Charity Watchdog Groups Downgrade Ratings for Humane Society of U.S.

The nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) this week pointed to a newly downgraded rating from Charity Navigator as evidence that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is not adequately fulfilling its stated charitable purpose. On Thursday Charity Navigator slashed the rankings for HSUS and the Humane Society International, the international arm of HSUS. In January, the American Institute of Philanthropy also rated HSUS very critically, giving the organization a “C-minus” grade overall.

HSUS’s 2008 tax filing shows that the group spent less than one percent of its collected donations on grants to hands-on pet shelters, CCF said.

“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,” said David Martosko, CCF’s Director of Research and the editor of HumaneWatch.org.

Additionally, Charity Navigator reported that the percentage of money HSUS spends on fundraising (as an overall percentage of its budget) nearly doubled between 2007 and 2008, from 12.7 percent to 24.2 percent. In contrast, the percentage that HSUS spends on its programs (such as animal rescue) also decreased by 11 percentage points.

In a related development, the Capital Research Center, which analyzes nonprofit political advocacy groups and their funders, this week published a report saying that HSUS’ “green rhetoric masks animal rights radicalism.” “The organization today is far more involved in political advocacy and its mission is no longer focused on animals in distress. The group has become an advocate of vegetarianism,” the report stated. In addition, the report states that HSUS provides grants “to support radical activists who want to end human ownership of animals,” as well as “to vegan groups that oppose the consumption of animals and the use of animal byproducts for human benefit.” The Humane Society of the United States has become the animal rights industry’s most powerful player, avoiding significant public scrutiny for decades, CCF said. “CCF believes that HSUS donors will be surprised to learn that in 2008, less than one-half of one percent of HSUS’s budget consisted of grants to the hands-on ‘humane societies’ that deal with the thankless task of sheltering unwanted pets. A national poll conducted in February by Opinion Research Corporation found that 59 percent of Americans falsely believe HSUS ‘contributes most of its money to local organizations that care for dogs and cats’.” CCF said.

Earlier this year, The Farm Credit Council Board adopted a statement outlining the Council’s support for animal agriculture, which has been under legislative and ballot-initiative assault from groups such as HSUS. The statement emphasizes the Council’s support for a vibrant and viable livestock sector and the need for maintaining consumer confidence in the nation’s food supply. Farm Credit Council staff will monitor developments in the animal welfare situation and join in coalitions with agriculture and commodity groups to help protect this vital segment of U.S. agriculture.