Executive Compensation at the American Humane Association (2021)

The American Humane Association (AHA) is a charitable non-profit 501 (c) 3 that paid more than $700,000 in compensation to its Chief Executive Officer, Robin Ganzert AND paid for first class domestic travel for her and the board members (there are 13) in 2020-2021.

AHA is a tax-exempt organization that raised $15 million (primarily from $9 million in contributions, $3 million from certifications – movie and television sets, farms, and slaughterhouses, and $2 million in royalties) in 2020-2021 and whose net fund assets were $25 million at year-end.  Expenses totaled $16 million – $1 million more than AHA raised, with the largest expenses reported to be compensation ($7.5 million), fees for services – primarily consultants – and subcontractors ($4 million), and office-related expenses ($2.3 million).

In other words, AHA is a relatively small non-profit with a modest endowment,  who doesn’t appear to watch every penny to maximize donor donations.  It is also important to note AHA received $1.1 million in PPE loans that were forgiven by the government.  AHA had $25 million in net assets at year-end.

Although AHA is based in Washington, DC, the organization has an office in Palm Beach, where one of their most supportive past board members (Lois Pope, whose late husband owned the National Enquirer) resides.

The AHA employed 90 staff in 2021 who were compensated $7.5 million, an average of $83,300 each. 17 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation, with the 9 most highly compensated employees listed below:

• $712,344:  Robin Ganzert, President and CEO
• $379,490:  John Hubbard, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer
• $330,742:  Stephanie Carmody, General Counsel
• $264,102:  Clifford J Rose, CFO
• $222,931:  Matthew Boyer, VP, Development
• $192,908:  Marean Spero Steen, National Director, AH Hollywood
• $188,183:  Mark Stubis, Managing Editor
• $176,466:  Laura Sheehan, VP, Communications and Legislative Affairs
• $154,093:  Janice Bigelow, CFO

The 9 most highly compensated employees received nearly $3 million in compensation. or in other words, 10% of the staff received nearly 40% of total compensation.  81 employees received $4.5 million which equates to an average compensation of $55,500.

The most highly compensated employee was Robin Ganzert, the President and CEO, who has received nearly more $3 million in compensation over the past 5 years:

• 2021:  $712,344
• 2020:  $688,946
• 2019:  $592,225
• 2018:  $537,912
• 2017:  $398,971

7 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation with the five most highly compensated reported to be:

• $441,417:  Pleasant Street Entertainment, of Encino, CA for production of Hero Dogs
• $330,040:  Validus Verification Service, of Castle Rock, CO for farm program auditor
• $300,910:  Film Comm, of Batavia, IL for distribution of PSAS
• $206,019:  MRB Productions, of West Hollywood, CA for production of Escape from Extinction
• $191,779:  Mindset Direct, of Reston, VA for fundraising counsel

The above independent contractors received $1.5 million in compensation.  According to the Form 990, $4 million was paid to independent contractors ($2.4 million) and subcontractors ($1.6 million), so it is unclear where the remaining $2.5 million was paid to since there are only 2 other independent contractors that received more than $100,000 in compensation according to the Form 990.  The Form 990 does report that $300,000 was paid to outside vendors for legal, accounting, fundraising, and investment management fees but  that still leaves $2.2 million unaccounted for,.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2020) for the year ending June 30, 2021, click here.