Operation Freedom Paws
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Operation Freedom Paws empowers veterans and individuals with disabilities to restore their freedom to live life.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 8.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 66
- Volunteers
- 230
- Highest pay
- $99,344, president & ed
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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 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
0 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 (2)
- $1.4 million spent. SERVICE DOG PROGRAM - OPERATION FREEDOM PAWS (OFP) PROVIDES SERVICES AT NO COST TO DISABLED (VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS, KIDS AND NONVETERANS). THE PROGRAM IS A MINIMUM OF 48 WEEKS. IT INCLUDES PROVIDING A SERVICE DOG, TRAINING, VETERINARY CARE, NECESSARY EQUIPMENT, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING FOR THE CLIENT AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY OUTINGS, GROUP AND PEER TO PEER COUNSELING. ALL TRAINING IS FOCUSED ON TRAINING THE CLIENT TO TRAIN THE SERVICE DOG FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS NEEDS. IN 2025 SUPPORTED 602 CLIENTS, 31 OF WHICH WERE NEW PARTICIPANTS, AND CONTINUED TO HAVE AN ACTIVE TRAINING GROUP OF 38. OFP ALSO PROVIDED 7 THERAPY DOGS IN TRAINING TO 3 DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, TO REDUCE AND PREVENT SUICIDE.
- $231,177 spent. KENNEL PROGRAM - OPERATION FREEDOM PAWS (OFP) OPERATES A 24/7 KENNEL. OUR DOGS COME FROM SHELTERS AND RESCUES THAT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THE OFP SERVICE DOG PROGRAM, HOUSES THEM AT THE KENNEL AND FUNDS ALL THEIR MEDICAL CARE UNTIL MATCHED AND SENT HOME WITH THE CLIENT. TRAINERS AND KENNEL STAFF WORK ON BASIC TRAINING, THEN CLIENTS TAKE OVER FOR BEGINING, INTERMEDIATE, AND ADVANCED TRAINING FOLLOWED BY SERVICE DOG TRAINING. IN ADDITION TO DOGS IN TRAINING, OFP OFFERS DAYCARE AND BOARDING AT A NO COST OR REDUCED COST TO FIRST RESPONDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT K9S AND OFP CLIENTS WHO NEED MEDICAL SERVICES WHERE IT IS UNSAFE TO TAKE THE DOGS WITH THEM. OFP ALSO OFFERS DAYCARE AND BOARDING SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC. THE KENNEL FACILITY IS ALSO USED FOR TRAINING AND A SAFE PLACE FOR CLIENTS TO COME WHEN IN CRISIS. IT ALSO OPERATES AS A 24-HOUR HOTLINE FOR ALL OFP CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
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 September 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.