Canines With a Cause Foundation Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Canines With a Cause is to harness the untapped potential of shelter dogs to heal emotional and psychological wounds, provide unconditional love, support and companionship, and give a new leash on life to those in need through assistance, therapy or service dog work. Making a difference, one person and one dog at a time!
- Income
- $427,787
- Spending
- $328,281
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 11.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 31
- Highest pay
- $96,868, executive dir.
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
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
- $228,377 spent. Transforming two lives at once, Canines With a Cause (CWAC) pairs rescued dogs with veterans affected by PTSD (PTSD), TBI, and MST, offering complimentary, personalized training classes to form psychiatric service dog teams. To accomplish this, CWAC begins by identifying suitable canine candidates from local animal shelters and rescue organizations. We select dogs with the ideal temperament and traits, then adopt and place them in either our prison program, a foster home, or, in some cases, the veteran-in-waiting. This pre-training process prepares both the dog and the veteran for a successful partnership. CWAC also collaborated with the Walter Reed Military Hospital Soldier Rehabilitation Program and the Uniformed Services University's Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program, working to facilitate the provision of service dogs to military beneficiaries and veterans. This partnership aimed to share best practices in service dog training and education. Unfortunately, the program faced setbacks, including the suspension of the Utah prison program due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the termination of the Walter Reed program's funding in 2025 due to budget cuts. This has forced CWAC to focus on community-based initiatives, like the newly established Paw Squad foster program. This program brings rescued dogs into loving Utah homes, emphasizing teamwork - a concept familiar to military personnel. Much like our prison programs, this helps bridge the gap between adoption and placement, ensuring a smooth transition for canines awaiting pairing with veterans.
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
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 December 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 May 2011.
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.