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Guiding Eyes for the Blind Inc

EIN 13-1854606 · Yorktown Hts, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GUIDING EYES FOR THE BLIND PROVIDES GUIDE DOGS TO PEOPLE WITH VISION LOSS. WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CONNECTING EXCEPTIONAL DOGS WITH INDIVIDUALS FOR GREATER INDEPENDENCE.

Income
$56.4 million
Spending
$37.6 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
36.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
180
Volunteers
2,480
Highest pay
$544,678, president & ceo (thru 4/25)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 36.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (9)
  1. $10.6 million spent. STUDENT INSTRUCTION AND GUIDE DOG TRAINING - THE GUIDING EYES STUDENT INSTRUCTION AND GUIDE DOG TRAINING IS COMPRISED OF THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMS: EARLY/HOME SOCIALIZATION AND PUPPY RAISING FOR PURPOSE BRED GUIDE DOGS. ON-CAMPUS RESIDENTIAL TRAINING FOR BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS LEARNING TO USE A GUIDE DOG. SPECIALIZED TRAINING INSTRUCTION FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND WITH ADDITIONAL DISABILITIES OR OBSTACLES SUCH AS BALANCE, HEARING OR LEARNING CHALLENGES. THE RUNNING GUIDE PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS TO LIVE A HEALTHY, MORE INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLE. HOME TRAINING FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO NEW YORK FOR THE TWO WEEK ON CAMPUS PROGRAM. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED WITH FULLY TRAINED GUIDE DOGS. ALL SERVICES, INCLUDING TRAVEL COSTS TO AND FROM THE NEW YORK TRAINING CENTER AND ROOM AND BOARD, ARE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO STUDENTS. (SEE ON SCHEDULE O) IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, GUIDING EYES SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED ONE HUNDRED THIRTY SEVEN (137) GUIDE DOG TEAMS. DOGS NOT SUITED FOR GUIDE DOG WORK GO ON TO ALTERNATE CAREERS SUCH AS BEING ADOPTED BY OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES OR BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE TRAINED AS DETECTION DOGS. OTHERS ARE RELEASED AS FAMILY PETS. ALL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED BY GUIDING EYES WITH A FOCUS ON LOVE AND CARE FOR OUR DOGS THROUGHOUT THEIR WORKING LIFE.
  2. $10.3 million spent. VETERINARY SERVICES - AT GUIDING EYES, WE ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENCE IN VETERINARY CARE. WE OPERATE TWO STATE-OF-THE-ART VETERINARY HOSPITALS THROUGH OUR MAIN CAMPUS IN YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, AND OUR CANINE DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN PATTERSON, NEW YORK. OUR VETERINARIANS, LICENSED VETERINARY TECHNICIANS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF CARE FOR DOGS IN THE BREEDING, PUPPY, AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. OUR VET CARE EXTENDS TO ALL WORKING GUIDING EYES DOGS THROUGH REMOTE COMMUNICATION AND REFERRALS, AND USING OUR OWN FACILITIES WHEN PROXIMITY ALLOWS. OUR VETERINARY TEAM PERFORMS ROUTINE SURGICAL AND DENTAL PROCEDURES, X-RAYS, SONOGRAMS, ENDOSCOPY, LABORATORY WORK, VACCINATIONS, AND AN ARRAY OF WELLNESS SERVICES. WE ALSO WORK WITH SPECIALISTS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY, CARDIOLOGY, NEUROLOGY, ORTHOPEDICS, AND RADIOLOGY, MANY OF WHOM DONATE SERVICES TO HELP PROVIDE OUR DOGS WITH THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE.
  3. $2.4 million spent. RESIDENTIAL AND GRADUATE SERVICES - CLIENT EXPERIENCE TEAM IS THE PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT FOR APPLICANTS, STUDENTS, AND GRADUATES FROM INITIAL APPLICATION, THROUGH TRAINING, ONGOING TEAM SUPPORT, RETIREMENT, AND RE-APPLICATION. IT CONSISTS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS GUIDE DOG MOBILITY INSTRUCTION, GUIDE DOG HANDLING, BLIND AND LOW VISION REHAB, ADVOCACY, CUSTOMER SUCCESS AND COMMUNICATION. THIS TEAM FIELDS PHONE CALL, EMAIL, SMS, WRITTEN COMMUNICATION AND AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCY CALLS WITH GUIDING EYES FOR THE BLIND'S APPLICANTS, STUDENTS AND GRADUATES. CLIENT SUCCESS RATES AND SATISFACTION IS MONITORED THROUGH AUTOMATED SURVEYS AND OTHER FEEDBACK MECHANISMS MANAGED BY THE CLIENT EXPERIENCE TEAM. WORKING CLOSELY WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION TO ENSURE A POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND THAT OUR GRADUATE TEAMS ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE. (SEE ON SCHEDULE O) WE STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT THE PARTNERSHIP OUR CLIENTS HAVE WITH THEIR GUIDE DOGS IMPROVES THEIR LIVES IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: ENHANCED MOBILITY, INCREASED CONFIDENCE, IMPROVED SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND INCREASED INDEPENDENCE.
  4. $2.0 million spent. ENRICHMENT AND EDUCATION
  5. $1.5 million spent. FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
  6. $927,688 spent. CANINE BREEDING
  7. (Expenses $ 2,019,604 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) ENRICHMENT AND EDUCATION
  8. (Expenses $ 1,510,735 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
  9. (Expenses $ 927,688 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) CANINE BREEDING

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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 November 6, 2026.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1956.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 November 4, 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.