I worked at the SFSPCA for several years and left my position in 2022 because I could no longer emotionally cope with the incompetent and deceptive leadership. The current leadership has been running this great organization into the ground for years, and rather than make changes that would benefit animals or the community, they seem only to make decisions that enrich themselves or try to improve their image without actually improving.
The SFSPCA's business model is not that of a traditional non-profit. A traditional non-profit raises money from donors and uses that money in accordance with their charter to further the mission of the non-profit. In the case of the SFSPCA, their stated mission is "The San Francisco SPCA is dedicated to saving, protecting, caring, and advocating for animals." Sounds great, except that's not what the SFSPCA actually does anymore. Now they use donor funds to prop up a for-profit hospital that is so poorly run it loses money despite charging high fees to paying clients and literally owning the building they practice from. How bad do you have to be to lose money when you own the building? They have to pay their vets over $200k in an effort to retain them, which they still fail to do. Turnover is high because leadership is incompetent and petulant. Donors are led to believe that their donations go to saving homeless animals, but the SFSPCA has saved far fewer animal lives than they projected. Most money goes to the hospital. You can read this in their 990 or annual reports. They try to obscure that this is the case, but it's all public information.
Donors are told that they are saving homeless animals, when in fact donors are subsidizing the incompetence of the leadership by paying huge salaries and bonuses to the executive team and propping up a failing hospital.
Review from Guidestar
There's a reason why this place gets a 5-star rating.
I've been a loyal member and volunteer for over a decade. I'm a member of the Legacy Society, with the SPCA in my will. I am also a member of the SIDO program, protecting the health and well being of my beloved Layla, should i pass before her (she's 5, btw).
All four of mine are and were rescues, thanks to my beloved SF-SPCA. This photo represents my current, Layla, looking up to the gods, thanking them for being rescued.
We adopted our doggie from the SPCA and the entire process was fantastic. We've had him now for 3 years and our lives have never been the same!
I've interacted with several folks from and at the SF SPCA, and have been very impressed with the way they see their mission and their role in the community. From adoption services, to the hospital, to their call center, it's clear they have a broad view of their objectives and know how to get things done.