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Golden Opportunities for Independence

EIN 47-2354183 · Walpole, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER OUR CLIENTS TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, UNENCUMBERED BY THE CHALLANGES OF DAILY LIVING ASSOCIATED WITH MEDICAL DISABILITIES. WE MATCH EACH CLIENT WITH A SERVICE DOG THAT MEETS THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. IT IS OUR GOAL TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH THE TIME NEEDED FOR THE RECIPIENT TO TAKE THEIR SERVICE DOG INTO THEIR LIVES AND PROVIDE TRAINING SERVICES FOR THE LIFE OF THE DOG.

Income
$414,268
Spending
$435,960
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
14
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$61,765, coo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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, 2024, 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. $322,228 spent. FOR OVER 25 YEARS, OUR FOUNDER HAS DEVELOPED A PROVEN SYSTEM FOR BREEDING, RAISING, AND TRAINING SERVICE DOGS SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEER BREEDER CARETAKERS NURTURE OUR BREEDING DOGS AND CARE FOR NEWBORN PUPPIES FOR THE FIRST EIGHT WEEKS OF THEIR LIVES. FOLLOWING THIS, VOLUNTEER PUPPY RAISERS TAKE ON THE VITAL ROLE OF SOCIALIZING AND PROVIDING BASIC OBEDIENCE TRAINING TO OUR GOFI PUPPIES. EACH PUPPY RECEIVES PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AT OUR FACILITY, WITH EVERY HOUR DEDICATED TO THEIR CARE CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR GROWTH AS FUTURE ASSISTANCE DOGS. OUR PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINERS WORK INTENSIVELY WITH EACH DOG FOR UP TO 22 MONTHS, TEACHING THEM TO MASTER ESSENTIAL TASKS LIKE PICKING UP DROPPED ITEMS, OPENING DOORS, AND OPERATING LIGHTS TO AID INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE BRED AND TRAINED MORE THAN 100 DOGS THROUGH THIS SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. SKILLED COMPANIONS INCREASE INDEPENDENCE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, WITH SUPPORT FROM A FACILITATOR, USUALLY A PARENT OR CAREGIVER. WORKING DOGS COLLABORATE WITH PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE CLIENTS, SCHOOL CHILDREN, OR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN SETTINGS SUCH AS VISITATION, EDUCATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND HEALTHCARE. WE INVOLVE OUR RECIPIENTS EARLY ON, FOSTERING A BOND BETWEEN THEM AND THEIR FUTURE ASSISTANCE DOG AS THEY PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING. MATCHING RECIPIENTS WITH CANINES BEGINS WHEN THE PUPPIES ARE JUST 8 WEEKS OLD, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL COMPANIONSHIP ALONG WITH THE SUPPORT OF MENTORS, TRAINERS, AND A CARING COMMUNITY. ALIGNED WITH THE GOALS IN OUR LATEST STRATEGIC PLAN, WE ARE PLANNING TO BREAK GROUND ON A NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART TRAINING AND WELLNESS CENTER. THIS FACILITY WILL ENABLE THE EXPANSION OF OUR BREEDING PROGRAM AND RESEARCH INITIATIVES, ENSURING WE PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY, EXPERTLY TRAINED DOGS TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS. OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCE DOG (CRD) PROGRAM HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE SUCCESS, PROVIDING INVALUABLE SUPPORT TO LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS AS THEY FACE A RISING NUMBER OF CALLS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS IN EMOTIONAL DISTRESS. OUR CRDS OFFER A COMPASSIONATE APPROACH, HELPING TO CALM PEOPLE EXPERIENCING PANIC OR HEIGHTENED STATES, WHICH IN TURN ACCELERATES THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT ASSISTANCE FROM OFFICERS. THIS APPROACH HAS NOT ONLY REDUCED THE NEED FOR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS BUT HAS ALSO STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY BONDS. NEARLY 30 DOGS HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THIS ROLE, WITH EVERY PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENT AFFIRMING IT AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL DECISIONS THEY HAVE MADE. TO FULFILL OUR MISSION, WE PRIORITIZE BREEDING DOGS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY. OUR PUPPIES ARE CARED FOR EXCLUSIVELY BY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHO REMAIN WITH THEM CONSTANTLY DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS AND FOR MOST OF EACH DAY THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING SIX WEEKS, PREPARING THEM FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THEIR LIVES. FOR OVER 25 YEARS, OUR FOUNDER HAS DEVELOPED A PROVEN SYSTEM FOR BREEDING, RAISING, AND TRAINING SERVICE DOGS SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEER BREEDER CARETAKERS NURTURE OUR BREEDING DOGS AND CARE FOR NEWBORN PUPPIES FOR THE FIRST EIGHT WEEKS OF THEIR LIVES. FOLLOWING THIS, VOLUNTEER PUPPY RAISERS TAKE ON THE VITAL ROLE OF SOCIALIZING AND PROVIDING BASIC OBEDIENCE TRAINING TO OUR GOFI PUPPIES. EACH PUPPY RECEIVES PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AT OUR FACILITY, WITH EVERY HOUR DEDICATED TO THEIR CARE CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR GROWTH AS FUTURE ASSISTANCE DOGS. OUR PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINERS WORK INTENSIVELY WITH EACH DOG FOR UP TO 22 MONTHS, TEACHING THEM TO MASTER ESSENTIAL TASKS LIKE PICKING UP DROPPED ITEMS, OPENING DOORS, AND OPERATING LIGHTS TO AID INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE BRED AND TRAINED MORE THAN 100 DOGS THROUGH THIS SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. SKILLED COMPANIONS INCREASE INDEPENDENCE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, WITH SUPPORT FROM A FACILITATOR, USUALLY A PARENT OR CAREGIVER. WORKING DOGS COLLABORATE WITH PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE CLIENTS, SCHOOL CHILDREN, OR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN SETTINGS SUCH AS VISITATION, EDUCATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND HEALTHCARE. WE INVOLVE OUR RECIPIENTS EARLY ON, FOSTERING A BOND BETWEEN THEM AND THEIR FUTURE ASSISTANCE DOG AS THEY PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING. MATCHING RECIPIENTS WITH CANINES BEGINS WHEN THE PUPPIES ARE JUST 8 WEEKS OLD, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL COMPANIONSHIP ALONG WITH THE SUPPORT OF MENTORS, TRAINERS, AND A CARING COMMUNITY. ALIGNED WITH THE GOALS IN OUR LATEST STRATEGIC PLAN, WE ARE PLANNING TO BREAK GROUND ON A NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART TRAINING AND WELLNESS CENTER. THIS FACILITY WILL ENABLE THE EXPANSION OF OUR BREEDING PROGRAM AND RESEARCH INITIATIVES, ENSURING WE PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY, EXPERTLY TRAINED DOGS TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS. OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCE DOG (CRD) PROGRAM HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE SUCCESS, PROVIDING INVALUABLE SUPPORT TO LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS AS THEY FACE A RISING NUMBER OF CALLS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS IN EMOTIONAL DISTRESS. OUR CRDS OFFER A COMPASSIONATE APPROACH, HELPING TO CALM PEOPLE EXPERIENCING PANIC OR HEIGHTENED STATES, WHICH IN TURN ACCELERATES THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT ASSISTANCE FROM OFFICERS. THIS APPROACH HAS NOT ONLY REDUCED THE NEED FOR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS BUT HAS ALSO STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY BONDS. NEARLY 30 DOGS HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THIS ROLE, WITH EVERY PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENT AFFIRMING IT AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL DECISIONS THEY HAVE MADE. TO FULFILL OUR MISSION, WE PRIORITIZE BREEDING DOGS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY. OUR PUPPIES ARE CARED FOR EXCLUSIVELY BY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHO REMAIN WITH THEM CONSTANTLY DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS AND FOR MOST OF EACH DAY THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING SIX WEEKS, PREPARING THEM FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THEIR LIVES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 June 2016.

    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 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.