Animal nonprofit CEO pay draws new scrutiny

Veterinary and animal welfare professionals are getting a fresh, year-end look at executive compensation across major U.S. animal nonprofits, with new reporting from The Canine Review ranking the 10 highest-paid chief executives based on the organizations’ most recent publicly available IRS Form 990 filings. The list is led by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s former CEO Paul A. Baribault, whose fiscal 2024 compensation totaled about $2.06 million, followed by National Fish & Wildlife Foundation CEO Jeffrey Trandahl at $1.42 million, World Wildlife Fund-US CEO Carter Roberts at $1.29 million, and ASPCA President and CEO Matt Bershadker at $1.20 million. The article also notes that Baribault stepped down in March 2025, and that San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s filing disclosed some first-class or private jet travel for executives. (thecaninereview.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this isn’t just a compensation story. Large animal nonprofits increasingly shape shelter medicine, access-to-care programs, disaster response, cruelty work, veterinary training, and public policy. ASPCA alone reported $446.1 million in 2024 revenue, $387.9 million in expenses, and extensive shelter, veterinary, and field partnerships, underscoring how leadership decisions at these organizations can influence clinical capacity, grantmaking, workforce support, and referral networks across the profession. At the same time, executive pay remains a governance issue because nonprofit boards are expected to document that compensation is reasonable using independent review and comparability data under established IRS and sector guidance. (projects.propublica.org)

What to watch: Watch for whether more animal nonprofits publicly explain how board-approved executive compensation aligns with mission delivery, workforce pressures, and donor expectations as newer Form 990s are filed through 2026. (councilofnonprofits.org)