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National Disaster Search Dog Foundation Inc

EIN 77-0412509 · Santa Paula, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN DISASTER RESPONSE IN AMERICA BY RESCUING AND RECUITING DOGS AND PARTNERING THEM WITH FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS TO FIND PEOPLE BURIED ALIVE IN THE WRECKAGE OF DISASTERS.

Income
$6.9 million
Spending
$7.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
18.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
48
Volunteers
64
Highest pay
$166,322, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 September 30, 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 (3)
  1. $3.0 million spent. CANINE RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING:THE SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION (SDF) ENGAGES HUNDREDS OF SHELTERS AND RESCUE GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO IDENTIFY AND RECRUIT HIGH-DRIVE DOGS FOR DISASTER SEARCH WORK. FOLLOWING MEDICAL SCREENINGS AND BEHAVIORAL EVALUATIONS, PROMISING CANINE RECRUITS WILL TRAIN DAILY AT OUR NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER AND TYPICALLY TAKE 10 TO 12 MONTHS TO MASTER THE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR DISASTER SEARCH, WHICH INCLUDE AGILITY, DIRECTION AND CONTROL, AND LOCATING AND ALERTING FOR VICTIMS HIDDEN BENEATH RUBBLE AND DEBRIS.
  2. $1.6 million spent. SEARCH TEAM TRAINING AND SUPPORT:SDF WORKS CLOSELY WITH TASK FORCES TO MEET THEIR REQUESTS FOR NEW CANINE DISASTER SEARCH TEAMS AND TO SUPPORT EXISTING TEAMS (PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE BY SDF). WHEN SEARCH DOGS REACH GRADUATION, SDF PAIRS THEM WITH FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN TRAINED BY SDF DURING A SIX-MONTH HANDLER TRAINING PROGRAM. ONCE PAIRED, ALL SDF TEAMS RECEIVE ADVANCED TRAINING AND COMPREHENSIVE VETERINARY CARE THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREERS, TO ENSURE THEY ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATION FOR DEPLOYMENT. THROUGH OUR SEARCH TEAM GRANTS, SDF ALSO PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SDF AND NON-SDF TEAMS FOR EQUIPMENT, OTHER COSTS RELATED TO TRAINING, AND FOR VETERINARY CARE OF NON-SDF DOGS TO HELP THEM REMAIN HEALTHY, WELL-EQUIPPED, AND READY TO RESPOND WHEN DISASTERS STRIKE. OUR 125-ACRE CAMPUS FEATURES UNIQUE CANINE SEARCH FACILITIES AND DISASTER SIMULATION TRAINING PROPS THAT ARE ALSO MADE AVAILABLE, FREE OF CHARGE, TO OTHER FIRST-RESPONSE GROUPS, BENEFITING HUNDREDS OF WORKING DOG TEAMS EACH YEAR.
  3. $1.3 million spent. CANINE LIFETIME PLACEMENT:SDF MAKES A LIFETIME COMMITMENT TO EVERY DOG RECRUITED. ONCE RESCUED, THEY NEVER NEED TO BE RESCUED AGAIN. DOGS WHO CANNOT BECOME DISASTER SEARCH DOGS ARE CAREFULLY MATCHED AND PLACED IN ALTERNATIVE WORKING CAREERS OR ACTIVE FAMILY HOMES THAT ARE BETTER SUITED TO THEIR PERSONALITIES AND NEEDS. SDF KEEPS IN TOUCH AND ACTS AS A DOG'S ADVOCATE FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIFE TO ENSURE EACH DOG RECEIVES PROPER CARE IN A HAPPY AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, AND SDF WILL WELCOME A DOG BACK INTO OUR IMMEDIATE CARE TO BE RE-HOMED IF NEEDED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 November 6, 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 September 2025.

    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 November 1996.

    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 November 4, 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.