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Nonprofiteer
← PROJECT K9 HERO

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by PROJECT K9 HERO.

Totals

Total revenue
$6,308,156
Total expenses
$5,253,381
Contributions and grants received
$6,265,269
Grants paid
$766,309
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$7,211
Other revenue
$35,676
Total assets, end of year
$4,101,727
Total liabilities, end of year
$110,184
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$3,991,543
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$4,704,431
Management and general expenses
$257,030
Fundraising expenses
$291,920
Program service expenses (Part III)
$4,704,431

Program services were 89.6% 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.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $6,265,269

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $95,338

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $7,211 · excluded $7,211

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $265,060

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $229,384

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $35,676 · related or exempt $35,676

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $39,354 · program services $39,354

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $726,955 · program services $726,955

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $160,914 · program services $144,823 · management and general $16,091

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $490,562 · program services $441,506 · management and general $49,056

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $110,818 · program services $99,736 · management and general $11,082

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $50,513 · program services $45,462 · management and general $5,051

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $4,559 · management and general $4,559

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $15,839 · management and general $15,839

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $41,726 · fundraising $41,726

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $60,043 · program services $59,973 · management and general $70

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $95,082 · program services $95,082

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $210,574 · program services $165,301 · management and general $37,903 · fundraising $7,370

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $310,795 · program services $279,716 · management and general $31,079

  • 17 · Travel

    total $169,543 · program services $169,543

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $81,158 · program services $81,158

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $20,984 · management and general $20,984

  • 24a · Other expenses: FRONT END PREMIUMS

    total $738,151 · program services $641,453 · management and general $20,299 · fundraising $76,399

  • 24b · Other expenses: POSTAGE

    total $576,634 · program services $501,095 · management and general $15,857 · fundraising $59,682

  • 24c · Other expenses: PRINTING

    total $419,554 · program services $364,592 · management and general $11,538 · fundraising $43,424

  • 24d · Other expenses: AGENCY FEE

    total $325,581 · program services $324,479 · management and general $1,102

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $604,042 · program services $524,203 · management and general $16,520 · fundraising $63,319

  • 26 · Joint costs (an allocation of the lines above)

    total $2,705,696 · program services $2,355,822 · management and general $65,316 · fundraising $284,558

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,210,135 · end of year $2,022,775

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $300,954 · end of year $345,613

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $192,014 · end of year $169,508

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $287,702 · end of year $245,497

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

    $1,324,988

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

    $276,233

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $923,598 · end of year $1,048,755

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $158,420 · end of year $269,579

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $133,492 · end of year $82,603

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $2,563 · end of year $27,581

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,936,768 · end of year $3,991,543

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

PROJECT K-9 HERO (THE ORGANIZATION) IS A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION LOCATED IN WHITWELL, TN. THE ORGANIZATIONS PURPOSE IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE COSTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ADOPTING A RETIRED POLICE K-9S AND MILITARY WORKING DOGS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH COVERING/OFFSETTING MEDICAL AND PRESCRIPTION FOOD COSTS, AS WELL AS THE REHABILITATION AND REHOMING FOR RETIRED K-9 HEROES. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES END OF DUTY SERVICES FOR ALL PROGRAM MEMBERS. THIS CAN INCLUDE BURIAL, CREMATION, URN, AND A CUSTOM PORTRAIT FOR EACH OWNER OR HANDLER AFTER THEIR HERO PASSES. THE ORGANIZATION IS PRIMARILY SUPPORTED BY DONATIONS, CORPORATE SPONSORS, IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS, PLUS THE SALE OF BRANDED APPAREL AND OTHER ITEMS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

IN 2025, PROJECT K-9 HERO TOOK ON 52 NEW RETIRED WORKING-DOG HEROES, PROVIDING THEM WITH A LIFETIME OF MEDICAL CARE AFTER THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. THE 52 NEW HEROES WERE IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING 317 PROGRAM MEMBERS WE HAVE COMMITTED TO SINCE 2016. THUS, ENDING THE YEAR 2025 WITH 154 LIVING MEMBERS FOR PROGRAM SERVICES THAT INCLUDE PAYING VETERINARY BILLS, PROVIDING PRESCRIPTION FOOD, END-OF-DUTY SERVICE, REHABILITATION, REHOMING, OR ADOPTION. SEVEN OF THE NEW 52 HEROES DID NOT HAVE A HOME TO GO TO IN RETIREMENT AND MAY HAVE BEEN FACING EUTHANASIA IF IT WASN'T FOR OUR 177-ACRE FACILITY IN TENNESSEE, WHERE THEY HAVE COME TO GET THEIR SECOND CHANCE IN LIFE AND FIND NEW FAMILIES.

  • TO ENSURE EACH K-9 HERO IS REWARDED WITH HEALTH AND THE WAY OF LIFE THAT THEY DESERVE FOR THEIR FAITHFUL AND LOYAL SERVICE. TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE COSTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ADOPTING A RETIRED K-9 HERO. TO HELP COVER OR OFFSET ALL MEDICAL, PRESCRIPTION FOOD, AND END OF DUTY COSTS FOR RETIRED K-9 HEROES. WITH DOZENS OF RETIRED K-9 HEROES NEEDING SUPPORT, THE TIME HAS COME FOR PROJECT K-9 HERO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BUILDING A REHABILITATION AND REHOMING FACILITY, ALONG WITH OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS. THIS FACILITY WILL SUPPORT AND FURTHER OUR MISSION, ALLOWING US TO PROVIDE AN ENRICHING, SAFE, AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR RETIRED HEROES IN NEED OF AN IMMEDIATE HOME. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE INITIAL STAGES OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

    Expenses $4,704,431 · Grants $766,309

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Jason K Johnson

    PRESIDENT, D

    Total calculated
    $166,095
    From this org
    $154,173
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,922
    Hours/week
    60

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $154,173
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,922
    Filer's total
    $166,095

  • Ashley Altman

    SECRETARY, D

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • Kenneth Lust DVM

    MEDICAL DIRE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • David Dycus

    MEDICAL DIRE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • Patrick Leser

    TREASURER, D

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • Erica O'Donnell

    MEDICAL DIRE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • Melissa Parsons-Doherty

    MEDICAL DIRE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • Surangi Widyaratne

    CAPITAL CAMP

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

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 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

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.

  • PROJECT K9 HERO EDUCATION & MEDIA

    OUTREACH · MI · assets $79,252

    Directly controlled by PROJECT K9 HERO

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
Filed
14 September 2026
IRS schema version
2025v4.0
Source object
202632579349300748

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