Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND, INC. PROVIDES GUIDE AND SERVICE DOGS FREE OF CHARGE TO PROVIDE INCREASED INDEPENDENCE, ENHANCED MOBILITY, AND COMPANIONSHIP TO PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND, VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR HAVE OTHER DISABLITIES. THE GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION OFFERS EXTENSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION VEHICLES TO BROADEN SOCIETY'S UNDERSTANDING OF VISION, VISUAL IMPAIRMENT, BLINDNESS, OTHER DISABILITIES, AND DISABILITY RIGHTS.
- Income
- $15.5 million
- Spending
- $9.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 69.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 198
- Volunteers
- 1,400
- Highest pay
- $644,136, president and ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 69.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $3.9 million spent. TRAINING PROGRAM -OUR INSTRUCTORS COMPLETE A THREE YEAR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM BEFORE THEY BECOME CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS. DURING FY 2025, 189 DOGS BEGAN FORMAL TRAINING FOR PLACEMENT WITH A CONSUMER OF EITHER THE GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND, INC. OR ITS RELATED ORGANIZATION AMERICA'S VETDOGS -THE VETERAN'S K-9 CORPS, INC. THE GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION MANAGES AMERICA'S VETDOGS AND IS REIMBURSED FOR THE SERVICES IT PROVIDES TO AMERICA'S VETDOGS. FORMAL TRAINING TAKES APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS DURING WHICH TIME THE FOUNDATION CARES FOR ALL DOGS. DOGS ARE HOUSED ON CAMPUS IN STATE OF THE ART KENNELS IN THE DESIGNATED TRAINING CENTER. NOT EVERY DOG THAT ENTERS FORMAL TRAINING BECOMES A GUIDE OR SERVICE DOG. THE FOUNDATION CURRENTLY ESTIMATES A SUCCESS RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 50%. AFTER COMPLETION OF FORMAL TRAINING, THE DOG IS READY TO BE TEAMED WITH A CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER OR STUDENT AND THEIR DOG ARE TRAINED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM EITHER ON OUR CAMPUS, IN THE CONSUMER'S HOME COMMUNITY OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO. THE PROCESS AND THE FOUNDATION'S COMMITMENT CONTINUES AFTER PLACEMENT WITH AFTERCARE, FOLLOW-UP, SUPPORT AND OUTREACH THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE DOG. THE CYCLE IS PERPETUAL, WITH EACH STAGE FINANCED 100% BY THE ORGANIZATIONS.
- $1.7 million spent. BREEDING AND PUPPY PROGRAM -DURING FY 2025, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTED 108 DOGS IN THE BREEDING COLONY. THE BREEDING COLONY IS CAREFULLY SELECTED AFTER EXTENSIVE SCREENING AND TESTING. DURING FY 2025, 362 PUPPIES WERE ADDED TO THE PROGRAMS OF THE GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION AND AMERICA'S VETDOGS. PUPPIES SPEND SEVEN TO EIGHT WEEKS IN OUR PUPPY NURSERY. FROM THE NURSERY THEY SPEND APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR IN THE HOME OF A VOLUNTEER PUPPY RAISER OR PRISON PUPPY PROGRAM BEFORE COMING BACK TO THE ORGANIZATION FOR FORMAL TRAINING. DURING FY 2025 A TOTAL OF 373 PUPPIES WERE PLACED. 266 PUPPIES WERE PLACED IN PUPPY RAISER HOMES AND 107 PUPPIES PARTICIPATED IN OUR PRISON PUPPY PROGRAM. THE ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY SUPPORTS PUPPY RAISERS IN NEARLY 20 STATES AND HAS AGREEMENTS WITH 14 PRISONS THROUGHOUT MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, FLORIDA, CONNECTICUT, MAINE AND PENNSYLVANIA. DURING THE TIME THE PUPPIES ARE IN PUPPY RAISER HOMES, WE SUPPORT THE VOLUNTEER FAMILY THROUGH CONSTANT OUTREACH, COMMUNICATION AND TRAINING. WE BRING OUR VOLUNTEER REGIONAL PUPPY RAISER COORDINATORS ON CAMPUS FOR TRAINING AND SUPPORT THAT THEY CAN SHARE WITH THEIR LOCAL REGIONALLY BASED PUPPY RAISING FAMILIES. THE PROFESSIONAL PUPPY STAFF SUPPORTS OUR PUPPY RAISING VOLUNTEERS AND OUR STAFF TYPICALLY VISITS EACH PRISON WEEKLY TO FOLLOW UP AND TRAIN THE INMATE HANDLERS WHO ARE CAREFULLY SCREENED TO ENSURE THEY ARE SUITABLE CANDIDATES TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.
- $1.4 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION - PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ARE IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE MISSION OF GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND. THE FOUNDATION PARTNERED WITH THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS TO RAISE GUIDE DOG MONTE AND DEMONSTRATED VARIOUS SKILLS A GUIDE DOG CAN PROVIDE. THIS PAST YEAR, THREE ISSUES OF THE GUIDEWAY WERE DISTRIBUTED TO OVER 38,600 RECIPIENTS. THE GUIDEWAY IS THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT GUIDE DOGS, GUIDE DOG ETIQUETTE, AND DISABILITY ISSUES. ORGANIZATION GRADUATES, PUPPY RAISERS AND CARETAKERS WENT ON OVER 98 SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS OFF CAMPUS AND EACH ONE TYPICALLY HAS AN AUDIENCE OF 30 OR MORE PEOPLE. THE GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION HAS EMBRACED SOCIAL MEDIA AS A MEANS TO REACH OUR SUPPORTERS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. WE CURRENTLY HAVE NEARLY 46,100 LIKES ON FACEBOOK AND OVER 4,800 FOLLOWERS ON TWITTER. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE ANOTHER 113,000 FOLLOWERS THROUGH YOUTUBE, LINKEDIN, TIK TOK, THREADS AND INSTAGRAM.
- $1.2 million spent. STUDENT AND GRADUATE SERVICES -DURING FY 2025, THE GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION GRADUATED 29 GUIDE DOG TEAMS. IN ADDITION, AMERICA'S VETDOGS - GRADUATED 6 GUIDE DOG TEAMS, 36 PTSD/SERVICE DOG TEAMS, 32 SERVICE DOG TEAMS, 1 SEIZURE DOG TEAM, 4 HEARING DOG TEAMS, AND ALSO PLACED 6 FACILITY DOGS. FACILITY DOGS WERE PLACED AT KELLER ARMY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, THE PENTAGON, MAC DILL AIR FORCE BASE, ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, UCLA CLINICAL TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER, AND CARL R DARNALL ARMY MEDICAL CENTER. OUR STUDENTS COME FROM ALL OVER THE U.S. AS WELL AS OUTSIDE THE U.S. EACH CONSUMER'S NEEDS ARE EVALUATED, AND IF POSSIBLE A DOG IS TRAINED TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. SOME OF THE DISABILITIES SERVED INCLUDE: PHYSICALLY DISABLED, PROSTHETIC LIMB RECIPIENTS, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES, PROFOUND HEARING LOSS AND THOSE WITH A PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD. IN ADDITION TO THE TASKS, THE DOGS ARE TRAINED TO MITIGATE A PERSON'S DISABILITY. SERVICE DOGS ALSO PROVIDE COMFORT AND PROVIDE RE-SOCIALIZATION ASSISTANCE FOR OUR VETERANS. STUDENTS TYPICALLY STAY ON CAMPUS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS IN THE STUDENT RESIDENCE WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 17 STUDENTS AT A TIME. EACH STUDENT HAS A PRIVATE ROOM WITH PRIVATE BATH. THE RESIDENCE IS STAFFED 24 HOURS PER DAY. ALL MEALS ARE PROVIDED. STUDENTS CAN ALSO RECEIVE HOME TRAINING, WHERE THE FOUNDATION SENDS A CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR TO THE STUDENT'S HOME COMMUNITY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1950.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.