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American Veterans Service Dog Academy

EIN 46-5397186 · Lemont, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 5% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 8TH, 2021: AVSDA WAS FOUNDED FOR, AND HAS AS ITS CORE MISSION, THE REDUCTION OF SUICIDE NUMBERS AMONGST VETERANS DIAGNOSED WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS (PTS). WE STRIVE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL THROUGH OUR SERVICE DOG TRAINING PROGRAM WHICH PAIRS AND TRAINS VETERANS WITH THEIR DOGS TO BECOME WORKING TEAMS. OUR PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY PROFESSIONAL, KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND DEDICATED STAFF WHO ASSIST OUR VETERANS IN REACHING THEIR GOAL OF A BETTER, HAPPIER, MORE PRODUCTIVE LIFE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THEIR SERVICE DOG.

Income
$268,322
Spending
$254,625
Spent on programs
5%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$54,000, treasurer -

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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    5% 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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (2)
  1. $13,141 spent. PROVIDED TRAINING TO 16 VETERAN SERVICE DOG TEAMS AND FOUR GRADUATED. NEW APPLICANTS ARE BEING WELCOMED ON A ROLLING BASIS. CONDUCTED SERVICE DOG AWARENESS OUTREACH AND INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.
  2. AVSDA HAS CONTINUED PATNERSHIP WITH KANKAKEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND HAVE TAKEN OUR SERVICE DOG PROGRAM INTO THE COLLEGE. THE 2 YEAR ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM IN HUMAN-ANIMAL RELATIONSHIPS IS CURRENTLY ON HOLD.

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 September 2015.

    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.