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Dog Tag Buddies

EIN 47-3759502 · Shepherd, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DOG TAG BUDDIES PAIRS VETERANS WITH SERVICE DOGS, PUTTING THEM THROUGH A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH. TRAINERS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED AND GROUP INSTRUCTION TO VETERANS IN RURAL AND FRONTIER COMMUNITIES TO HELP BUILD LIFE-LONG SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND SOCIAL MOBILITY.

Income
$347,799
Spending
$728,097
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
11

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: 41 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 109% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 10 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $587,181 spent. DOG TAG BUDDIES OPERATES STATEWIDE WITH TRAINERS LOCATED ACROSS MONTANA, INCLUDING RURAL AND FRONTIER REGIONS, TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION. COVERED PROGRAM EXPENSES INCLUDE ADOPTION AND VETERINARY FEES, FOOD, TRAINING TREATS, AND NECESSARY SUPPLIES SUCH AS LEASHES, COLLARS, AND KENNELS. EACH VETERAN-DOG TEAM RECEIVES PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION ONE OR MORE HOURS PER WEEK FOR UP TO TWO YEARS, WITH CONTINUOUS EVALUATION AND MENTORSHIP TO ENSURE LONG-TERM SUCCESS. IN 2024, DOG TAG BUDDIES ADDED 25 NEW DOGS AND SERVED 42 ACTIVE VETERAN-DOG TEAMS. MORE THAN 1,200 HOURS OF INDIVIDUALIZED AND GROUP INSTRUCTION WERE PROVIDED, REPRESENTING IN-KIND SERVICES VALUED AT OVER $460,000. ADOPTION AND VETERINARY EXPENSES TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $19,417. DOG TAG BUDDIES REMAINS MONTANAS FIRST AND ONLY ASSISTANCE DOGS INTERNATIONAL (ADI)-ACCREDITED ORGANIZATION AND IS COMMITTED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SERVICE DOG TRAINING, CLIENT CARE, AND ANIMAL WELFARE.

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 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 2024.

    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.