Executive Compensation at American Humane (2025)

The American Humane Association (AHA) is a charitable non-profit 501 (c) 3 that paid its Chief Executive Officer, Robin Ganzert more than $800,000, AND paid for first class domestic travel for her and the board members (there are 15) in 2025.

AHA is a tax-exempt organization that raised $37 million in 2025 (a 30% increase from the previous year),  primarily from contributions ($25 million), service fees ($3 million) from movie, television sets, farms, slaughterhouses, etc, and royalties ($3 million), and whose net assets were $31 million at year-end.

Expenses totaled $33 million with the largest expenses reported to be compensation ($14 million) and fees for services – primarily subcontractors and consultants ($8 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 in 2020 that were forgiven by the government in 2021.  

Although AHA is based in Washington, DC, the organization has an office in Palm Beach, Florida where many of their donors reside.

The AHA employed 127 staff in 2025 who were compensated $14.2 million, an average of $112,000 each. 27 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation, with the 8 most highly compensated employees listed below:

• $819,296:  Robin Ganzert, President and CEO
• $449,976:  Stephanie Carmody, General Counsel
• $376,364:  Kashyap Choksi, SVP and Marketing Director
• $374,525:  Melissa Sanoff, CFO
• $363,141:  Cheryl Lesko, Chief Development Officer
• $265,667:  Kirsten Peterson Chief Talent Officer
• $252,615:  Thomas Edling, Chief Veterinary Officer
• $243,196:  Marean Spero Steen, VP, No Animals Were Harmed

The 8 most highly compensated employees received $3.2 million in compensation while the remaining 119 employees received $11 million  which equates to an average compensation of $92,000.

The most highly compensated employee was Robin Ganzert, the President and CEO, who received more than $800,000 in compensation in 2025.

The two (2) most highly compensated employees received $9 million in compensation from 2017-2025 (note  highly compensated employees in 2017-2024 but not in 2025 are not listed including John Hubbard who received $2.2 million in compensation from 2017-2022):

Robin Ganzert:  Total Compensation 2017-2025:  $6 million

• 2025:  $819,296
• 2024:  $745,332
• 2023:  $702,919
• 2022:  $764,421
• 2021:  $712,344
• 2020:  $688,946
• 2019:  $596,225
• 2018:  $537,912
• 2017:  $398,971

Stephanie Carmody:  Total Compensation 2017-2025:  $3 million

• 2025:  $449,976
• 2024:  $428,530
• 2023:  $376,732
• 2022:  $338,728
• 2021:  $330,742
• 2020:  $286,687
• 2019:  $246,168
• 2018:  $191,313
• 2017:  $170,654

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

• $918,323:  MRB Productions, of West Hollywood, CA for film production
• $770.334:  RKD Group, of Plano, TX for fundraising counsel
• $288,999:  J Meraki General Services, of West Palm Beach, FL for building contracting
• $229,084:  Cannella Media, of Burlington, WI for media production
• $201,237:  Intact Us, of Coeur D Alene, ID for technology

The above five independent contractors received $2.6 million in compensation, with two not listed (not required) who were compensated less than $201,237.  According to the Form 990, $8 million was paid to independent contractors, subcontractors, and other professionals (of which $6 million was to subcontractors and consultants for program services) so it is unclear how many other independent contractors, subcontractors, and other professionals received the remaining funds.

In summation, the Form 990 reports AHA spends a large portion of revenue on outside subcontractors ($8 million out of $37 million or 22% of revenue) and receives a significant portion of revenue from certification service fees ($3 million) and royalties ($3 million) which indicates AHA may be using subcontractors to provide certifications, and also relying on other organizations for royalties to use AHA’s certification/endorsement.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2024) for the year ending June 30, 2025, click here.