Executive Compensation at the ASPCA (2024)

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 (2024) reports the ASPCA:

• Raised $446 million in 2024,  mostly through contributions, gifts, and grants
• Spent $388 million in 2024, allotting $58 million to the general fund
• Had $640 million in net assets as of year-end 2024
• Spent $153 million (34% of revenue) to compensate the 1,399 staff
• Spent nearly half of revenue ($217 million) on staff, office-related expenses, and travel and conferences
• Spent $71 million on advertising and promotion (does not include professional fundraisers)
• Spent $15 million on veterinary medical services and operating supplies
• Spent $23 million on grants to other animal rights organizations

The average compensation was $109,000 ($153 million/1,399 staff). The 14 most highly compensated employees were:

• $1,226,402:  Matt Bershadker, President and CEO
• $  577,223:  Todd Hendricks, SVP, Development
• $  550,506:  Elizabeth Estroff, SVP, Communications
• $  507,891:  Bert Troughton, SVP, Shelter and Veterinary Services
• $  535,267:  Beverly Jones, SVP, Chief Legal Officer
• $  512,657:  Cheryl Bucci, SVP, Ops and People
• $  499,261:  Stacy Wolf, SVP, Policy, Response, and Engagement 
• $  520,606:  Gordon Lavelette, SVP, CFO (as of 3/15/2021)
• $  426,230:  J’Mai Gayle, Director, Surgery
• $  401,266:  Luke Franklin, VP, Membership
• $  355,599:  Camille Declementi, VP, ASPCA Animal Hospital
• $  340,102:  Jennifer Chin, VP, Legal Advocacy/Investing
• $  342,124:  Nancy Perry, SVP, Gov’t Relations
• $  328,869:  Erin Demico, VP, People

As illustrated above, the 14 most highly compensated employees received $7 million in compensation.  9 of the 14 (64%) most highly compensated employees are female while 5 of the 14 (36%) are male.

The most highly compensated employee was Matt Bershadker, the President and CEO who received $1,226,402 in 2024.  From 2017-2024 , Mr. Bershadker received $8 million in compensation:

Matt Berdshadker:  Total Compensation 2017-2023:  $7 million

• 2024:  $1,226,402
• 2023:  $1,203,267
• 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.

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

• $34 million:  Eagle-Com, Inc, of Toronto, Canada for “donor acquisition”
• $26 million:  Laughlin Constable, Inc, of Milwaukee, WI on “donor engagement”
• $23 million:  Andron Construction Corp, of Golden Bridge, NY for construction
• $16 million:  Ascenta Group, of NY, NY for “donor acquisition”
• $ 8 million:  Google, of San Francisco, CA for “donor acquisition”

As illustrated above, the ASPCA spent $84 million on fundraising with four (4) of the  most highly compensated independent organizations.

In summary, the ASPCA raised $466 million and spent $388 million in 2024 with the largest expense reported to be compensation.  1,399 employees received $153 million in compensation with the 14 most highly compensated employees receiving $7 million.  During this same period (2024), the ASPCA spent $15 million on veterinary care and operating supplies and $23 million on grants, primarily to other non-profits while spending at least $84 million on donor acquisition/engagement (fundraising) and putting the $58 million of unspent revenue into the general fund.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2024), click here.