The ASPCA CEO salary is publicly disclosed through the organization’s IRS Form 990, making it possible to see how much its president and chief executive officer receives in compensation. The latest available filing, covering 2024, identifies Matt Bershadker as ASPCA President and CEO and reports his compensation in several categories rather than as a simple annual paycheck.
For people researching nonprofit executive compensation, the key figure is the total compensation reported on the 2024 Form 990. That figure should be distinguished from base pay because the filing separately identifies salary, bonus or incentive compensation, other reportable compensation, retirement or deferred compensation, and nontaxable benefits.
What Is the ASPCA CEO Salary?
According to the ASPCA’s 2024 Form 990, Matt Bershadker received $1,226,402 in total compensation from the ASPCA for the year. The filing lists $907,423 in base compensation, $182,205 in bonus and incentive compensation, $24,242 in other reportable compensation, $77,600 in retirement and other deferred compensation, and $34,932 in nontaxable benefits.
That means the commonly quoted ASPCA CEO salary can vary depending on which compensation figure a source uses. Someone referring only to base compensation would cite $907,423, while the broader compensation figure reported in the filing is $1.226 million.
The distinction matters because nonprofit Form 990 reporting is designed to provide a fuller picture of compensation than a conventional salary figure alone.
| Compensation category | 2024 amount |
|---|---|
| Base compensation | $907,423 |
| Bonus and incentive compensation | $182,205 |
| Other reportable compensation | $24,242 |
| Retirement and deferred compensation | $77,600 |
| Nontaxable benefits | $34,932 |
| Total reported compensation | $1,226,402 |
The ASPCA’s public FAQ also confirms that its latest available Form 990 is for 2024 and says the organization uses an outside nonprofit compensation consultant to help determine staff salaries in relation to comparable organizations and IRS guidelines.
Who Is the ASPCA CEO?
Matt Bershadker is the ASPCA’s president and chief executive officer. The organization’s leadership page identifies him in that role, while the 2024 annual report includes a message from Bershadker as president and CEO.
Bershadker has led the organization during a period in which the ASPCA has maintained programs involving animal rescue, veterinary services, disaster response, shelter support, public education, and policy work.
The scope of the organization is relevant when examining the ASPCA CEO salary because executive compensation at a large national nonprofit is generally considered in the context of organizational size, responsibilities, and comparable positions rather than simply the nonprofit’s charitable mission.
How Has the ASPCA CEO Salary Changed?
Historical IRS filings show that Bershadker’s reported compensation has changed over time. ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer, which republishes nonprofit filing data, lists compensation of $1,113,870 for 2024 and $1,085,129 for the previous fiscal-year filing in its extracted compensation data.
The apparent difference between figures found online is worth understanding. The ASPCA’s official 2024 Form 990 reports $1,226,402 as the total compensation figure on Schedule J, while ProPublica displays $1,113,870 as compensation in its summarized dataset. The underlying Form 990 separates compensation components, so readers should check the original filing when comparing numbers.
This is one reason searches for the ASPCA CEO salary can produce different figures even when they refer to the same reporting year.
💡 Pro Tip: When comparing nonprofit executive pay, look at the organization’s original Form 990 and check whether a source is reporting base compensation, Form 990 compensation, or total compensation including benefits and deferred compensation. Those numbers are not interchangeable.
How Does Executive Compensation Fit Into ASPCA Finances?
The ASPCA reported $427.6 million in total income for 2024. Its annual report lists $289.8 million in total program expenses, $79.8 million in fundraising expenses, and $18.9 million in administrative expenses. End-of-year net assets were approximately $639.9 million.
The organization says approximately 74.6 cents of every dollar reported as an ASPCA expenditure went toward programmatic services, based on its latest available financial information. Its FAQ also states that the combined average total compensation of its CEO and executive leadership team over the previous three years represented 1.18% of total operating expenses.
Those figures provide financial context, but they do not by themselves establish whether a particular compensation level is appropriate. Executive compensation is ultimately a governance and organizational decision, and different readers may evaluate nonprofit spending according to different criteria.
Why Nonprofit CEO Pay Can Be High
A nonprofit CEO may oversee substantial budgets, employees, facilities, fundraising operations, regulatory responsibilities, public communications, and programs spread across multiple locations.
The ASPCA describes its work as covering direct animal care, veterinary services, disaster response, sheltering, professional training, public education, and policy efforts. Its 2024 annual report also reports $141.7 million in shelter and veterinary services expenses, $62.4 million for policy, response and engagement, and $85.6 million for public education and communications.
That organizational scale helps explain why the ASPCA CEO salary is reported at an executive level rather than resembling compensation at a small local animal shelter.
📌 Key Takeaway: The latest official filing shows $1,226,402 in total 2024 compensation for Matt Bershadker, while $907,423 was listed as base compensation. Always identify which compensation category a salary figure represents before comparing it with other nonprofit CEOs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ASPCA CEO salary in 2024?
The 2024 ASPCA Form 990 reports $907,423 in base compensation for Matt Bershadker and $1,226,402 in total compensation after additional compensation categories, retirement or deferred compensation, and nontaxable benefits are included. The figures come directly from the organization’s IRS filing.
Who is the current ASPCA CEO?
Matt Bershadker is identified by the ASPCA as its president and CEO. The organization’s official leadership information and 2024 annual report both identify him in that position.
Is ASPCA CEO compensation publicly available?
Yes. As a tax-exempt nonprofit, the ASPCA files an IRS Form 990 that reports compensation for certain officers and key employees. The ASPCA publishes its Form 990 through its annual-report and financial-transparency materials.
Why do websites report different salary figures?
Different figures may represent different compensation categories. A source might report base compensation, compensation from Form 990 reporting fields, or broader total compensation that includes benefits and deferred compensation. For the most precise figure, consult the original Form 990 rather than relying on a salary database alone.
How much does the ASPCA spend on programs?
The ASPCA’s 2024 annual report lists $289,776,988 in total program expenses. Major categories included shelter and veterinary services, policy and engagement, and public education and communications. The report also lists $79,797,126 in fundraising expenses and $18,922,807 in administrative expenses.
The public record makes the ASPCA CEO salary relatively straightforward to verify, but interpreting it requires attention to the compensation category being discussed. For 2024, the official Form 990 reports $1.226 million in total compensation for Matt Bershadker, with $907,423 identified as base compensation. Readers comparing nonprofit executives should use the same reporting definitions and fiscal years to avoid misleading comparisons.
