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Canine Support Teams Inc

EIN 33-0434821 · Murrieta, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE SPECIALLY TRAINED DOGS TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO SUPPORT THEIR PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND OCCUPATIONAL INDEPENDENCE.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 59%
Employees
20
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$145,251, director/ceo

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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $1.0 million spent. EACH YEAR AN AVERAGE OF 30 DOGS ARE PLACED WITH CLIENTS. THESE DOGS ARE WITH US FROM PUPPY STAGE UNTIL THEY PASS ALL REQUIRED TESTS TO BECOME A SERVICE DOG. THESE DOGS ARE TRAINED TO DO TASKS SUCH AS OPEN AND CLOSE DOORS AND CABINETS, PICK UP DROPPED ITEMS (RETRIEVAL), BASIC OBEDIENCE, ETC. OUR ORGANIZATION USES VOLUNTEERS AND FULL-TIME STAFF TO TRAIN AND CARE FOR THE DOGS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED DURING THE PUPPY STAGE TO CARE FOR THE DOGS AS IF THEY WERE THEIR OWN AND START THE TRAINING PROCESS. ONCE THE DOG IS READY FOR MORE ADVANCED TRAINING, WE UTILIZE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE LOCAL MEN'S AND WOMEN'S PRISONS AND OUR OWN STAFF TO FACILITATE THE TRAINING. APPROXIMATELY 20 DOGS ARE CURRENTLY BEING TRAINED AT THE PRISONS AND THE REST ARE AT OUR FACILITY. ALL VOLUNTEERS ARE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF OUR ORGANIZATION'S TRAINERS. AT OUR FACILITY WE FOLLOW SPECIFIC GUIDELINES TO CARE FOR AND TRAIN ALL OF OUR DOGS. THE MORE CARE WE TAKE WITH TRAINING OUR SERVICE DOGS THE BETTER THEY WILL BE FOR OUR BELOVED CLIENTS. THE BEST PART OF WHAT WE DO IS RELEASING OUR SERVICE DOGS TO THEIR NEW OWNERS. THE JOY ON BOTH OUR CLIENTS AND THE DOGS' FACES ARE PRICELESS. OUR CLIENTS NEED THE BEST TRAINED DOGS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO HELP THEM ENJOY LIFE MORE INDEPENDENTLY.

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 March 1991.

    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.

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