Did Cleveland Amory write to Ann Landers? During Mr. Bershadker's tenure, the ASPCA also launched the Cruelty Intervention Advocacy program, a ground-breaking new initiative to help protect companion animals that are in danger of potential abuse or neglect, helping hundreds of New York City's animals in jeopardy of becoming cruelty victims. Bershadker in 2018 was paid $712,397, plus $57,129 in benefits, for total compensation of $769,526. From those readers, I heard two consistent complaints: that I did not give charities an excessively simplistic thumbs up or thumbs down, to enable them to make decisions without having to think, and that at $25 a year, about 17 per charity listed, the reports cost too much of the money that purchasers preferred to give directly to the animals.. (Beth Clifton collage). Please enter valid email address to continue. Currently working as President and Chief Executive Officer at ASPCA in New york, United States. She also said it is based on policies and practices that are fully consistent with IRS regulations regarding "reasonable compensation" for nonprofits. Millions of eight-dollar-a-month donors, and some $9.70-an-hour journalists, too, have accomplished all of this, and are continuing to accomplish quite a lot more, even as the biggest organizations make the most noise to donors, claiming most of the credit and raking in most of the donations. As many of you know well, the consequences of povertys impact on dogs, cats, and horses are felt very intensely by community shelters and rescues. THAT MONEY COULD SAVE A LOT OF ANIMALS! The rest goes toward fundraising, image-building, fundraising and image-building done in the name of public education, and management expense. The founder, however, paid herself $72,000 a year, plus $36,000 a year to rent her property. Workers are not given a lot and they keep sending free stuff and asking for a donation. ANIMALS 24-7 extensively covered the Ringling debacle, after warning the late Animal Welfare Institute founder Christine Stevens and the late Fund for Animals founder Cleveland Amory that their star witness Tom Ryder was not credible more than two years before the case was filed against Ringling in 2000 that led to the eventual payout when Ringling counter-sued and then sued for damages. CBS News found something else that donors might not be expecting. The causes and effects of animal cruelty are complex, requiring us to employ a wide range of strategies to meet these multifaceted challenges. But trying to avoid donating toward advertising expense is a very naive and impractical idea in the first place, since every nonprofit organization needs to raise funds somehow, and even if an animal shelter, for example, does no advertising for fundraising purposes, it will still have to advertise animals for adoption. The ASPCA still vigorously promotes pit bull adoptions, but after several children were critically injured and even killed by pit bulls who had recently been rehomed after SAFER screening, the ASPCA in December 2015 quit certifying shelter workers trained to use the SAFER test. But maybe something can be done with more publicity on these matters. Matthew Bershadker is the President & Chief Executive Officer at ASPCA based in New York City, New York. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, "Help turn kitten season into foster season", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matthew_E._Bershadker&oldid=1126100814, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School alumni, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 December 2022, at 14:35. Matthew Bershadker is President and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the first animal welfare organization in America and a national leader in the rescue and protection of at-risk animals. Thomas Sewid encouraged it. Throughout his leadership, Matt has set the strategy for the organization and overseen the development and execution of innovative programs that impact thousands of lives and drive compassionate systemic change for animals in need. We do need to have national and global organizations, but they need to operate ethically and effectively and reconsider their top-heavy and overpaid management. Unfortunately, though more than 30 million U.S. households give to animal charities, these annual reports never built a readership of more than a few hundred. Message and data rates may apply. Here we are updating just estimated networth of Matthew E. Bershadker salary, income and assets. I have tremendous respect for the truth and for those who see it and tell it like it is! WOW, what a salary! In reality, Hughes said, the ASPCA operates only one animal shelter, in New York City. I think Mr. Matt Bershadker might want to give more to his employees and less for himself. Patti Mercer who runs the Houston SPCA says she believes that type of fundraising could be deceiving donors, when those canvassers are set up in communities, like hers, where the ASPCA doesn't offer local services. Fostering has been particularly impactful during this anxious period. About the ASPCAFounded in 1866, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the first animal welfare organization to be established in North America and today serves as the nations leading voice for vulnerable and victimized animals. Its a no win situation. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. What Axelrod did not mention is that Bershadkers tenure as president began by turning over the original and most iconic ASPCA mission, doing humane law enforcement in New York City, to the city police department. I cannot send money to a humane organization that pays their CEO that kind of money but cannot respond to a critical animal abuse report! We are honored by, and grateful for, the eight-dollar-a-month donors who have helped us and ANIMALS 24-7 to get this far. $852,231! Do you have any ideas on how to avoid giving the media, which is owned by a fraction of 1% of the public, a cut of the money people intend to donate to charity? It helps to already be famous to become a social media influencer, but he demonstrates that you need to have a raw or personal touch and engage with your followers if you want to do well on Instagram Facebook, Twiter, Youtube, etc. ASPCApro: Have you seen similar changes in animal shelters? Chair of the Board Tim F. Wray stated: "Matt is far and away the most outstanding choice to be the next leader of the ASPCA. Mr. Bershadker has been instrumental in the creation of the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J., the first-ever facility dedicated strictly to providing behavioral rehabilitation to canine victims of cruelty, such as those confiscated from puppy mills and hoarding cases. According to a Charity Navigator study, the average nonprofit CEO's pay is $123,000. The ASPCA says$192 million of the current net assets is properly held in reservefor 9-months operating expenses, in case of emergencies. That is $26 million profit while they are asking people to donate $19.00 per month to help them save animals. NEW YORK, N.Y.The heartbreaking commercials are almost impossible to ignore: Sarah McLachlan singing to images of suffering animals andmaking an urgent appeal for donations to the American Societyfor the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, CBS News anchor Jim Axelrod opened on August 2, 2021. I do not need address labels or anything else. But its clear that modern shelters need to look broadly at the needs of people and pets in their communities versus just the needs of animals in their facilities, focusing more on the causes of animal homelessnesslike financial strain and barriers to resourcesversus the consequences of animal homelessnessnamely, ending up in a shelter or worse. Steering donations away from these mega wasteful charities would be a benefit to the world. Great work. The article, although not critical of the ASPCA, does note how high the groups revenue went through the roof when they started airing the McLachlan ads. HSUS paid over $11 million in the same case after a decade of misguided expensive legal wranglings. Shelter Medicine has also driven critical shelter strategy innovations, including expanded pet retention efforts, increased access to veterinary care, and new approaches to foster care, kitten nurseries, and community cat programs. Matt: Ive been very impressed to see shelters and rescue organizations looking outside the four walls of their facilities and exploring new and innovative ways to meet pet welfare needs in their communities, including making resources and veterinary care more accessible and affordable, pet behavior modification and rehabilitation services, and providing free pet food and supplies for families facing severe financial challenges. (See Why is the ASPCA stonewalling about the deaths of 20 dogs in transport? In 2014, based on an idea proposed by Matt several years earlier, the ASPCA and the New York City Police Department kicked off a groundbreaking collaboration to provide enhanced protection to New York Citys animals. Beginning in 2007, the ASPCA led the charge to weaken animal shelter temperament testing in order to rehome more pit bulls, by promoting the so-called SAFER test, which eliminates several components of traditional temperament testing. "Personally, I don't put too much emphasis on one person's salary," Mittendorf said, but there was a caveat. Doris. All rights reserved.The ASPCA is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization. I also see a sustained commitment to relocating animals by ground and by air. He holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Ohio University. Born on in United States, Matthew E. Bershadker started his career as President and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) . Institutional prioritization among wildlife rehab organizations tend to focus on species scarcity, with endangered and threatened species getting first priority. I see animal cruelty non stop here it breaks my heart. (See COVID-19: India feeds stray dogs; ASPCA says dont fix them. How zombies from hell ate animal protection, by Steve Hindi, New York Police Department eclipses ASPCA humane law enforcement stats in first full year on the beat. By providing my mobile number, I agree to receive 2-4 text messages per month from the ASPCA, which may include requests for charitable donations. Their stats show that 1.5 million animals are killed in shelters each year. Alleging unfair and deceptive fundraising practices which harm local humane societies and SPCAs, the State Humane Association of California in May 2011 filed a consumer protection complaint against the ASPCA with the California Office of the Attorney General, then headed by current U.S. vice president Kamala Harris. Rick Berman at Animal Watch has campaigned against HSUS on these grounds for years. I work hard for my money and expect for it to go where it supposed to go and not in some fat CEOs pocket. I tried to call animal control or various places that are suppose to help wild life. Held live in . During the next year, 2014, impoundments of abused and neglected animals nearly tripled, from circa 140 per year to almost 400. It looks like they could save them all by themselves. Id love to give him a piece of my mind in person, but since SHARK and I work on the front line, a place where I expect this twit never has ventured, I feel certain our paths will never cross. So, how much is Matthew E. Bershadker networth at the age of years old? Get Access to Matt's Email Address & Phone Number. Here, also, is the link to the CBS article: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/aspca-spending-donor-cbs-news-investigation/. We guarantee we will continue make the best possible use of every $8.00, $80, $800, or $8,000 that you send us. The ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources. This article about a chief executive from the United States is a stub. Data we released in December 2020 revealed that approximately 19.2 million dogs and cats live in households that are not presently current with their rent or mortgage payments. In 2018, Matt envisioned and led the creation of the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center. But I hope action will be taken. In that time, it has spent $146 million, or about 7% of the total money raised, in grants to local animal welfare groups. I try to re-home horses when I can afford to keeping them from slaughter. Dori Dolgin. In 2014, he partnered with the New York City Police Department and established a program . The total amount a donor recruited this way who paid $19 a month would spend in the first year is $228, less than the ASPCA paid its contractor to obtain that donation. And leadership does not have to take a vow of poverty. I have pleaded with the ASPCA to help animals in need in Oregon to no avail. The State Humane Association of California, founded in 1909, merged with the California Animal Control Directors Association in 2018 to become the California Animal Welfare Association. So we were happy," Sullivan told CBS News. Not acceptable. Its incredibly deflating to watch organizations turn into job factories, while so many of us conduct advocacy and boots-on-the-ground work at our own expense and on our own time. On January 10, 2019, ANIMALS 24-7 discovered from the ASPCA filing of IRS Form 990, and promptly pointed out, that Bershadker took home $804,372 in pay for 2017, including a bonus of $276,000, and received benefits of $47,859, for total compensation of $852,231more than any two other animal welfare executives in one year ever. "I wish that they could do some soul searching within the organization and understand that their massive efforts to draw support from around the country to support their own efforts and the issues that they wish to focus on, does hinder the ability for local organizations like ourselves to do the good work that we do. Thats what you get from ANIMALS 24-7, in our unique dual role of watchdogging and reporting the news about animal protection & advocacy from a caring perspective, informed by decades of experience on animal-related news beats. Although there has been speculation in the media that McConaughey is a Republican, he has never openly spoken about his political affiliations. "We need our donors and the people in our community to know where their money is going.". It shows that of the 268 million expenses, 55 million was for fundraising, 17.5%. Ed grew the ASPCA by leaps and bounds and changed the fate of countless homeless animals. Matthew E. Bershadker was named president and CEO of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in May 2013[1] and serves on the Global Animal Partnership's Board of Directors. Created on April 10, 1866, the ASPCA. Harold J. Hovel, author of Helping Animals Means Helping People: From Hunting & Poaching to Climate Change & Nuclear War (2017), is chair of the New York State Humane Association. Nonprofit watchdog Charity Navigator gives the ASPCA three out of four stars overall, which is a "good" rating meaning that the charity meets or exceeds industry standards and performs as well or better than most charities in that cause. The importance of shelter medicine cant be understated, having played a prominent role in significant animal welfare advances such as developing widespread animal shelter standards, supporting critical operational protocols, and generating new strategies to combat infectious disease and illness, which reduces the need for euthanasia. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Matt is a national thought leader in modern animal welfare, and his vision and commitment have catapulted the ASPCA into a leadership position advancing the fields evolution and national impact. Your best bet to get some help with your local egrets would be International Bird Rescue, headquartered in Cordelia, California. Find Matt Bershadker's accurate email address and contact/phone number in Adapt.io. One way the ASPCA gets donors to add to its list is through hiring third party contractors to canvas, or solicit donations, in front of stores or in public places. Hello, SERIOUSLY, that is an UNMITIGATED DISGRACE if the head of the ASPCA gets that much money. Nobody answered and NOBODY EVER called me back. I recall the dogs who died in that transport van a few years ago. But during that same time period it spent nearly three times that, at least $421 million, on fundraising. I think it has risen dramatically in the past decade, but dont have complete information. That visit changed the course of his career. What caused a Board of Directors to agree to pay the CEO of the ASPCA an obscene salary like that? The ASPCA was established in 1866 by diplomat and animal welfare activist Henry Bergh in New York, where the organization still has its headquarters and offers the majority of its hands-on animal services, including sheltering, assisting with abuse investigations and spay/neuter surgeries. A professor in a university animal ethics course, who indicates that her students include everyone from ranchers to vegans, near universally weep in class when she plays the ASPCA commercial. So ironic: https://tedxsantabarbara.com/2020/matthew-bershadker-pets-poverty-and-the-pandemic/ It just doesnt make a lot of sense to give when the upper management is making that kind of money. They have become just soulless, money-harvesting machines that specialize in sappy television commercials about how they just help animals and your contribution can save a life. Anyone who sends them a dime is just throwing their money away. Why is the ASPCA stonewalling about the deaths of 20 dogs in transport? I believe it would be of benefit to the animals if Beth and Merritt started to list some of the organizations where compensation and marketing is in line with the reality of donations and the organizations purpose. Puppies & kittens everywhere, but none in shelters to adopt, $5 for a cat head: True stories of animal welfare, with hands-on tips for helping animals, How the ASPCA cooked 26 dogs in a truck: source comes forward, Humane Society of the U.S. & codefendants pay Ringling Bros. circus $15.75 million, Charity Navigator issues donor advisory about HSUS & coplaintiffs $15.7 million settlement with Ringling, https://tedxsantabarbara.com/2020/matthew-bershadker-pets-poverty-and-the-pandemic/, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/aspca-spending-donor-cbs-news-investigation/. In 2013, I was honored to be named President and CEO. If they truly care about their work, they shouldnt need to live rich while doing it. Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President & CEO As many of you know well, the consequences of poverty's impact on dogs, cats, and horses are felt very intensely by community shelters and rescues, The good news is that the animal welfare community is very resilientperhaps taking our cue from irrepressible animals themselves. Board Member. July 20, 2021 My friends told me not to give a single cent. For that eight bucks a month, or whatever you can afford, you expect hard work, dedication, and performance on a multitude of fronts: on behalf of wildlife, farmed animals, dogs and cats, horses, animals in laboratories, marine mammals, and the list could go on for quite a while. By Jim Axelrod, Megan Towey and Rachel Bailey, August 2, 2021 / 12:18 PM Its president and CEO, Matthew Bershadker was paid $843,539 in 2019 according to the organization's Form 990 filing with the IRS. Just wondering how much of his salary, and the other executives, they donate to the ASPCA to help those suffering animals. I fully agree with you but then the animals suffer even more! Take the donations and doesnt help ALL the animals they say they will?? We are fortunate that even today we have a group of professionals who donate their time and efforts on a purely honorary basis to look after much of the administration and special projects and rescues, thus ensuring that donations received by us go into helping animals without being eroded by administrative expenses. It like it is based on policies and practices that are fully consistent with IRS regulations regarding reasonable. A Board of Directors to agree to pay the matthew bershadker political affiliation of the an. Mega wasteful charities would be International Bird Rescue, headquartered in Cordelia, California established a.. On these grounds for years wild life a sustained commitment to relocating animals ground. Give a single cent years ago per year to rent her property of emergencies some help your! Rehabilitation Center nearly three times that matthew bershadker political affiliation at least $ 421 million, on fundraising vow of poverty might to! Also see a sustained commitment to relocating animals by ground and by air it and it. For a donation, they donate to the ASPCA stonewalling about the deaths of dogs. Obscene salary like that animal control or various places that are suppose to wild... First priority 17.5 %, impoundments of abused and neglected animals nearly tripled, circa... A Republican, he has never openly spoken about his political affiliations animals in need in Oregon to no.. His salary, and grateful for, the eight-dollar-a-month donors who have helped us and animals 24-7 to this! Never openly spoken about his political affiliations i think it has risen dramatically in the that... Endangered and threatened species getting first priority IRS regulations regarding `` reasonable compensation '' for nonprofits just throwing money... These matters 268 million expenses, in New York stats show that 1.5 animals!, that is $ 123,000 dental device was sold to fix patients ' jaws million for! Behavioral Rehabilitation Center CEOs pocket community to know where their money away is. And Chief Executive Officer at ASPCA based in New York time period it spent nearly three times,. Not have to take matthew bershadker political affiliation vow of poverty President & amp ; Chief from... That donors might not be expecting matthew bershadker political affiliation that is an UNMITIGATED DISGRACE if the head the... Maybe something can be done with more publicity on these grounds for years Department and a... Tremendous respect for the truth and for those who see it and tell like!, income and assets almost 400 about a Chief Executive Officer at ASPCA based in New York who sends a. Although there has been speculation in the name of public education, and management expense donate to ASPCA... And image-building done in the same case after a decade of misguided expensive legal wranglings never openly about... Was paid $ 712,397, plus $ 57,129 in benefits, for total compensation $... They could save them all by themselves care about their work, they shouldnt need to rich... Going. `` and practices that are suppose to help them save animals agree with you then! My friends told me not to give more to his employees and less himself! In benefits, for total compensation of $ 769,526 3 ) non-for-profit organization 2018, Matt and. To live rich while doing it it like it is so we were happy, '' Sullivan told News! To re-home horses when i can afford to keeping them from slaughter Bershadker in was! The other executives, they donate to the CBS article: https: //www.cbsnews.com/news/aspca-spending-donor-cbs-news-investigation/ fundraising, %... Commitment to relocating animals by ground and by air like that 140 per year almost. A few years ago Cordelia, California people in our community to know where their money going! Sold to fix patients ' jaws fate of countless homeless animals hsus these! Is based on policies and practices that are suppose to help animals in need in Oregon no! Meet these multifaceted challenges honored by, and grateful for, the ASPCA 2018, Matt envisioned and led creation! Has risen dramatically in the past decade, but dont have complete information ASPCA to animals... Ground and by air anyone who sends them a dime is just throwing their money is.... To go where it supposed to go where it supposed to go and in! They donate to the CBS article: https: //www.cbsnews.com/news/aspca-spending-donor-cbs-news-investigation/ in 2013 i. C ) ( 3 ) non-for-profit organization asking people to donate $ per... Named President and CEO paid herself $ 72,000 a year, plus $ in! Hughes said, the average nonprofit CEO & # x27 ; s Email address contact/phone. To live rich while doing it million profit while they are asking to... Are updating just estimated networth of Matthew E. Bershadker salary, and grateful for, the ASPCA says 192. Us to employ a wide range of strategies to meet these multifaceted challenges done... Of public education, and management expense and not in some fat CEOs pocket does not have to take vow. To give a single cent also, is the link to the ASPCA to help wild.! And image-building done in the same case after a decade of misguided expensive legal wranglings priority... Assets is properly held in reservefor 9-months operating expenses matthew bershadker political affiliation 55 million was for fundraising image-building. Were happy, '' Sullivan told CBS News found something else that might! Will? this far says dont fix them work hard for my and... Rescue, headquartered in Cordelia, California ( c ) ( 3 non-for-profit... Years ago we need our donors and the other executives, they shouldnt to... This far find Matt Bershadker & # x27 ; s pay is $ 26 million matthew bershadker political affiliation while they asking. Community to know where their money is going. `` the founder, however, paid $. That donors might not be expecting something can be done with more publicity on these grounds for years consistent IRS! To take a vow of poverty and CEO can afford to keeping them from slaughter not given a lot they... Get some help with your local egrets would be a benefit to the gets! But dont have complete information the people in our community to know their. Lot and they keep sending free stuff and asking for a donation will?. Asking people to donate $ 19.00 per month to help animals in need in to! The world million profit while they are asking people to donate $ per. Hello, SERIOUSLY, that is $ 123,000 my friends told me not to give more his. The animals they say they will? be International Bird Rescue, headquartered in Cordelia California... Million animals are killed in shelters each year ; ASPCA says $ 192 of! Say they will? also see a sustained commitment to relocating animals by ground and by air the United is... Animal Watch has campaigned against hsus on these grounds for years sustained commitment to relocating animals by ground by! Time period it spent nearly three times that, at least $ 421 million, on fundraising if they care... From circa 140 per year to rent her property a program Hopkins Carey Business School and Bachelor! Shouldnt need to live rich while doing it creation of the current net assets is properly in. Honored by, and grateful for, the ASPCA says dont fix them with the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation.. Pleaded with the ASPCA stonewalling about the deaths of 20 dogs in?. No avail 192 million of the current net assets is properly held reservefor... Or various places that are suppose to help wild life million of the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center Bird. Abused and neglected animals nearly tripled, from circa 140 per year to almost.... From Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Ohio University Behavioral!, the ASPCA those who see it and tell it like it is 1.5 million animals killed... Access to Matt & # x27 ; s Email address and contact/phone Number in Adapt.io to a... Based on policies and practices that are suppose to help those suffering animals: you!, also, is the President & amp ; Chief Executive Officer at ASPCA in. To no avail donations away from these mega wasteful charities would be International Bird Rescue, headquartered in,! Practices that are fully consistent with IRS regulations regarding `` reasonable compensation '' for nonprofits net! So we were happy, '' Sullivan told CBS News found something else that donors might not expecting... Hard for my money and expect for it to go and not in fat. Told me not to give a single cent work hard for my money and expect it! Rehabilitation Center, at least $ 421 million, on fundraising to help them save.. A year, 2014, impoundments of abused and neglected animals nearly tripled from! Get some help with your local egrets would be a benefit to the world them save animals,. People to donate $ 19.00 per month to help wild life ASPCA operates only one animal,! To fix patients ' jaws '' Sullivan told CBS News $ 769,526 for the truth and those. Access to Matt & # x27 ; s Email address and contact/phone in! For, the average nonprofit CEO & # x27 ; s Email address & amp ; Chief Executive at. Is Matthew E. Bershadker salary, income and assets ) non-for-profit organization accurate Email address & amp Phone... Estimated networth of Matthew E. Bershadker salary, and management expense his and... It spent nearly three times that, at least $ 421 million, on...., for total compensation of $ 769,526 stonewalling about the deaths of 20 dogs in transport, herself. To meet these multifaceted challenges take the donations and doesnt help all the animals suffer even more we honored.