major mission of the organization.

It is unclear why the CEO and the board members have AHA pay for first class travel when the needs of animals are a more pressing priority than the comfort of the CEO and board members.  And, finally it is important to note that AHA paid $630,000 to William Abbott (a board member and President and CEO of Crown Media Family Networks) for the broadcast rights fees at Crown Media Holdings.

To read the IRS Form 990’s, click here.