The HumaneWatch.org, a project of the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom, released the results of a survey conducted online regarding SurveyMonkey’s practice of giving money to the Humane Society of the United States, a nonprofit that is currently under investigation by a state attorney general and that settled a racketeering lawsuit last year for nearly $6 million. The poll was conducted through SurveyMonkey itself, and shows the company doesn’t have a branch to hang on.
While SurveyMonkey has given over $1 million to HSUS through its charity-partner program, 82 percent of poll respondents think it’s a bad idea to give money to a group with HSUS’s pedigree. Additionally, 59 percent of respondents said they were less likely to give their business to a company that supported HSUS. The full poll and results are below.
A number of major brands, including Discover, Pilot Travel Centers, and Yellowtail Wines, have dropped their partnerships with or funding for HSUS after learning the full facts about the organization.
“SurveyMonkey needs to cut out the monkey business before it starts losing business,” said Will Coggin, director of research at the Center for Consumer Freedom. “By giving money to HSUS, SurveyMonkey is complicit in helping a group that deceives, manipulates, and rips off animal lovers across the country.”
Poll of 505 respondents, conducted June 10, 2015 (margin of error +-4.3%).
– Have you heard of a group called the Humane Society of the United States? [YES: 85% NO: 10% DON’T KNOW: 5%]
– Were you aware that the Humane Society of the United States only gives one percent of its money to pet shelters and isn’t affiliated with local humane societies? [YES: 13% NO: 81% DON’T KNOW: 6%]
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Were you aware that the Humane Society of the United States paid $5.7 million to settle a racketeering and bribery lawsuit last year? [YES: 5% NO: 90% DON’T KNOW: 5%]
– Were you aware that the Humane Society of the United States is under investigation by a state attorney general? [YES: 6% NO: 90% DON’T KNOW: 4%]
– Do you think it’s wise to give money to a charity that settled a bribery lawsuit for $5.7 million, lost its charity rating from Charity Navigator, and is under investigation by a state attorney general? [YES: 4% NO: 82% DON’T KNOW: 14%]
– If a company was giving money to such a charity, would you be less inclined to give your business to that company? [YES: 59% NO: 15% DON’T KNOW: 26%]