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Nonprofiteer
← CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE.

Totals

Total revenue
$51,415,601
Total expenses
$48,602,224
Contributions and grants received
$48,377,835
Grants paid
$28,923
Program service revenue
$225,522
Investment income
$2,757,465
Other revenue
$54,779
Total assets, end of year
$231,852,125
Total liabilities, end of year
$4,898,989
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$226,953,136
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$37,908,664
Management and general expenses
$3,351,751
Fundraising expenses
$7,341,809
Program service expenses (Part III)
$37,908,664

Program services were 78.0% 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

    $5,798,422

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $121,359

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $42,458,054

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $4,194,379

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ADOPTION FEES

    total $225,522 · related or exempt $225,522

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $2,262,056 · excluded $2,262,056

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $12,601 · excluded $12,601

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $20,350

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $20,350

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $20,350 · excluded $20,350

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $12,393,004 · other assets $1,200

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

    securities $11,887,234 · other assets $11,561

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $505,770 · other assets -$10,361

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $495,409 · excluded $495,409

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $811,525

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

    $5,798,422

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $898,649

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$87,124 · excluded -$87,124

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $118,021

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $101,829

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $16,192 · related or exempt $16,192

  • 11a · Other revenue: CREDIT CARD REWARDS

    total $40,275 · excluded $40,275

  • 11b · Other revenue: LEASE REVENUE

    total $31,857 · excluded $31,857

  • 11c · Other revenue: REBATES

    total $9,584 · excluded $9,584

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $11,044 · excluded $11,044

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $92,760

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $28,923 · program services $28,923

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,913,892 · program services $995,153 · management and general $676,868 · fundraising $241,871

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $20,910,881 · program services $16,236,362 · management and general $926,589 · fundraising $3,747,930

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $914,285 · program services $717,779 · management and general $30,009 · fundraising $166,497

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $4,407,718 · program services $3,439,665 · management and general $185,136 · fundraising $782,917

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,710,226 · program services $1,310,918 · management and general $95,301 · fundraising $304,007

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $213,734 · program services $165,179 · management and general $20,546 · fundraising $28,009

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $125,843 · management and general $125,843

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $539,216 · management and general $539,216

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,849,328 · program services $1,526,461 · management and general $64,024 · fundraising $258,843

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $2,797,428 · program services $2,774,071 · management and general $23,299 · fundraising $58

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $1,124,709 · program services $731,612 · management and general $27,622 · fundraising $365,475

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $971,286 · program services $750,634 · management and general $93,367 · fundraising $127,285

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $2,394,615 · program services $2,102,765 · management and general $13,106 · fundraising $278,744

  • 17 · Travel

    total $729,674 · program services $413,105 · management and general $94,088 · fundraising $222,481

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $591,784 · program services $335,038 · management and general $76,308 · fundraising $180,438

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $3,479,158 · program services $2,973,216 · management and general $100,822 · fundraising $405,120

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $651,009 · program services $524,228 · management and general $25,002 · fundraising $101,779

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM SUPPLIES/DOG FO

    total $1,711,453 · program services $1,711,453

  • 24b · Other expenses: PRINTING & PUBLICATIONS

    total $450,472 · program services $445,288 · management and general $888 · fundraising $4,296

  • 24c · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT RENTAL/MAINTE

    total $402,297 · program services $333,447 · management and general $12,257 · fundraising $56,593

  • 24d · Other expenses: DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $51,592 · program services $23,435 · management and general $22,039 · fundraising $6,118

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $632,701 · program services $369,932 · management and general $199,421 · fundraising $63,348

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $26,502,689 · end of year $21,642,094

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $616,906 · end of year $668,801

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $2,547,929 · end of year $978,598

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $1,015,730 · end of year $1,628,430

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $578,307 · end of year $995,268

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

    $88,525,750

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

    $26,494,764

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $63,084,186 · end of year $62,030,986

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $58,176,616 · end of year $71,373,871

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $57,950,551 · end of year $70,273,630

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $2,077,876 · end of year $2,260,447

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $5,083,455 · end of year $3,550,314

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,549,479 · end of year $1,348,675

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $176,158,532 · end of year $193,553,321

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $29,759,324 · end of year $33,399,815

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

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.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO PROVIDE HIGHLY TRAINED SERVICE DOGS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AT NO COST.

  • TRAINING AND CLIENT SERVICES - CANINE COMPANIONS PLACED 603 WORKING DOGS IN 2025. 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 2025, WE PLACED 380 SERVICE DOGS, WHICH INCLUDED 44 DOGS TRAINED TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE D/DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING TO ALERT TO SOUNDS. 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. IN 2025 WE PROVIDED 46 DOGS TO VETERANS INCLUDING 41 DOGS TRAINED TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED TASKS FOR VETERANS WITH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD). IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDED 72 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 9 AGENCY TRANSFERS AND CERTIFIED 214 THERAPY DOG PLACEMENTS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1975, CANINE COMPANIONS HAS TRAINED AND PLACED 8,543 SERVICE DOGS AND CURRENTLY HAS OVER 2,832 ACTIVE GRADUATES. OUR GRADUATES REPORTED POSITIVE INCREASES IN SEVERAL ASPECTS OF LIFE SATISFACTION AND MENTAL HEALTH, AFTER RECEIVING A DOG, INCLUDING: HAPPINESS SCORES +1.3 POINTS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT +1.4 POINTS, SENSE OF CONNECTION +1.5 POINTS, AND LIFE SATISFACTION +1.2 POINTS. A HALLMARK OF THE CANINE COMPANIONS PROGRAM IS THE LIFETIME SUPPORT OF OUR DOGS. 96% OF OUR CLIENTS REPORT THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED FROM OUR ORGANIZATION. DURING 2025, CANINE COMPANIONS STAFF PERFORMED 1,560 IN-PERSON FOLLOW-UP VISITS TO OUR SERVICE AND FACILITY DOG CLIENTS.

    Expenses $18,426,142 · Revenue $225,522

  • 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 CROSSES OF THE TWO TO BE SERVICE DOGS. VOLUNTEER BREEDER CARETAKERS CARE FOR OUR BREEDER DOGS AND NURTURE NEWBORN PUPPIES FOR EIGHT WEEKS. VOLUNTEER PUPPY RAISERS THEN RAISE THE DOGS UNTIL THEY ARE 16-18 MONTHS OF AGE, TEACHING THEM THEIR FIRST TWENTY TASKS. AT THE END OF 2025, WE HAD 1,256 ACTIVE, VOLUNTEER PUPPY RAISERS AND 1,104 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 (960 LIVE PUPPIES IN 2025). CANINE COMPANIONS VETERINARIANS ALSO PROVIDE CONSULTATION SUPPORT TO OUR PUPPY RAISERS AND GRADUATES WITH CANINE HEALTH QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. WE ARE INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS RESEARCH PROJECTS WITH LEADING UNIVERSITY AND INDUSTRY RESEARCH GROUPS.

    Expenses $11,332,052 · Grants $28,923

  • PUBLIC INFORMATION AND LOCAL PRESENCE - WE PROACTIVELY PROVIDE EDUCATION REGARDING SERVICE DOGS, DISABILITY AND SERVICE DOG ETIQUETTE, AND THE CHALLENGES FACED BY SERVICE DOG HANDLERS IN PUBLIC PLACES. 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, WITH A REACH OF OVER 13 BILLION. 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 HAS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AVAILABLE FOR BROADCAST AND RADIO MEDIA OUTLETS AND MAINTAINS AND REGULARLY UPDATES ACCOUNTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA INCLUDING FACEBOOK, X, LINKEDIN, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND YOUTUBE.

    Expenses $8,150,470 · Revenue $16,192

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • PAIGE MAZZONI

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $481,674
    From this org
    $414,936
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $66,738
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $414,936
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $17,769
    Nontaxable benefits
    $48,969
    Filer's total
    $481,674

  • DAWN GATLEY

    CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $271,923
    From this org
    $230,964
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,959
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $230,964
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,054
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,905
    Filer's total
    $271,923

  • BARBARA BARROW

    CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $241,871
    From this org
    $219,644
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,227
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $219,644
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,531
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,696
    Filer's total
    $241,871

  • JEANINE KONOPELSKI

    CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $240,230
    From this org
    $201,108
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,122
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $201,108
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $12,217
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,905
    Filer's total
    $240,230

  • MELINDA SOWERS

    CHIEF TRAINING & CS OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $227,107
    From this org
    $199,800
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,307
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $199,800
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $11,611
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,696
    Filer's total
    $227,107

  • BRENDA S KENNEDY DVM MS

    CHIEF VETERINARY & RESEARCH OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $226,616
    From this org
    $200,914
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,702
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $200,914
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $12,048
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,654
    Filer's total
    $226,616

  • JESSE MACKEY

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $224,468
    From this org
    $206,880
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,588
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $206,880
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $1,892
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,696
    Filer's total
    $224,468

  • CLARK PAPPAS

    DIRECTOR CLIENT SERVICES

    Total calculated
    $217,523
    From this org
    $167,731
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $49,792
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $167,731
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $11,095
    Nontaxable benefits
    $38,697
    Filer's total
    $217,523

  • DEBRA MINETT-DOUGHERTY

    SENIOR MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $214,060
    From this org
    $187,132
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $26,928
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $187,132
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $11,232
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,696
    Filer's total
    $214,060

  • MARCIA DOWDS

    VICE PRESIDENT PHILANTHROPY

    Total calculated
    $201,460
    From this org
    $176,571
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,889
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $176,571
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,154
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,735
    Filer's total
    $201,460

  • JULIE WETHERELL

    DIRECTOR BREEDING PROGRAM

    Total calculated
    $197,846
    From this org
    $174,627
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,219
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $174,627
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,445
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,774
    Filer's total
    $197,846

  • SARAH LEE

    VETERINARIAN CANINE EARLY CARE

    Total calculated
    $183,568
    From this org
    $159,546
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,022
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $159,546
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,630
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,392
    Filer's total
    $183,568

  • JOHN SABO

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • CATHY FISCHER

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • COLLETTE BUNTON

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • WILLIAM WHITE

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ANNE GITTINGER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • BARRIE GRAHAM

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • RUSS GUREVITCH DVM

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TANISHA HALL

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • LESLIE HENNESSY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JOHN WM HOPEN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CAROLYN HRACH

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JUDGE ED KINKEADE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CHRIS KITTREDGE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TERESA JOHNSON RAMEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MICHELLE LUDWIG

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CHRIS MATHENA

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JOHN MILLER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DARCY PECORARO

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JUERGEN ROTTLER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ROBIN SANCHEZ

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JEAN SCHULZ

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • EMILY WILLIAMS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

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 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 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

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

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
IRS schema version
2025v4.2
Source object
202602439349302150

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