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Nonprofiteer
← LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND.

Totals

Total revenue
$20,872,200
Total expenses
$20,964,492
Contributions and grants received
$20,428,465
Grants paid
$23,889
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$174,175
Other revenue
$269,560
Total assets, end of year
$24,077,983
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,734,056
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$22,343,927
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$15,885,217
Management and general expenses
$1,572,796
Fundraising expenses
$3,506,479
Program service expenses (Part III)
$15,885,217

Program services were 75.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $131,123

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $3,717,000

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $16,580,342

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $1,581,638

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $153,070 · excluded $153,070

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $1,392,568 · other assets $10,148

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $1,381,611 · other assets $0

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $10,957 · other assets $10,148

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $21,105 · excluded $21,105

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $315,190

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $131,123

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $152,125

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $163,065 · excluded $163,065

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $76,460

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $32,874

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $43,586 · unrelated business $43,586

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME

    total $62,909 · related or exempt $62,909

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $62,909

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $23,889 · program services $23,889

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $978,637 · program services $304,158 · management and general $429,657 · fundraising $244,822

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $10,363,802 · program services $8,612,330 · management and general $463,089 · fundraising $1,288,383

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $602,241 · program services $488,330 · management and general $45,722 · fundraising $68,189

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,469,330 · program services $1,237,742 · management and general $76,531 · fundraising $155,057

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $827,214 · program services $670,750 · management and general $62,802 · fundraising $93,662

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $73,466 · program services $25,778 · management and general $35,336 · fundraising $12,352

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $56,179 · management and general $56,179

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $18,317 · management and general $18,317

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $604,749 · program services $409,730 · management and general $66,683 · fundraising $128,336

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $40,659 · program services $22,495 · management and general $6,837 · fundraising $11,327

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $296,538 · program services $211,757 · management and general $15,626 · fundraising $69,155

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $872,668 · program services $705,466 · management and general $79,621 · fundraising $87,581

  • 17 · Travel

    total $528,812 · program services $458,522 · management and general $11,914 · fundraising $58,376

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,195,168 · program services $1,085,160 · management and general $78,174 · fundraising $31,834

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $316,246 · program services $260,176 · management and general $42,209 · fundraising $13,861

  • 24a · Other expenses: CLIENT AND CANINE EXPEN

    total $1,028,562 · program services $1,025,266 · management and general $1,994 · fundraising $1,302

  • 24b · Other expenses: DIRECT MAIL

    total $928,384 · program services $10,939 · fundraising $917,445

  • 24c · Other expenses: SERVICE FEES

    total $577,586 · program services $258,886 · management and general $67,746 · fundraising $250,954

  • 24d · Other expenses: LIONS CLUB EXPENSES

    total $147,686 · program services $73,843 · fundraising $73,843

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $14,359 · management and general $14,359

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $2,362,606 · end of year $2,620,417

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $487,282 · end of year $614,264

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $259,293 · end of year $182,000

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $148,018 · end of year $130,744

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $43,983 · end of year $48,891

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $655,551 · end of year $677,636

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $36,102,125

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $20,909,183

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $15,992,255 · end of year $15,192,942

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $2,945,187 · end of year $3,326,881

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,236,954 · end of year $1,284,208

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,663,714 · end of year $1,573,958

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $153,243 · end of year $160,098

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $17,758,545 · end of year $17,011,756

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,555,627 · end of year $5,332,171

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

EMPOWERING PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED WITH LIFELONG SKILLS FOR SAFE AND INDEPENDENT DAILY TRAVEL.

  • GUIDE DOG: SINCE 1939, LEADER DOG HAS BEEN HIGHLY RESPECTED FOR OUR INNOVATIVE GUIDE DOG PROGRAM. OUR FREE 21-DAY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM SERVES CLIENTS WHO ARE LEGALLY BLIND, 16 YEARS OLD AND UP, AND ABLE TO CARE FOR A DOG. TRAINING IS PERSONALIZED AND EACH CLIENT IS MATCHED WITH A DOG THAT FITS THEIR LIFESTYLE, PACE, PHYSICAL SIZE AND MORE. CLIENTS TRAIN WITH THEIR GUIDE DOG IN A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTS TO FIT BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS, INCLUDING URBAN, SUBURBAN AND RURAL LOCATIONS; COLLEGE CAMPUSES; STORES AND OTHER SETTINGS. THROUGH THE ADAPTIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, GUIDE DOGS ARE PROVIDED TO PEOPLE WITH HEARING LIMITATIONS, COGNITIVE ISSUES, OR OTHER PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS SUCH AS LOSS OF A LIMB.

    Expenses $12,807,628

  • VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY OUTREACH: VOLUNTEERS ARE INTEGRAL TO THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF LEADER DOG AND ALLOW US TO SERVE MORE CLIENTS EACH YEAR. VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE THEIR TIME AND SKILLS IN MANY AREAS INCLUDING ON-CAMPUS, AND THROUGH PUPPY RAISING AND HOSTING BREEDING STOCK DOGS. COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS CONDUCTED NATIONALLY WITH VOLUNTEERS ATTENDING CONFERENCES AND/OR GIVING PRESENTATIONS BEFORE VARIOUS GROUPS IN SCHOOL, CORPORATE OR COMMUNITY SETTINGS. THEY SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT GUIDE DOGS, ORIENTATION & MOBILITY, AND LEADER DOG OPERATIONS.

    Expenses $941,256 · Revenue $62,909

  • ORIENTATION & MOBILITY (O&M): THIS FREE FIVE-DAY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO TRAVEL SAFELY USING A WHITE CANE IN A MUCH SHORTER TIMEFRAME THAN TRADITIONAL O&M TRAINING. HAVING GOOD O&M SKILLS, INCLUDING KNOWING HOW TO MAINTAIN ORIENTATION WHILE TRAVELING, IS THE NECESSARY FIRST STEP TO BECOMING A SAFE AND INDEPENDENT TRAVELER. TRAINING IS PROVIDED ON A 1:1 CLIENT-TO-INSTRUCTOR RATIO AND IS PERSONALIZED TO EACH CLIENT'S NEEDS AND CAPABILITIES. TRAINING IS OPEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LEGALLY BLIND AND AT LEAST 16 YEARS OF AGE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY PLAN TO EVENTUALLY TRAIN WITH A GUIDE DOG.

    Expenses $2,112,444

  • SUPPORT THE MISSION OF LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND FOUNDATION

    Expenses $23,889 · Grants $23,889

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • John Reed

    CHAIR AS OF 11/12/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mark Guthrie

    SECRETARY THRU 11/12/24/VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Avril Rinn

    SECRETARY AS OF 11/12/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kim Gorman

    VICE CHAIR THRU 11/12/24/TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Michele Honomichl

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Anthony Costanzo

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Arun Anand

    TRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Brian Hock

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Daniel Spriet

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Diane Henderson

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Paul Edwards

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Franklin Carmona

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jackie Buchanan

    TRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jill Garvey

    TRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jill Gaus

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kathie Davis

    CHAIR THRU 11/12/2024/TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kurt Terrien

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Marc Wisniewski

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Margaret Dimond

    TRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Maria Kristic

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Marilyn Kelly

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mary Smith

    TRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Megan McCandlish

    TRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Steve Guarini

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Tom O'Masta

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Melissa L Weisse

    PRESIDENT AND CEO

    Total calculated
    $312,102
    From this org
    $290,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,102
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $290,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,602
    Filer's total
    $312,102
  • Danielle Landolt

    VICE PRESIDENT AND CIO

    Total calculated
    $231,853
    From this org
    $204,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,853
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $204,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,200
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,653
    Filer's total
    $231,853
  • Lorene Suidan

    VICE PRESIDENT AND CFO

    Total calculated
    $222,802
    From this org
    $198,900
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,902
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $198,900
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,945
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,957
    Filer's total
    $222,802
  • Melissa Aupperle

    CHIEF PHILANTHROPY/MKTG OFFICER 7-29-24

    Total calculated
    $166,174
    From this org
    $148,872
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,302
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $148,872
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,302
    Filer's total
    $166,174
  • David Smith DVM

    DIRECTOR OF CANINE HEALTH

    Total calculated
    $209,909
    From this org
    $198,011
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,898
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $198,011
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,570
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,328
    Filer's total
    $209,909
  • Gerette Kerby

    DIRECTOR OF CANINE OPERATIONS

    Total calculated
    $178,194
    From this org
    $156,702
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,492
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $156,702
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,835
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,657
    Filer's total
    $178,194
  • Kelly Wilson DVM

    ASST DIRECTOR OF CANINE HEALTH

    Total calculated
    $181,361
    From this org
    $156,620
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,741
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $156,620
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,805
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,936
    Filer's total
    $181,361
  • Chris Bearup

    DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES

    Total calculated
    $150,881
    From this org
    $129,674
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,207
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $129,674
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,484
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,723
    Filer's total
    $150,881
  • Kathryn Tuck

    DIRECTOR OF FOUNDATION GIVING

    Total calculated
    $133,965
    From this org
    $124,998
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,967
    Hours/week
    40
  • Susan Daniels

    FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO

    Total calculated
    $293,281
    From this org
    $288,203
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,078
    Hours/week
    0

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $97,983
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $190,220
    Deferred
    $1,718
    Nontaxable benefits
    $3,360
    Filer's total
    $293,281

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 4B
SUSAN M DANIELS, FORMER PRESIDENT/CEO, PARTICIPATED IN A 457(B) PLAN AND RECEIVED DISTRIBUTIONS OF $190,219.68 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 6/30/2025. MELISSA WEISSE AND DAVID SMITH ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A 457(B) PLAN AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY DISTRIBUTIONS FOR YEAR ENDED 6/30/2025.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
9 December 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202523469349300847

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