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Dogs for the Deaf Inc

EIN 93-0681311 · Central Point, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROFESSIONALLY TRAIN DOGS TO HELP PEOPLE AND ENHANCE LIVES WHILE MAINTAINING A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO ALL DOGS WE RESCUE OR BREED AND THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$5.9 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
16.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
66
Volunteers
175
Highest pay
$209,060, president/ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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 June 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 (2)
  1. $3.9 million spent. INCORPORATED IN 1977, DOGS FOR BETTER LIVES (DBL) IS THE OLDEST HEARING DOG TRAINING CENTER IN THE UNITED STATES, AND AMONG ONE OF THE FIRST ASSISTANCE DOG ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD TO BE FULLY ACCREDITED BY ASSISTANCE DOGS INTERNATIONAL (ADI). DBL TRAINERS MUST COMPLETE AN IN-DEPTH THREE-YEAR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO BECOME CERTIFIED AS ASSISTANCE DOG TRAINERS. DBL IS UNIQUE IN THAT CERTIFIED TRAINERS BRING THE TRAINED ASSISTANCE DOGS TO THE CLIENTS' HOMES FOR PLACEMENT, ALLOWING FOR CUSTOMIZED ONE-TO-ONE CLIENT TRAINING AND SUPPORT. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION HAS ONE OF THE MOST THOROUGH FOLLOW-UP PROGRAMS IN THE ASSISTANCE DOG SECTOR.IN NOVEMBER 2017, THE NATIONAL NONPROFIT CHANGED ITS NAME FROM DOGS FOR THE DEAF TO DOGS FOR BETTER LIVES TO BETTER ENCOMPASS THE RANGE OF ASSISTANCE DOGS IT TRAINS AND PLACES, WHICH INCLUDES HEARING DOGS, AUTISM ASSISTANCE DOGS, FACILITY DOGS, AND CAREER CHANGE DOGS. DBL TRAINS SHELTER DOGS EVALUATED FOR APPROPRIATE TEMPERAMENT, CONFIDENCE, AND WORK ETHIC AND WITH PURPOSE-BRED DOGS WITHIN ITS OWN BREEDING PROGRAM AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH AFFILIATED SERVICE DOG ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, PARTICULARLY GUIDE DOG PROGRAMS. DOGS BEGIN EXTENSIVE TRAINING, WHICH CAN TAKE FOUR TO 6 MONTHS OR LONGER FOR EACH DOG. ONCE TRAINED, DOGS ARE CAREFULLY MATCHED WITH APPLICANTS FROM A WAITING LIST. CERTIFIED TRAINERS TAKE THE DOGS TO THE CLIENTS' HOMES TO TEACH THEM HOW TO MAINTAIN THE DOGS' TRAINING. AFTER PLACEMENT, CLIENTS ARE SUPPORTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE DOGS BY CONDUCTING ONGOING GUIDANCE, AFTERCARE, AND IN PERSON FOLLOW-UP VISITS. DBL DOES NOT REQUIRE FEES OR DEPOSITS THUS DOGS ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO THEIR CLIENTS.IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-25, DBL LAUNCHED TWO NEW PROGRAMS PUPPY RAISING PROGRAM IN COOPERATION WITH PRISON PET PARTNERSHIP AND THE WASHINGTON CORRECTIONS CENTER FOR WOMEN IN GIG HARBOR. THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP, PUPPIES WILL BE RAISED FOR OUR PROGRAM. IN THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM, INCARCERATED HANDLERS RAISE AND TRAIN PUPPIES WHO WILL ONE DAY WORK AS ASSISTANCE DOGS. STAFF TEACHES THE HANDLERS TO WORK WITH THE DOGS USING POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING TECHNIQUES AND GENERAL OBEDIENCE SKILLS THAT LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE ASSISTANCE DOG TRAINING AT ONE OF DBL'S TRAINING CAMPUSES. AND THE FROM SHELTER TO SERVICE DOG PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ATLANTA HUMANE SOCIETY IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. DBL WORKS WITH SHELTER STAFF AND FOSTER VOLUNTEERS TO IDENTIFY AND TRAIN SHELTER DOGS WHO MAY BE GOOD CANDIDATES FOR OUR ASSISTANCE DOG PROGRAM WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING MORE PEOPLE AND DOGS IN NEED. DBL MAINTAINED REGULAR CONTACT WITH AND PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR 166 EXISTING CLIENTS AND 78 WAITLIST CLIENTS. DBL RESCUED SIX DOGS FROM SHELTERS; FOUND HOMES FOR FOUR RETURNED SHELTER DOGS; BRED 43 PUPPIES; AND ACQUIRED 22 DOGS THROUGH NETWORKING WITH OTHER SERVICE DOG AGENCIES. THE ORGANIZATION PLACED A TOTAL OF 62 DOGS: FIVE AUTISM ASSISTANCE DOGS, 16 HEARING DOGS, 13 FACILITY DOGS, 22 CAREER CHANGE DOGS, ONE DBL DEMO DOG, FOUR SELECTED BREEDERS, AND ONE DOG WERE TRANSFERRED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL WORKING DOGS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. DBL'S PUBLIC EDUCATION IS PRIMARILY DONE THROUGH SHARING OF DIGITAL ONLINE MEDIA AND PRINTED MATERIALS, INCLUDING ITS MONTHLY ENEWSLETTER, QUARTER IMPACT REPORT, QUARTERLY MAGAZINE, CANINE LISTENER, AND ANNUAL REPORT. REGULARLY, THE ORGANIZATION PRESENTS ON CAMPUS, IN-PERSON, AND VIRTUALLY ONLINE TO SEVERAL DIVERSE AUDIENCES ACROSS THE NATION, DEMONSTRATING HOW THE DOGS ARE TRAINED TO HELP PEOPLE, NEED FOR PUPPY RAISERS AND BREEDER CARETAKERS FOR AN EVER-GROWING BREEDING PROGRAM, AND FURTHER NEED FOR REGIONAL VOLUNTEER LEADERS TO ADVOCATE FOR ITS NATIONAL PROGRAMS.DBL IS CONTINUING TO DEVELOP ITS VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS THROUGH THE LAUNCHING AND GROWTH OF ITS REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARDS (RAB) ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING IN CALIFORNIA, PACIFIC NORTHWEST (OR, WA), TEXAS, SOUTHEAST (GA AND FL), AND NORTHEAST (MA, NJ, NJ, AND VA) REGIONS. THE RABS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING DBL, THROUGH HELPING TO ADVOCATE FOR AND EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION, SHARE POWERFUL IMPACT, AND ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS, AMONG OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. AS A RESULT OF ITS OUTREACH AND CULTIVATION EFFORTS, DBL CONTINUES TO RECEIVE CONSISTENT INCOME FROM BEQUESTS, FOUNDATIONS, COMMUNITY/CLUB ORGANIZATIONS, ALONG WITH CURRENT DONORS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC PLACING THE ORGANIZATION IN THEIR ESTATE PLANS.DBL'S NATIONAL BOARD HAS CONTINUED TO GROW AND DIVERSIFY WITH 21 VOLUNTEER MEMBERS CURRENTLY, INCLUDING 18 REPRESENTATIVES OUTSIDE OF OREGON ACROSS 13 STATES. THE BOARD INCLUDES CLIENTS, VETERINARIANS, AND AN IMPRESSIVE DIVERSIFICATION OF BACKGROUNDS INCLUDING MARKETING, LAW, FINANCE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, MEDICINE, AND HUMAN RESOURCES. COMPANIES REPRESENTED, INCLUDE MICROSOFT, ALASKA AIRLINES, F5, BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM, LITHIA MOTORS, U.S. BANK, GOODRX, TRIMBLE, AND TOYOTA, AMONG OTHERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 2025.

    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 May 1977.

    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.