Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Blue Star Service Dogs Inc

EIN 27-2228933 · Hamburg, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak33 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

We rescue shelter dogs, start training them in prison housed programs, pair them with military veterans and first responders diagnosed with visible and invisible wounds and continue training them together to be service dogs and qualified handlers. Doing this we are rescuing one to heal another.

Income
$367,296
Spending
$420,243
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
4
Volunteers
38

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

Financial health

Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • 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.

  • 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 December 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 (3)
  1. $215,325 spent. In 2025, 49 students were approved and enrolled in the Blue Star Service Dogs program. During the onboarding phase, 13 students determined they were unable to commit to the time and training requirements of the program and chose not to move forward before training began.Of the 36 students who progressed into the program, three participants began training and later determined that a service dog was not the appropriate tool for their needs. These decisions were made collaboratively and early in the process to ensure ethical placement and the best long-term outcomes for both the individuals and the dogs.In 2025, Blue Star Service Dogs proudly graduated 14 students, including 11 veterans and 3 first responders, each completing our individualized service dog training program. Graduation timelines reflect individualized pacing, particularly for participants living with PTSD or traumatic brain injury (TBI), to support long-term success. Graduated teams continued to receive follow-up support, training guidance, and access to Blue Star Service Dogs resources to support long-term success.
  2. $52,165 spent. During the year, Blue Star Service Dogs brought 29 dogs into training, including 24 dogs rescued from shelters across Michigan and 5 dogs entering the program through responsible breeder donations. Five dogs were career-changed and returned to their original shelters after careful evaluation to ensure the best possible outcome for each dog, and all five were adopted into permanent homes within one week of their return.Overall, approximately 83% of dogs brought into training in 2025 successfully remained in the program. This retention rate reflects a thoughtful intake and selection process that prioritizes ethical decision-making and long-term success for both dogs and handlers.Our prison-based training program remained a cornerstone of our work, with 29 dogs actively training inside Michigan correctional facilities. In 2025, 78 incarcerated teammate handlers participated in the program, providing daily care, structure, and foundational obedience and early task training under the guidance and supervision of Blue Star Service Dogs trainers, who visited the facilities weekly to support progress and maintain training standards.In addition to our service dog program, Blue Star Service Dogs continued its long-standing Bay County Animal Control partnership, through which 25 shelter dogs received basic obedience, manners, and confidence-building training to increase adoptability. All of these dogs were successfully adopted into permanent homes.
  3. $13,193 spent. Throughout 2025, Blue Star Service Dogs expanded its education and outreach efforts, delivering 94 educational presentations and community engagement events, including both in-person and virtual (Zoom) sessions. These presentations addressed service dogs and public etiquette, disability awareness, shelter rescue partnerships, the prison dog training program, and the organization's work supporting veterans and first responders. Programs and outreach activities served communities across Michigan.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 February 2011.

    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.