Freedom Service Dogs Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FREEDOM SERVICE DOGS TRANSFORMS LIVES BY PARTNERING PEOPLE WITH CUSTOM- TRAINED ASSISTANCE DOGS.
- Income
- $6.3 million
- Spending
- $6.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 8.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 78
- Volunteers
- 785
- Highest pay
- $200,677, president &
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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 87% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $4.1 million spent. DOG OPERATIONS: FROM OCT 2024-SEPT 2025, FSD PLACED 38 ASSISTANCE DOGS WITH CLIENTS INCLUDING 28 SERVICE DOGS, 3 FACILITY DOGS WITH FIRST RESPONDERS, AND 7 PROFESSIONAL THERAPY DOGS. IN ADDITION, 21 SKILLED COMPANION DOGS WERE PLACED IN THE HOME OF A VETERAN, FIRST RESPONDER, ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY MEMBER, OR GOLD STAR FAMILY. THIS YEAR, 125 PUPPIES WERE BORN AT FSD AND BEGAN THE JOURNEY TO BECOME A LIFE-CHANGING ASSISTANCE DOG. CAREFULLY MANAGING THE GENETICS, TEMPERAMENT, HEALTH CARE, TRAINING AND SOCIALIZATION OF THE SERVICE DOG CANDIDATES HAS ENABLED FSD TO GRADUATE MORE SUCCESSFUL SERVICE DOGS IN A TIMELIER MANNER.
- $934,560 spent. EDUCATION & CLIENT RELATIONS: FSD PROVIDED LIFETIME SUPPORT, INCLUDING FOLLOW-UP TRAINING AND RECERTIFICATION, TO 171 EXISTING TEAMS TO ENSURE THAT GRADUATES AND THEIR ASSISTANCE DOGS CONTINUE TO HAVE A POSITIVE PARTNERSHIP BY TEACHING DOGS NEW TASKS, BRUSHING UP ON SKILLS, AND ADDRESSING ANY CHANGING NEEDS OF THE HANDLER. FURTHERMORE, FSD HAS A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING WORKING WITH SCHOOLS, CORPORATIONS, VOLUNTEERS, AND THE COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE ABOUT ASSISTANCE DOGS AND THE MISSION AND IMPACT OF FSD.
- IN 2025, FREEDOM SERVICE DOGS PLACED 59 DOGS WHERE THEY CAN HAVE THE MOST IMPACT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES. -- 28 FSD SERVICE DOGS WERE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO THE FOLLOWING GRADUATES, HELPING THEM TO EXPERIENCE GREATER INDEPENDENCE, SELF-CONFIDENCE, HAPPINESS, AND HOPE: 17 VETERANS, 7 PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY CHALLENGES, AND 4 CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. -- 7 PROFESSIONAL THERAPY DOGS WERE PLACED WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND 3 FACILITY DOGS WERE PLACED WITH FIRST RESPONDERS WHERE THEY WORK ALONGSIDE THEIR HANDLER TO PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT IN PLACES LIKE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, FIRE STATIONS, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, AND MORE. -- 21 FSD SKILLED COMPANION DOGS WERE PLACED WITH VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS, ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS, AND GOLD STAR FAMILIES WHERE THEY PROVIDE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, COMFORT, AND SUPPORT. THESE ARE DOGS THAT WERE NOT QUALIFIED TO BECOME FSD SERVICE DOGS, BUT WERE QUALIFIED TO BE LOVING COMPANIONS. DURING THIS PERIOD, 125 PURPOSE-BRED PUPPIES WERE BORN AT FSD WITH THE HOPE OF ONE DAY BECOMING A SERVICE DOG FOR A CLIENT IN NEED. CAREFULLY MANAGING THE GENETICS, TEMPERAMENT, HEALTH CARE, AND EARLY TRAINING AND SOCIALIZATION OF THE SERVICE DOG CANDIDATES ENABLES FSD TO GRADUATE MORE SUCCESSFUL SERVICE DOGS IN A TIMELIER MANNER. 785 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS GAVE FREELY OF THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO HELP IN ALL FACETS OF OPERATIONS AT FSD INCLUDING 146 VOLUNTEER PUPPY RAISERS PROVIDING ENDLESS HOURS OF SOCIALIZATION, TRAINING, AND ROUNDTHE- CLOCK CARE. VOLUNTEERS AT OUR FACILITY ASSISTED WITH DOG CARE, DOG TRAINING, DOG SOCIALIZATION, PUBLIC EDUCATION, ADMINISTRATION, EVENT SUPPORT, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND MORE. IN ADDITION TO PLACING 38 TEAMS IN 2025, FSD PROVIDED LIFETIME SUPPORT, INCLUDING FOLLOW-UP TRAINING AND RECERTIFICATION, TO 171 EXISTING TEAMS TO ENSURE THAT GRADUATES AND THEIR ASSISTANCE DOGS CONTINUE TO HAVE A POSITIVE PARTNERSHIP BY TEACHING DOGS NEW TASKS, BRUSHING UP ON SKILLS, AND ADDRESSING ANY CHANGING NEEDS OF THE HANDLER. EACH OF OUR SERVICE DOGS, PROFESSIONAL THERAPY DOGS, AND SKILLED COMPANION DOGS IS PLACED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL OR SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT. AT FREEDOM SERVICE DOGS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PUPPIES WITH A PURPOSE ARE FAR MORE THAN HIGHLY-TRAINED ASSISTANCE DOGS; FOR THOSE WE SERVE, THEY ARE EVERYDAY GAME CHANGERS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.