Executive Compensation at the ASPCA (2022)

The ASPCA is a non-profit tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) based in New York City, New York. As such, the organization submits a Form 990 to the IRS annually and makes a copy available to the public. The most recent IRS Form 990 (2022) reports the ASPCA:

• Raised $376 million in 2022,  mostly through contributions, gifts, and grants
• Spent $340 million in 2022, allotting $88 million to the general fund
• Has $488 million in net assets as of year-end 2022
• Spent $133 million (29% of revenue) to compensate the 1,371 staff
• Spent more than half of revenue ($209 million) on staff, office-related expenses, and travel and conferences
• Spent $56 million on advertising and promotion (does not include professional fundraisers)
• Spent $14 million on veterinary medical services and operating supplies
• Spent $12 million on grants to other animal rights organizations

In terms of compensation, the average compensation was $97,000 ($133 million/1,371 staff). The 13 most highly compensated employees were:

• $1,117,171:  Matt Bershadker, President and CEO
• $  525,284:  Todd Hendricks, SVP, Development
• $  515,428:  Elizabeth Estroff, SVP, Communications
• $  495,418:  Bert Troughton, SVP, Shelter and Veterinary Services
• $  476,779:  Beverly Jones, SVP, Chief Legal Officer
• $  475,426:  Cheryl Bucci, SVP, Ops and People
• $  462,730:  Stacy Wolf, SVP, Policy, Response, and Engagement
• $  425,994:  Gordon Lavelette, SVP, CFO (as of 3/15/2021)
• $  403,319:  J’Mai Gayle, Director, Surgery
• $  343,772:  Luke Franklin, VP, Membership
• $  342,151:  Camille Declementi, VP, ASPCA Animal Hospital
• $  334,809:  Jennifer Chin, VP, Legal Advocacy/Investing
• $  323,416:  Amy Berkowitz, VP, Information Technology

As illustrated above, the 13 most highly compensated employees received $6 million in compensation.  8 of the 13 most highly compensated employees are female while 5 of the 13 are male.

The most highly compensated employee was Matt Bershadker, the President and CEO who received $1,117,171 in 2022.  From 2017-2022 , Mr. Bershadker received $5.5 million in compensation:

• 2022:  $1,117,171
• 2021:  $  990,525
• 2020:  $  966,004
• 2019:  $  824,539
• 2018:  $  769,526
• 2017:  $  852,231

In 2020, the ASPCA adopted a 457 (F) Deferred Compensation Plan for the President/CEO.  The plan accrues an annual employer-provided amount of $50,000 that is vested after a 5-year employment term, at which point the plan renews in 5-year increments conditioned on continuous employment.

144 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation. The five most highly compensated were reported to be:

• $30 million:  Eagle-Com, Inc, of Toronto, Canada for media broadcast
• $16 million:  Laughlin Constable, Inc, of Milwaukee, WI for digital media
• $16 million:  Ascenta Group, of NY, NY for “donor engagement”
• $11 million:  Edge Direct, of Baltimore, MD for “donor engagement”
• $ 8 million:  Google, of San Francisco, CA for “donor acquisition”

As illustrated above, the ASPCA spent $81 million on advertising and fundraising with just the 5 most highly compensated independent organizations (reflected as “Advertising and Promotion” and “professional fundraising fees” and “Other Fees” for services from non-employees.

In summary, the ASPCA raised $376 million and spent $340 million in 2022 with the largest expense reported to be compensation.  1,371 employees received $133 million in compensation with the 13 most highly compensated employees receiving $6 million.  During this same period (2022), the ASPCA spent $14 million on veterinary care and operating supplies and $12 million on grants, primarily to other non-profits while spending at least $81 million on fundraising.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022), click here.