How Revenue is Spent at American Humane (2024)

The American Humane Association (AHA) is a Washington, DC-based (with a Palm Beach, Florida office) non-profit 501 (c) 3 whose “No Animals Were Harmed” certification program in film and television is well-known in the entertainment industry. In addition, AHA certifies zoos, aquariums, conservation centers, and humane treatment in food production (farms, slaughterhouses, etc), awards grants, donates goods, and participates in other program services. How the AHA “ensures the safety, welfare, and well-being of animals” in slaughterhouses is not clear.

There are 15 independent voting members (directors or board members) of the governing body.

The AHA paid for first class travel for the CEO and board members.

A relatively small organization by non-profit standards, AHA raised $28 million in 2024 (compared to $26 million in 2023, $25 million in 2022, $15 million in 2021, $21 million in 2020 and $19 million in 2019) which primarily came from four sources:

• Contributions, Gifts, and Grants: $20 million
• Certifications and Fees:  $3 million
• Royalties:  $3 million
• Investment Income and Gains: $2 million

Expenses totaled $26 million and can be viewed two ways:  by broad general category or by specific line item categories. Both provide beneficial information with the latter providing more detail on how revenue was spent.

Expenses by Broad General Category

The $26 million in expenses were categorized a follows:

• $19 million (68% of revenue): Program Services
• $ 5 million (18% of revenue):  Fundraising
• $ 2 million (7% of revenue):  Management

Using the above information, every $100 in revenue was spent as follows:

$100:  Revenue

-$ 68:  Program Services

-$ 18:  Fundraising

-$  7:  Management

-$ 93: Total Expenses

 $   7:  Unspent Revenue

As illustrated above, AHA spent $93 for every $100 in revenue raised, or $26 million of the $28 million raised, with the $2 million in unspent revenue allocated to the general fund with net fund assets at $31 million a year-end.

Expenses By Specific Line Item Category

The $26 million (93% of revenue) in expenses were categorized as follows:

• $12 million (43% of revenue):  Compensation
• $ 6 million (21% of revenue):  Fees for services (primarily subcontractors and consultants)
• $ 2 million (7% of revenue):  Office Expenses
• $ 3 million (11% of revenue):  Travel, Events, Trade Shows
• $ 1 million (4% of revenue):  Advertising and Promotion
• $ 2 million (7% of revenue):  Other Expenses (including grants of $179,136)

As illustrated above, the largest expense for AHA is compensation for the 117 employees who received $12 million, which equates to an average compensation of $103,000.  The President and CEO, Robin Ganzert received $745,352 in total compensation in 2024.  

Fees for services (which are primarily consultants and subcontractors) and office expenses use another $8 million.  

Travel, at $3 million appears high for a small organization and is in part due to AHA paying for first class domestic travel for its President and CEO and board members for airline (including domestic) travel,  and for events, and trade shows.

Finally, it is interesting to note that AHA paid $1.8 million to subcontractors which is included under “fees for services” and $3 million to “other consultants” that totaled $6 million.   But exactly what services are contracted out?  Certifications of movie sets? slaughterhouses? The Form 990 does not require specifics beyond the five most highly compensated independent contractors and there were 7 who received more than $100,000. The 5 most highly compensated were reported to be:

• $1,281,508:  MRB Productions, of West Hollywood, CA for film production
• $   385,011:  Lyons Public Relations, Inc, of Kensington, MD for public relations
• $   335,193:  RKD Group, of Plano, Texas for fundraising
• $   330,513:  Fuse Fundraising, of Reston, VA for fundraising counsel and direct mail
• $   266,341:   Intact Us, of Coeur D Alene, ID for technology

The above five independent contractors received $2.6 million.  With only 2 more (unnamed) independent contractors who received more than $100,000 in compensation (but less than the lowest above at $266,341), it is unclear who received the other fees paid to non-employees($3.4 million) reported on the Form 990.

Using the above information, every $100 in revenue was spent as follows:

$100:  Revenue

-$ 43:  Compensation

-$ 21:  Fees for Services

-$  7:  Office Expenses

-$ 11:  Travel, Events, Trade Shows

-$  4:  Advertising and Promotion

-$  7:  Other Expenses 

-$ 93:  Total Expenses

 $  7:  Remaining Revenue:  To General Fund

As illustrated above, $43 out of every $100 was spent on compensation for the 117 employees. $21 out of every $100 was used for fees for services (including subcontractors) while $7 out of every $100 was used for office expenses.  $22 out of every $100 was used for travel, events, trade shows, advertising and promotion and other expenses.  In total, $93 out of every $100 was used for expenses.

Conclusion:

AHA is a small non-profit (that typically raises about $25 million annually) that provides high compensation to its employees and first class travel to its president/CEO and board members. Non-profits are tax-exempt organizations trying to make a difference so how can AHA justify paying its President and CEO more than $700,000 annually, allow her and board members to fly first class? And, what about the $6 million in fees paid to independent contractors?  Who receives these fees and what services are they providing?

AHA appears to be another small non-profit that operates out of a Palm Beach office that caters to the wealthy (annual dinner at Mar a Lago) who want to feel good about protecting animals when in fact those who benefit are primarily the staff of the organization and the subcontractors they pay.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2023) for the year ending June 30, 2024, click here.