Mk9s Service Dogs
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MK9s Service Dogs' mission is to provide highly trained service dogs to maximize the independence and quality of life of veterans with physical and/or mental health disabilities at no cost to the veteran.
- Income
- $87,198
- Spending
- $40,336
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 39
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
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $32,900 spent. Completed training and placed one service dog with her veteran. Lilly now resides with her veteran and attended and participated in weekly training sessions to further solidify the veteran/service dog bond. Facility Dog Dez continues weekly visits to the Naples Italy Naval Hospital and USO air terminal. Dez is also part of the American Red Cross PAWS program. Continued training of two service dogs in training with their respective veterans. Acquired and began training with a new service dog in training in March. MK9s Service Dogs continues to work primarily with veterans in Virginia, however, we expanded our geographic area to work with veterans in Rhode Island, West Virginia and Tennessee. We also are giving support to our veterans stationed overseas in the UK and Italy with their service and facility dogs. We continue to have a strong partnership with Mercy Medical flights, and they have supported transportation of our West Virginia and Tennessee veterans to their trainings this year with their service dog and service dog in training and transported our newest service dog in training from North Carolina to Virginia in March.
- Outreach is a critical component to MK9s Service Dogs' continued success. Lead trainer is co-chair of Northern Virginia Collaborative which works with military members, veterans and organizations that support these communities. Several MK9s Service Dogs' volunteers participated in outreach events this year. The Veterans Curation Program Open House and Resource Fair in Arlington, Virginia had over 100 participants and attendees in which two of our Service Dogs in Training attended. The volunteers presented information and answered questions about utilizing a service dog. Our retired Service Dog and his handler participated in a Veteran Outreach program in MD this year. Mrs. Raley (handler) gave a presentation about service dogs and their impact on veterans' mental health. Over 75 people attended her presentation. MK9s continued participating in a monthly program at a local restaurant to educate individuals. During this program approximately 100 individuals were engaged. Several MK9s Service Dog volunteers and Service Dogs in Training participated in the Walter Reed Hospital Stress Down event in the summer which led to monthly visits to Walter Reed Hospital to provide health breaks for the students in the practical nurse program. Approximately 150 nursing students and instructors were engaged in this five month program.
- Active engagement with airport staff in VA to prepare security, airport, and airline personnel for interactions with service dogs as well as preparing service dogs in training for air travel. Estimated to impact greater than 75 individuals in 2025.
- $5,000 spent. As a partner organization with Project2Heal, MK9s Service Dogs donated five thousand dollars to support their mission of providing service dogs in training to nonprofits who work with veterans and children with autism. MK9s Service Dogs has been the recipient of eight service dogs in training from Project2Heal.
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
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 December 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 June 2019.
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.