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Neads Inc

EIN 23-7281887 · Princeton, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NEADS' SERVICE DOGS PROVIDE LIFE-CHANGING INDEPENDENCE, COMPANIONSHIP, AND CONNECTION TO PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY. WITH A DEDICATED STAFF AND ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEERS, NEADS CAREFULLY MATCHES CLIENTS WITH THE RIGHT DOG AND PROVIDES ONGOING SUPPORT DURING THEIR ENTIRE RELATIONSHIP. NEADS HAS LED THE INDUSTRY SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1976, MATCHING OVER 2,000 EXPERTLY TRAINED SERVICE DOGS WITH CIVILIANS AND VETERANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
56
Volunteers
374
Highest pay
$194,027, ceo - outgoing

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 25

    9 of 9 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 August 31, 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 (1)
  1. $3.5 million spent. DOG AND CLIENT TRAINING - NEADS DOGS ARE TRAINED TO PERFORM AND BEHAVE OBEDIENTLY THROUGH THE USE OF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT AND CLEAR LEADERSHIP. NEADS DOGS ARE TAUGHT A LIST OF CORE COMMANDS AND THEY FOLLOW A BASIC TRAINING SCHEDULE THROUGHOUT PUPPYHOOD. 90 -95% OF NEADS PUPPIES ARE TRAINED IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF NEADS STAFF, PRISON INMATES ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT TRAINING AT A HIGH LEVEL. TO ENSURE THAT THE PUPPIES HAVE A FULL RANGE OF EXPERIENCES,PUPPIES SPEND THEIR WEEKENDS AT A VOLUNTEER'S HOME AND FOLLOW A CURRICULUM THAT INCLUDES CAR RIDES,TRAFFIC, BUS STATIONS, MOVIE THEATERS, RESTAURANTS, GROCERY STORES, AND ALL THE TYPICAL EXPERIENCES OF LIFE. ONCE A DOG IS NEARING COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM AND IS MATCHED WITH A SPECIFIC CLIENT, THE DOG'S TRAINING IS TAILORED TO THE CLIENT'S UNIQUE NEEDS. MOST IMPORTANTLY,WE RAISE AND TRAIN THE PERFECT WORKING PARTNER FOR EACH OF OUR CLIENTS. NEADS TRAINS THE WIDEST RANGE OF SERVICE DOGS IN THE UNITED STATES. HEARING DOGS ALERT HUMAN PARTNERS TO THE SOURCE OF A SOUND; SERVICE DOGS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN PERFORM EVERYDAY TASKS LIKE PICKING UP DROPPED ITEMS, OPENING DOORS, AND MORE; SOCIAL DOGS HELP A CHILD ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM FEEL CALMER AND MORE CONFIDENT; ASSISTANCE DOGS FOR THE CLASSROOM, THERAPY AND MINISTRY DOGS ENGAGE AND INSPIRE A PRACTITIONER'S COMMUNITY. OUR SERVICE DOGS FOR VETERANS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP THE GROWING POPULATION OF WOUNDED VETERANS.ONCE A DOG AND CLIENT HAVE BEEN MATCHED, NEADS CLIENTS LIVE ON OUR CAMPUS FOR 1-2 WEEKS LEARNING HOW TO WORK WITH THEIR NEW SERVICE DOG. APPROXIMATELY 20 CLIENTS GRADUATE THROUGH OUR PROGRAM EACH YEAR. CLASSES INCLUDE ACTIVE HANDS-ON EXERCISES WITH THE DOG, TRIPS INTO TOWN RESTAURANTS AND MALLS, AND SIT-DOWN CLASSES IN SUBJECTS SUCH AS HEALTH RECORDS, FIRST AID, GROOMING AND PUBLIC ACCESS. MOST CLASSES ARE TAUGHT BY THE INSTRUCTOR WHO HAS OVERSEEN THE DOG'S TRAINING AND WHO PARTNERS WITH THE CLIENT SERVES TO MATCH THE DOG WITH THE CLIENT. EACH CLIENT MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE TRAINING SCHEDULE AND ALSO RECEIVE A PASSING SCORE ON THE ASSISTANCE DOGS INTERNATOINAL PUBLIC ACCESS TEST TO GRADUATE AND LEAVE CAMPUS WITH THE SERVICE DOG. CLIENTS ARE SUPPORTED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS BY NEADS FOR THE SERVICE LIFE OF THEIR DOGS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1973.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.