The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a well-known animal welfare organization, but have you ever wondered how its executives' salaries compare to those of its staff? According to the ASPCA's 2019 Form 990, the organization's CEO, Matthew Bershadker, received a salary of $844,919.
The ASPCA's executive salaries are significantly higher than those of its staff. In 2019, the median salary for an ASPCA staff member was $55,000. This disparity is concerning, especially considering the ASPCA's mission to protect animals from cruelty and neglect.
The ASPCA's executive compensation package includes benefits such as a pension plan and a 401(k) match. In 2019, the ASPCA's executive compensation committee approved a 6% increase in executive salaries, citing the organization's need to remain competitive in the nonprofit sector.
It's worth noting that the ASPCA's executive salaries have increased significantly over the past few years, with Bershadker's salary more than doubling between 2015 and 2019. This raises questions about the organization's priorities and whether its executives are being fairly compensated.
Expand your knowledge: How to Stop Cruelty towards Animals
Aspca Executive Compensation
The ASPCA's executive compensation has been a topic of concern. Ten executives received a total of $30 million in compensation between 2017 and 2023.
Todd Hendricks, Elizabeth Estroff, Bert Troughton, and Beverly Jones each received $3 million in total compensation during this period. Gordon Lavalette received $1 million in total compensation between 2021 and 2023.
The highest paid executive in 2018 was Matthew Bershadker, who received $770,000 in compensation. This is more than 6 times the average nonprofit CEO's pay, which is $123,000.
Here is a breakdown of the total compensation for the top 4 executives:
Note: The compensation amounts are based on the provided data and may not reflect the executives' actual take-home pay.
Income Inequality at Aspca
The ASPCA's executive office seems to be a world away from the struggles of the average donor.
At the end of 2020, the ASPCA claimed more than $407 million in assets.
Chief executive Matthew Bershadker took home $966,004 in pay for the year, including $856,673 from the ASPCA itself and $109,331 from ASPCA subsidiaries.
Bershadker's pay in 2017 was even higher, at $804,372, including a bonus of $276,000 and benefits of $47,859.
In 2018, Bershadker was paid $712,397, plus $57,129 in benefits, for a total compensation of $769,526.
The ASPCA's assets decreased slightly in 2018, to $283 million, but Bershadker's pay didn't follow suit.
For 2019, the ASPCA claimed assets of $393 million, and Bershadker was paid $762,996, plus $80,543 in benefits.
Bershadker's pay has consistently been among the highest in the animal welfare industry.
The contrast between the ASPCA's wealth and Bershadker's pay is striking.
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