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Canine Companions for Independence

EIN 94-2494324 · Santa Rosa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ENHANCES THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY PROVIDING EXPERTLY TRAINED SERVICE DOGS AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO ENSURE QUALITY PARTNERSHIPS, AT NO COST TO CLIENTS.

Income
$54.9 million
Spending
$40.4 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
33.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
406
Volunteers
4,275
Highest pay
$452,253, chief executive officer

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 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 (3)
  1. $16.4 million spent. TRAINING AND CLIENT SERVICES - CANINE COMPANIONS PLACED 547 WORKING DOGS IN 2024. OUR TRAINING CONSISTED OF IN-PERSON FOLLOW-UP VISITS WITH CLIENTS, TRAINING DOGS ON OUR CAMPUSES, AND TEACHING NUMEROUS TEAM TRAINING CLASSES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.OUR PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTORS SPEND SIX TO NINE MONTHS TEACHING THE DOG TO MASTER MORE THAN 40 TASKS BEFORE THE DOG CAN BE MATCHED WITH AN ADULT OR CHILD WHO HAS A DISABILITY, OR A PROFESSIONAL ASSISTING PEOPLE AT RISK. WE PROVIDE SERVICE DOGS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH MORE THAN 65 TYPES OF DISABILITIES, INCLUDING A WIDE RANGE OF PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, DEVELOPMENTAL, AND AUDITORY DISABILITIES.WE TRAIN SERVICE AND FACILITY DOGS TO BEST SERVE OUR CLIENTS. IN 2024, WE PLACED 379 SERVICE DOGS, WHICH INCLUDED 47 DOGS TRAINED TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE D/DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING TO ALERT TO SOUNDS, AND 50 DOGS PROVIDED TO VETERANS INCLUDING 34 DOGS TRAINED TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED TASKS FOR VETERANS WITH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD). IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDED 80 DOGS TO PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE UTILIZING THE DOG TO MEET CLIENTS' THERAPY GOALS AND SUPPORT CLIENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR WHO ARE AT RISK. WE ALSO PROVIDED 8 AGENCY TRANSFERS AND CERTIFIED 160 THERAPY DOG PLACEMENTS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1975, CANINE COMPANIONS HAS TRAINED AND PLACED 8,163 SERVICE DOGS AND CURRENTLY HAS OVER 2,764 ACTIVE GRADUATES.WE TAKE IMMENSE PRIDE IN OUR VETERANS' INITIATIVE. THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED AND SACRIFICED IN OUR MILITARY OFTEN COME BACK WITH INJURIES, SOME VISIBLE AND OTHERS NOT. AFTER RECEIVING THEIR SERVICE DOGS, OUR VETERAN GRADUATES REPORTED THE FOLLOWING: 7 OF 8 INCORPORATED THEIR SERVICE DOGS INTO TREATMENT PLANS AND THERAPIES; 1 OF 4 DECREASED MEDICATION; 9 OF 10 INCREASED THEIR SOCIAL LIFE; AND 3 OF 4 EXPERIENCED DECREASED SYMPTOMS OF PTSD. CANINE COMPANIONS HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A CUSTOMER SERVICE AND QUALITY CONTROL TOOL KNOWN AS THE "GRADUATE WORKSHOP". THESE WORKSHOPS PROVIDE OUR GRADUATES WITH ONE TO TWO-DAY FOLLOW-UP TRAININGS.
  2. $9.7 million spent. BREEDING AND PUPPY RAISING / VETERINARY - OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A PROVEN FORMULA FOR BREEDING, RAISING, AND TRAINING SERVICE DOGS. WE BREED LABRADOR RETRIEVERS, GOLDEN RETRIEVERS, AND A CROSS OF THE TWO TO BE SERVICE DOGS. DURING 2024, 152 VOLUNTEER BREEDER CARETAKERS CARED FOR OUR BREEDER DOGS AND NURTURED NEWBORN PUPPIES FOR EIGHT WEEKS. PUPPY RAISERS THEN RAISE THE DOGS FOR 16-18 MONTHS AS VOLUNTEERS, TEACHING THEM THEIR FIRST TWENTY TASKS. AT THE END OF 2024, WE HAD 1,314 ACTIVE, VOLUNTEER PUPPY RAISERS AND 1,123 ACTIVE PUPPIES. OUR TEAM OF VETERINARY AND CANINE EARLY CARE STAFF SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR BREEDER DOGS AND THE LITTERS THEY WHELP (939 PUPPIES IN 2024). THEY ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO OUR PUPPY RAISERS AND GRADUATES WITH CANINE HEALTH QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. WE ARE INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS RESEARCH PROJECTS LEADING UNIVERSITIES AND INDUSTRY RESEARCH GROUPS.TO MEET OUR AMBITIOUS GOALS LAID-OUT IN OUR MOST RECENT FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART CANINE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER THAT ALLOWS FOR EXPANSION OF OUR BREEDING CAPABILITIES AS WELL AS OUR VETERINARY AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS. THIS IS KEY TO OUR GOALS OF PROVIDING DOGS TO SERVE MORE CLIENTS, DECREASING THE TIME TO RECEIVE A SERVICE DOG, AND EXTENDING THE REACH OF OUR MISSION. KEY BENEFITS INCLUDE: THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF CARE FOR CANINE MOTHERS AND LITTERS; EXPANSION OF RESEARCH BENEFITING THE SERVICE DOG AND DISABILITY COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE; OPTIMAL HEALTHCARE FOR THE PUPPIES AND DOGS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY; AND THE ABILITY TO TRAIN NATIONWIDE VOLUNTEERS ON OUR HIGHEST STANDARD OF CARE AND SOCIALIZATION.
  3. $5.6 million spent. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND LOCAL PRESENCE - WE PROACTIVELY PROVIDE EDUCATION REGARDING SERVICE DOGS AND THE CHALLENGES FACED BY SERVICE DOG HANDLERS. OUR EFFORTS HAVE PRODUCED MANY ARTICLES IN NATIONAL AND LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, NEWSLETTERS, AND ONLINE. WE HAVE WORKED WITH NATIONAL AND LOCAL WEB, RADIO, AND TELEVISION BROADCASTS TO BRING AWARENESS OF OUR PROGRAM, REACHING OVER 350 MILLION PEOPLE.TO KEEP SUPPORTERS INFORMED OF NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL ACTIVITIES, WE DISTRIBUTE A TRI-ANNUAL PRINT NEWSLETTER, MONTHLY ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AND DIRECT MAIL PACKAGES THAT EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND PROVIDE PROGRAM UPDATES. ADDITIONALLY, CANINE COMPANIONS MAINTAINS AND REGULARLY UPDATES ACCOUNTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA INCLUDING FACEBOOK, X, LINKEDIN, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND YOUTUBE.

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 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 October 13, 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 December 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 February 1979.

    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 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.