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HSUS spends 50% of funds on fundraising, overhead costs, says watchdog

Watchdog groups blame charity's fundraising practices, mismanagement

According to a 2010 "Watchdog Report on Animal Charities" from Animal People News, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) spends roughly 50% of its raised funds on continued fundraising and additional overhead costs, including paying lobbyists and HSUS's pension plan.

This number, which Animal People News said it calculated based on HSUS's 2009 federal tax return, is in opposition with the 29% HSUS said it spends on overhead. According to the Center for Consumer Freedom, this information, along with the "D" rating HSUS received from the American Institute of Philanthropy and the one star out of four it received for efficiency from Charity Navigator, paints a picture of factory-fundraising practices and incompetent nonprofit management. “Animal lovers need to know the difference between HSUS and real humane societies," said CCF Director of Research David Martosko. "The only way to be sure your donations will help homeless dogs and cats is to give to organizations in your own community.”