HSUS Earns an “F” For Effort

You might recall how we reported in January that the charity watchdogs at the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) gave the animal-rights Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) a “C-minus” grade based on the organization’s inefficient use of funds. AIP recently released its new grades for March and April, and to no one’s surprise, HSUS still earns a C-minus (as does the Fund for Animals, which merged with HSUS in 2005). It’s no shocker because while less than one percent of HSUS’s funds go to pet shelters and HSUS has racked up atrocious fundraising records, the charity's executives have socked millions of dollars away in pension plans.

Last week a second nonprofit watchdog, Charity Navigator, caught the scent of the money trail at HSUS and downgraded its ranking of the animal rights group. Charity Navigator gave HSUS’s organizational efficiency just one star, reflecting its high fundraising costs that, in turn, result in less money being spent on actual programs. And HSUS’s international arm, Humane Society International, got just one star overall.

As we’re telling the media today:

Charity Navigator’s downgrading of the Humane Society of the United States and its international arm sends a clear message: Animal charities can’t stuff donor dollars away in pension plans, shortchange pet shelters, and expect that no one will notice.

HSUS raises tens of millions of dollars a year from Americans who believe their money is trickling down to local pet shelters. Instead, their contributions fund a bloated staff of well-paid lawyers and lobbyists, PETA-style propaganda campaigns, and a hefty executive pension plan.

Visit www.HumaneWatch.org for continuing coverage of all the news America’s largest animal rights group would rather hide from the well-meaning animal lovers whose doggie dollars make its world go ’round.