Can Do Canines
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CAN DO CANINES TRANSFORMS PEOPLE'S LIVES BY CREATING MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH SPECIALLY TRAINED DOGS.
- Income
- $8.3 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 64
- Volunteers
- 854
- Highest pay
- $190,661, executive director
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: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 118% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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.
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (2)
- $3.5 million spent. 1. ASSISTANCE DOG TRAINING SERVICESA. DURING 2025 WE RECEIVED 355 APPLICATION REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE DOGS FROM PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE ATTEMPTING TO LIVE THEIR LIVES INDEPENDENTLY. DUE TO THE LACK OF FUNDING FOR TRAINING ASSISTANCE DOGS, SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS APPLY TO MORE THAN ONE PROGRAM, OR SOME STRUGGLE TO PAY SIGNIFICANT FEES TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO GET AN ASSISTANCE DOG SOONER.B. EACH APPLICATION WE RECEIVE FOR AN ASSISTANCE DOG IS REVIEWED FOR COMPLETE CONTENT, AND THEN ALL POTENTIAL CLIENTS ARE INTERVIEWED. DURING THIS INTERVIEW, THE POTENTIAL CLIENT LEARNS ALL THAT IS INVOLVED WITH OBTAINING AND WORKING WITH THEIR NEW PARTNER AND HOW MUCH THEIR LIFE MAY CHANGE, BOTH IN THE WORKPLACE AND IN THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT. THIS INTERVIEW PROVIDES CAN DO CANINES WITH INFORMATION ON THEIR ENVIRONMENT, STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, RANGE OF MOTION, LIFESTYLE, AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE POTENTIAL CLIENT.C. ONCE AN APPLICANT IS ACCEPTED, TRAINERS LOOK FOR A DOG THAT MATCHES THE CLIENT'S LIFESTYLE AND PERSONALITY IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF THEIR NEW PARTNER. EACH DOG IS TRAINED TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASKS NEEDED FOR THEIR PARTICULAR CLIENT. CLIENT SERVICES COORDINATORS OR CONTRACTED FIELD REPRESENTATIVES WORK WITH CLIENTS AND THEIR DOGS FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS IN THEIR HOME, WORK, AND/OR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. CLIENTS LEARN TO PROVIDE FOR THE DOG'S CARE AND WELL-BEING, AS WELL AS TECHNIQUES, SKILLS, AND COMMANDS TO USE WITH THEIR DOG. THE CLIENT WILL ALSO LEARN TECHNIQUES TO EXPAND THE RANGE OF TASKS IF THEIR DISABILITY CHANGES. A CERTIFICATION EVALUATION WILL BE COMPLETED WHEN THEIR TRAINING IS COMPLETED. A VIDEO RECORDING IS MADE OF THE CLIENT/DOG TEAM WORKING IN THEIR NORMAL DAILY LIFE. THIS MATERIAL IS REVIEWED FOR APPROVAL. UPON APPROVAL, THE TEAM RECEIVES THEIR IDENTIFICATION CARD AND PROCEEDS TO THE GRADUATION EVENT.D. DURING 2025 WE HAD 58 DOGS COME IN FOR TRAINING. WE COMPLETED 151 NEW INTERVIEWS WITH POTENTIAL CLIENTS. WE PROVIDED NEW PLACEMENTS, ONGOING TRAINING SUPPORT EDUCATION, RECERTIFICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING SERVICES TO OVER 376 ACTIVE CLIENTS DURING 2025.E. WE OBTAINED 54 DOGS FROM OUR OWN BREEDING PROGRAM, 6 DOGS FROM PRIVATE BREEDERS AND OTHER SOURCES, AND 5 DOGS FROM IBC BREEDING COOPERATIVE. F. SOME OF OUR CANINE TRAINEES ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR ASSISTANCE DOG TRAINING BUT CAN GO ON TO SERVE IN OTHER WAYS. WHENEVER POSSIBLE, WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO SERVE AS WORKING DOGS WITH OTHER AGENCIES. OTHERS BECOME PERSONAL PETS. DURING 2025, 46 DOGS THAT ENTERED OUR PROGRAM WERE "CAREER-CHANGED."G. CAN DO CANINES MAINTAINED MEMOS OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) OR CONTRACTS WITH EIGHT (8) PRISON FACILITIES IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN THAT AGREED TO SUPPORT THE GOALS OF CAN DO CANINES TO PREPARE DOGS TO ENTER ASSISTANCE DOG TRAINING. CAN DO CANINES AGREED TO PROVIDE REGULAR PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION IN DOG TRAINING, AS WELL AS VETERINARY SUPPORT AND FOOD FOR THE DOGS. THE PROGRAM INVOLVED 253 INMATES WHO PROVIDED TRAINING FOR 105 DOGS (54 OF WHICH WERE WEANED IN PRISON). THESE PROGRAMS ARE A PERMANENT PART OF THE CAN DO CANINES TRAINING PROCESS. THIS PROGRAM HAS PRODUCED TANGIBLE POSITIVE RESULTS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS: PRISON INMATES, PRISON EMPLOYEES AND ADMINISTRATION, THE CAN DO CANINES TRAINING PROGRAM, AND CAN DO CANINES CLIENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE MAY BENEFIT, AS NATIONAL RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR INMATES PARTICIPATING IN SIMILAR PROGRAMS HAS BEEN 50% LOWER THAN FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY.THIS PROGRAM HAS PRODUCED TANGIBLE POSITIVE RESULTS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS; PRISON INMATES, PRISON EMPLOYEES AND ADMINISTRATION, CAN DO CANINES TRAINING PROGRAM, AND CAN DO CANINES CLIENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE MAY BENEFIT AS NATIONAL RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR INMATES PARTICIPATING IN SIMILAR PROGRAMS HAS BEEN 50% LESS THAN THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY.ANNUAL FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS ARE SENT TO ALL ACTIVE TEAMS TO ASCERTAIN IF THE TEAM IS STILL ACTIVE, IF THE DOG IS HEALTHY, AND IF THE CLIENT NEEDS ANY ASSISTANCE WITH ADDITIONAL TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION. IF ADDITIONAL TRAINING IS NECESSARY, A MEMBER OF THE TRAINING STAFF CONTACTS THE CLIENT TO ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS. TRAINING STAFF ALSO INITIATES CONTACT WITH CLIENTS IF THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT THE DOG'S BEHAVIOR, HEALTH OR WEIGHT.THE ANNUAL SURVEYS ALSO ENSURE THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS PROVIDING ADEQUATE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE CLIENT. IN THE YEAR 2024, 99% OF SURVEY PARTICIPANTS RATED THEIR SERVICE DOG'S LEVEL OF TRAINING AS EXCELLENT OR GOOD, 94% FELT THEIR DOG WAS PERFORMING ASSISTANCE DOG TASKS AS EXCELLENT OR WELL. 2. FOLLOW-UPANNUAL FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS ARE SENT TO ALL ACTIVE TEAMS TO ASCERTAIN IF THE TEAM IS STILL ACTIVE, IF THE DOG IS HEALTHY, AND IF THE CLIENT NEEDS ANY ASSISTANCE WITH ADDITIONAL TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION. IF ADDITIONAL TRAINING IS NECESSARY, A MEMBER OF THE TRAINING STAFF CONTACTS THE CLIENT TO ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS. TRAINING STAFF ALSO INITIATES CONTACT WITH CLIENTS IF THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT THE DOG'S BEHAVIOR, HEALTH, OR WEIGHT.THE ANNUAL SURVEYS ALSO ENSURE THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS PROVIDING ADEQUATE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE CLIENT. IN THE YEAR 2025, 100% OF SURVEY PARTICIPANTS RATED THEIR SERVICE DOG'S LEVEL OF TRAINING AS EXCELLENT OR GOOD, AND 98% FELT THEIR DOG WAS PERFORMING ASSISTANCE DOG TASKS AS EXCELLENT OR WELL.
- PUPPY RAISING AND DOG ACQUISITIONA. THE PUPPY PROGRAM INCLUDED 251 DOGS THIS YEAR. THESE PUPS CAME FROM OTHER ASSISTANCE DOG ORGANIZATIONS, WERE DONATED, OR BRED BY CAN DO CANINES AND RAISED BY INMATES OR VOLUNTEERS. A TOTAL OF 58 DOGS CAME INTO THE KENNELS FOR FINAL TRAINING.B. WE HAD 593 VOLUNTEER HOST PUPPY RAISER HOMES THIS YEAR, WITH 150 BEING NEW IN 2025. THESE VOLUNTEERS ARE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR SERVICES. PUPPIES ARE PLACED WITH VOLUNTEER FAMILIES AT TEN WEEKS OF AGE FOR EARLY SOCIALIZATION. THIS PROCESS IS CRUCIAL FOR THE PUPPY TO REACH ITS FULL POTENTIAL AS AN ADULT. PUPPY RAISERS WORK WITH OUR PUPPY PROGRAM STAFF AND INSTRUCTORS. THEY ATTEND MONTHLY TRAINING CLASSES AND PUBLIC ACCESS OUTINGS DURING THE TIME THEY ARE RAISING THEIR PUPPY. THIS PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR FUTURE SUCCESS.305 INDIVIDUALS COMPLETED AN APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HOST PROGRAM. C. OUR PUPPY PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATED 453,488 HOURS OF HOUSING, NURTURING, LOVING, SOCIALIZING, AND WORKING WITH THEIR PUPPIES THIS YEAR. THESE VOLUNTEERS SAVE CAN DO CANINES IMMEASURABLE DOLLARS EACH YEAR. FOR EXAMPLE, IF OUR PROGRAM WERE TO PAY JUST $4.00 PER HOUR FOR THE TIME SPENT RAISING THESE PUPPIES, IT WOULD COST THE AGENCY $1,813,952 ANNUALLY. MANY OF OUR PUPPY PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS ARE ALSO VOLUNTEERING TO PROVIDE THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES TRAINING A PUPPY TO BECOME AN ASSISTANCE DOG, WHICH SAVES CAN DO CANINES ADDITIONAL MONEY ANNUALLY.D. IN 2025, 11 LITTERS PRODUCED 64 PUPPIES FOR THE PUPPY PROGRAM. AS PART OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE IBC BREEDING COOPERATIVE AND WORK WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, 8 OF THESE PUPPIES WERE SENT TO OTHER MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS. THESE PUPPIES WILL ENTER ASSISTANCE DOG TRAINING AT APPROXIMATELY 24 MONTHS OF AGE.E. GENEROUS BREEDERS DONATED 8 DOGS AND PUPPIES TO THE PUPPY PROGRAM THIS YEAR. OTHER ASSISTANCE DOG ORGANIZATIONS DONATED 6 DOGS TO THE PUPPY PROGRAM DURING 2025. THE TOTAL VALUE OF THESE DONATIONS RANGES FROM $10,500 TO $21,000, AS EACH PUPPY COULD HAVE BEEN SOLD FOR $1,500 TO $3,000. THESE BREEDERS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CHOSE TO MAKE AN IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION RATHER THAN PROFIT FROM THE SALE OF THESE DOGS. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL!
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 February 1988.
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.
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