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Leader Dogs for the Blind

EIN 38-1366931 · Rochester Hls, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPOWERING PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED WITH LIFELONG SKILLS FOR SAFE AND INDEPENDENT DAILY TRAVEL.

Income
$20.9 million
Spending
$21.0 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
221
Volunteers
993
Highest pay
$312,102, president and ceo

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 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 (4)
  1. $12.8 million spent. GUIDE DOG: SINCE 1939, LEADER DOG HAS BEEN HIGHLY RESPECTED FOR OUR INNOVATIVE GUIDE DOG PROGRAM. OUR FREE 21-DAY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM SERVES CLIENTS WHO ARE LEGALLY BLIND, 16 YEARS OLD AND UP, AND ABLE TO CARE FOR A DOG. TRAINING IS PERSONALIZED AND EACH CLIENT IS MATCHED WITH A DOG THAT FITS THEIR LIFESTYLE, PACE, PHYSICAL SIZE AND MORE. CLIENTS TRAIN WITH THEIR GUIDE DOG IN A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTS TO FIT BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS, INCLUDING URBAN, SUBURBAN AND RURAL LOCATIONS; COLLEGE CAMPUSES; STORES AND OTHER SETTINGS. THROUGH THE ADAPTIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, GUIDE DOGS ARE PROVIDED TO PEOPLE WITH HEARING LIMITATIONS, COGNITIVE ISSUES, OR OTHER PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS SUCH AS LOSS OF A LIMB.
  2. $941,256 spent. VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY OUTREACH: VOLUNTEERS ARE INTEGRAL TO THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF LEADER DOG AND ALLOW US TO SERVE MORE CLIENTS EACH YEAR. VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE THEIR TIME AND SKILLS IN MANY AREAS INCLUDING ON-CAMPUS, AND THROUGH PUPPY RAISING AND HOSTING BREEDING STOCK DOGS. COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS CONDUCTED NATIONALLY WITH VOLUNTEERS ATTENDING CONFERENCES AND/OR GIVING PRESENTATIONS BEFORE VARIOUS GROUPS IN SCHOOL, CORPORATE OR COMMUNITY SETTINGS. THEY SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT GUIDE DOGS, ORIENTATION & MOBILITY, AND LEADER DOG OPERATIONS.
  3. $2.1 million spent. ORIENTATION & MOBILITY (O&M): THIS FREE FIVE-DAY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO TRAVEL SAFELY USING A WHITE CANE IN A MUCH SHORTER TIMEFRAME THAN TRADITIONAL O&M TRAINING. HAVING GOOD O&M SKILLS, INCLUDING KNOWING HOW TO MAINTAIN ORIENTATION WHILE TRAVELING, IS THE NECESSARY FIRST STEP TO BECOMING A SAFE AND INDEPENDENT TRAVELER. TRAINING IS PROVIDED ON A 1:1 CLIENT-TO-INSTRUCTOR RATIO AND IS PERSONALIZED TO EACH CLIENT'S NEEDS AND CAPABILITIES. TRAINING IS OPEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LEGALLY BLIND AND AT LEAST 16 YEARS OF AGE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY PLAN TO EVENTUALLY TRAIN WITH A GUIDE DOG.
  4. $23,889 spent. SUPPORT THE MISSION OF LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND FOUNDATION

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 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 December 1952.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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