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Canine Inspired Change

EIN 46-0972575 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CICS MISSION IS TO WORK WITH THERAPY DOGS AND THEIR PEOPLE TO HELP PROMOTE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS TO ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AND, THEREFORE, THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. CIC DEVELOPS AND LEADS CUSTOM COURSES, FUSING DOG TRAINING AND THERAPY TO HELP EMPOWER AND NURTURE STUDENTS IN A FUN AND NON-THREATENING WAY.

Income
$528,165
Spending
$484,030
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
12.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
22
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$78,000, 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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. $338,338 spent. CANINE INSPIRED CHANGE (CIC) FACILITATED APPROXIMATELY 450 SMALL-GROUP THERAPY DOG SESSIONS FOCUSED ON CONNECTION, HEALING, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING. THESE SESSIONS WERE HELD IN SCHOOLS AND VARIOUS STATE, COUNTY, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ACCROSS THE TWIN CITIES, POSITIVELY IMPACTING OVER 515 PARTICIPANTS AND A GREAT NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS. PROGRAMMING IN 2025 IMPACTED BUT WAS NOT LIMITED TO YOUTH IN REGULAR EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, YOUTH IN A DAY AND RESIDENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, AND INCARDERATED YOUTH AND ADULTS. CIC SMALL GROUP THERAPY DOG PROGRAMMING CONTINUED TO GROW IN 2025 TO INCLUDE WORK WITH YOUTH IN A SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY PROGRAM, BUILDING ON MANY PREVIOUS YEARS OF WORK WITH ADULTS IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY PROGRAMS. CIC CONTINUED TO EMPLOY WORK-BASED LEARNERS TO SUPPORT TRAINING CLASSES, PROGRAMING, AND GENERAL OPERATIONS AND CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS DOG TRAINING OFFERINGS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. CIC CONTINUED TO OFFER YOUTH CAMP PROGRAMMING AND PUBLIC OFFERINGS AT ITS COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER IN ST. PAUL, MN, AND CICS TRAINED THERAPY DOG TEAMS TOOK PART IN NUMEROUS COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.