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Dog Tag Inc

EIN 45-2130904 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DOG TAG INC.'S (DT) MISSION IS TO EMPOWER VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES, SPOUSES AND CAREGIVERS TO FIND RENEWED PURPOSE AND COMMUNITY AFTER SERVING OUR NATION.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
76
Volunteers
180
Highest pay
$132,155, chief executive officer

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (2)
  1. $1.4 million spent. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: DOG TAG'S FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM ACTS AS A CATALYST FOR BUILDING RESILIENCE, FINDING RENEWED PURPOSE, AND FORGING A COMMUNITY FOR VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES, MILITARY SPOUSES AND CAREGIVERS. THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IS BASED ON A COMPREHENSIVE PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO PREPARE MILITARY VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES, MILITARY SPOUSES, AND CAREGIVERS, TO FIND SUCCESS AS THEY TRANSITION INTO THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE. THIS FIVE-MONTH PROGRAM TRANSLATES PARTICIPANTS' MILITARY EXPERIENCE INTO WORKPLACE SKILLS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING FIVE PROGRAMMING COMPONENTS: (1) CONTINUING EDUCATION: FELLOWS EARN A CERTIFICATE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND BUSINESS ACUMEN RESPECTIVELY THROUGH GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES; (2) HANDS-ON LEARNING: LEVERAGING OUR BAKERY AS A LIVING BUSINESS SCHOOL, FELLOWS ROTATE THROUGH EACH OF OUR BUSINESS FUNCTIONS, COMPLETING CASE STUDIES AND PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT DOG TAG'S EVERYDAY OPERATIONS; (3) ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING: FELLOWS COMPLETE A CAPSTONE COURSE WHERE THEY EACH DEVELOP A BUSINESS IDEA, CULMINATING IN THE CREATION OF A BUSINESS PLAN, TWO-YEAR BUDGET, AND BUSINESS PITCH TO A PANEL OF PROFESSIONAL PARTNERS; (4) NETWORK AND COMMUNITY BUILDING: PARTNERS, EXPERTS, AND ALUMNI ARE INVITED IN TO DELIVER LEARNING LAB STYLE CONTENT, HELPING FELLOWS EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND CONNECTIONS; (5) WELLNESS: FELLOWS COMPLETE WEEKLY WELLNESS ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT SELF-DISCOVERY, LEARNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND OVERALL WELLBEING. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WEEKLY REFLECTION, JOURNALING, MEDITATION, AND MOVEMENT, IN ADDITION TO OUR FINDING YOUR VOICE PROGRAM, WHERE FELLOWS LEARN STORYTELLING AND PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND PRESENT A PERSONAL STORY IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM. DOG TAG FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMMING IS DELIVERED IN A HYBRID FORMAT, ENABLING MILITARY-CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS NATIONWIDE TO PARTICIPATE. FELLOWS PARTICIPATE IN A COMBINATION OF ONLINE LEARNING, AND IN-PERSON LEARNING IN WASHINGTON, DC.
  2. $710,944 spent. BAKERY PROGRAM: DOG TAG INC. (DOG TAG) (DOING BUSINESS AS DOG TAG BAKERY) WAS INCORPORATED IN 2011 UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. FELLOWS' BUSINESS COURSEWORK BUILDS A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE EXPLORATION AND SKILLS-BUILDING PROVIDED BY PRACTICAL ROTATIONS. WITH DOG TAG STAFF SERVING AS MENTORS AND TEACHERS, FELLOWS SPEND UP TO SIX HOURS PER WEEK IN HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ("ROTATIONS") THROUGHOUT THE OPERATIONS OF DOG TAG (INCLUDING OUR BAKERY.) ROTATIONS PROVIDE FELLOWS WITH FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE IN HOW A BUSINESS RUNS: GIVING THEM AN UNDERSTANDING OF BOTH THE DAILY TASKS AND OVERALL BIG PICTURE OF HOW THE BUSINESS FUNCTIONS. THIS INTENSIVE, EXPERIENTIAL ASPECT, WHERE FELLOWS ARE IMMERSED IN DOG TAG'S DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, IS WHAT SETS DOG TAG APART FROM OTHER TRANSITION PROGRAMS; FELLOWS DON'T JUST STUDY BUSINESS-THEY LIVE, WORK, AND EXPERIENCE BUSINESS FIRST-HAND. THE PHYSICAL SPACE OF THE BAKERY SERVES TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAM AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY. DOG TAG PARTNERS WITH OTHER VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES AS A HUB FOR LEARNING, MENTORSHIP, AND CONNECTION; ORGANIZATIONS WITH A COMMON MISSION OFTEN USE THE BAKERY AS A MEETING AND EVENT SPACE. EACH DAY WE WELCOME OUR NEIGHBORS, PARTNERS, AND CUSTOMERS TO SUPPORT OUR ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF A COFFEE OR COOKIE AT THE BAKERY AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR MISSION, OUR IMPACT, AND HOW TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS, MILITARY SPOUSES, AND CAREGIVERS.

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 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 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 January 2012.

    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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