From the Foundation for Biomedical Research as published in the "total e-Clips" news service, Monday January 9th, 2006.

ARM BUDGETS INCREASE AGAIN IN 2004
Activist groups rake in millions - most oppose research

Under the benign guise of “animal protection,” the animal rights movement (ARM) raised hundreds of millions of dollars in 2004, much of which was and continues to be directed to the creation and promotion of anti-research messages that target young children, students, teachers, parents and the media.

The following financial data were compiled and reported in the December 2005 issue of Animal People, a publication "dedicated to exposing and halting animal cruelty." The information was drawn from the Internal Revenue Service Form 990 filings covering the calendar year or fiscal year 2004. The combined budgets of the animal groups below, all of which have all or part of their mission opposing animal research, is more than 236 million dollars.

Of particular note are several observations by the editors of Animal People:

"The Foundation to Support Animal Protection (FSAP) board consists of PeTA cofounder and president Ingrid Newkirk, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine founder and president Neal Barnard, MD, and Nadine Edles. FSAP exists, says IRS Form 990, to "Support the operations of animal protection organizations." PeTA in 2004 appeared to be the sole beneficiary. In fiscal 2004, PeTA granted $3 million to FSAP under the heading of "program service." However, the original FSAP filing of IRS form 990 claimed only $30,926 in program activity during the year. An amended return asserted that, "Return is being amended to reclassify functional expenses from management & general or fundraising to program services," as the entire FSAP "program mission is to provide supporting services." These services, amounting to 99% of FSAP spending, are part of the management and fundraising expense for PeTA. Attributing those costs to PeTA has the effect of concealing the true extent and nature of PeTA spending and assets." In addition, the the FSAP is housed at the PeTA headquarters in Norfolk, Va.

"The Humane Society of the United State (HSUS) transferred to seven affiliates a total of $2,534,688. HSUS made grants to 234 non-affiliated charities and educational programs, totaling $1,717,258. Among the HSUS program expenses were $5,945,404 for "cruelty investigations and regional offices"; $5,698,803 for "wildlife, animal habitat, and sheltering," including $1.2 million for outside grants; $2,591006 for "legal assistance, litigation and government relations"; and $1,669,685 for "laboratory bioethics and farm animals." (emphasis added)

Also of note is the fact that the HSUS absorbed the Fund for Animals (a $7 million budget organization) in 2004, with no significant increase in budget or assets. The Fund for Animals organization was turned into a lobbying, legislative and advocacy program of the HSUS.

Finally of note are the huge increases for both PCRM and the PCRM Foundation. While it claims to be a doctor's advocacy group, the organization primarily focuses on ending animal research and promoting a vegan lifestyle.

Many of the more extreme animal activist groups regularly seen in Total E-Clips and in the news, such as SHAC, ALF and ELF are not 501(c)(3) organizations, and therefore do not have to file tax returns with the IRS; therefore, the size of their budgets, if any, is unknown.

As always, if you have any questions about the information contained in this report, please feel free to contact us.

2004 ARM Budgets

For comparison, Total E-Clips is also publishing the annual operating budgets of the Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR) and our sister organization the National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR). Sadly, our budget is miniscule compared to the animal rights movement. Your donations to FBR help to even the odds in the David and Goliath battle.