Canine Partners for Life
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Canine Partners For Life is to increase the independence and quality of life of individuals with physical, developmental, and cognitive disabilities or who are in other situations of need. We achieve our mission by providing and sustaining professionally trained service and companion dogs.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 14.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 550
- Highest pay
- $106,491, executive director (until 6/16/25)
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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 (3)
- $512,051 spent. BREEDING AND PUPPY RAISING - Canine Partners for Life has developed the best possible breeding program in order to produce high quality service and companion dogs. Volunteers, along with the support of CPL professional breeding staff and local veterinarians, care for CPL puppies. At eight weeks of age, puppies are placed in volunteer community homes that help to socialize the puppies and provide early obedience and basic skills training.
- $462,206 spent. TRAINING AND FOLLOW UP - professional Canine Partners for Life Trainers teach dogs to master more than 40 commands and specialize their training to meet the needs of a recipient with a disability or people who are in other situations of need. We train dogs as full service dogs, medical alert dogs, and companion dogs. Canine Partners for Life also provides lifetime follow up support for our graduates. CPLs follow up program helps to ensure that the service or companion dog is still meeting the recipients needs and that the team still meets the standards set by CPL and Assistance Dogs International. If a recipients needs change or additional training support is needed, CPL staff answers questions and provides additional training.
- $351,434 spent. GENERAL EDUCATION - Canine Partners for Life provides, on average, 225-250 educational programs and demonstrations to the public each year. CPL staff and volunteers educate the public about CPLs mission, the assistance dog industry, service dog laws, the skills service dogs are able to assist with, and the difference a service or companion dog can make for individuals with disabilities.
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 June 1990.
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.