People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 2 (Number of Board Members)
Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.
PETA does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization has three voting members on the board.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
COMPLAINTS
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 36 months: 4
The organization addressed the complaint issues brought to its attention: 4
(These complaints involved advertising and sales and billing and collection).
-
Year, State Incorporated
1980, VA
-
Also Known As
PETA
-
Affiliates
Foundation to Support Animal Protection
PETA International Science Consortium Ltd.
PETA Asia Limited
PETA Australia PTY Limited
PeTA Deutschland e.V.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Foundation
PETA France
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India
Stichting PETA Nederland
PETA Schweiz
PETA Science Consortium International e.V.
Animal Rahat
-
Stated Purpose
"to protect animal rights."
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) reports that it is an animal rights organization dedicated to establishing and protecting the rights of all animals. The organization states that it operates under the principle that animals are not for humans to experiment on, eat, wear, or use for entertainment. PETA focuses on four areas of animal use: in laboratories, in the food industry, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry. The organization also reports that it works on issues such as the killing of rodents, birds, and other animals considered pests and cruelty to domesticated animals. Some ($6,112,708 or 14%) of PETA's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fundraising appeals.
For the year ended July 31, 2019, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals's program expenses were:
Research, investigations, and rescue |
$20,039,560 |
Public outreach and education |
$13,548,157 |
International grassroots campaigns |
$10,873,780 |
Cruelty-free merchandise |
$440,633 |
Total Program Expenses: |
$44,902,130 |
*2018 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Note: Jeff Kerr, General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at PETA Foundation, was the highest paid employee in 2018, receiving $155,389 in compensation from the related organization, PETA Foundation.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Membership appeals, Planned giving arrangements, Telephone appeals, Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)
PETA incurred joint costs of $9,324,182 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $6,146,370 was allocated to program expenses and $3,177,812 was allocated to fundraising expenses.
Fundraising costs were 21% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $49,066,007, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals's audited financial statements for the year ended July 31, 2019.
Source of Funds |
Contributions and donations |
$35,853,893 |
Legacies and bequests |
$12,336,237 |
Investment, net and other income |
$1,697,436 |
Special events, net |
$875,877 |
Merchandise sales |
$107,869 |
Total Income |
$50,871,312 |
- Programs: 81%
- Fundraising: 18%
- Administrative: Less than 1%
Total Income |
$50,871,312 |
Program expenses |
$44,902,130 |
Fundraising expenses |
$10,507,935 |
Administrative expenses |
$564,880 |
Other expenses |
$0 |
Total expenses: |
$55,974,945 |
Income in Excess of Expenses |
$-5,103,633 |
Beginning Net Assets |
$13,536,553 |
Other Changes In Net Assets |
$0 |
Ending Net Assets |
$8,432,920 |
Total Liabilities |
$7,213,405 |
Total Assets |
$15,646,325 |
Note: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended July 31, 2019, PETA received in-kind gifts totaling $2,448,355 in the form of professional services ($935,000), advertising ($680,857), legal services ($617,675), and goods ($214,823).