- Revenue 2024
- $5,458,979
- Expenses 2024
- $5,870,389
Program services were 84.3% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
As filed
- Subsection
- 03
- NTEE code
- D63Z
- Classification
- 0000
- Street
- 10175 WHEELER RD
These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).
Mission and programs · 2024
Mission
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.
Activities or mission (Part I)
DOGS FOR BETTER LIVES (DBL) IS THE OLDEST HEARING DOG TRAINING CENTER IN THE U.S. AND AMONG ONE OF THE FIRST ASSISTANCE DOG ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD TO BE FULLY ACCREDITED BY ASSISTANCE DOGS INTERNATIONAL. DBL TRAINERS MUST COMPLETE AN IN-DEPTH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO BECOME CERTIFIED. DBL IS UNIQUE IN THAT CERTIFIED TRAINERS BRING THE DOGS TO THE CLIENTS' HOMES FOR PLACEMENT, ALLOWING FOR A CUSTOMIZED AND ONE-TO-ONE 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 NOW TRAINS AND PLACES, WHICH INCLUDES HEARING DOGS, AUTISM ASSISTANCE DOGS, FACILITY DOGS, AND CAREER CHANGE DOGS.
-
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.
Expenses $3,876,756 · Revenue $5,500
-
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.
Expenses $1,072,988
As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Officers and directors · 2024
As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.
-
Stephanie DeinesSTEPHANIE DEINES
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Carriejo HoelzelCARRIEJO HOELZEL
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 8
-
Tom DobryTOM DOBRY
CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Lisa RobinsonLISA ROBINSON
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Emily NelsonEMILY NELSON
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Rich PerlmanRICH PERLMAN
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Garrett WestGARRETT WEST
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Josh BroadwaterJOSH BROADWATER
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Kellie GreenKELLIE GREEN
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Chelly QuinnCHELLY QUINN
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Erinn RhodesERINN RHODES
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Lisa De VivoLISA DE VIVO
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Julie Ryan-JohnsonJULIE RYAN-JOHNSON
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Michelle FarabaughMICHELLE FARABAUGH
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Tim CibulaTIM CIBULA
VICE CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Stacie BiancoSTACIE BIANCO
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Chad StarkCHAD STARK
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Patty JensenPATTY JENSEN
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Garren HeyeGARREN HEYE
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Chris SchlagCHRIS SCHLAG
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Bryan WilliamsBRYAN WILLIAMS
PRESIDENT/CEO
- Total calculated
- $209,060
- From this org
- $184,323
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $24,737
- Hours/week
- 42
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $184,323
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $11,390
- Nontaxable benefits
- $13,347
- Filer's total
- $209,060
-
Harvey PottsHARVEY POTTS
VP OF DEVELOPMENT
- Total calculated
- $123,846
- From this org
- $121,418
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $2,428
- Hours/week
- 40
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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.
Filings
-
2024
- Revenue
- $5,458,979
- Expenses
- $5,870,389
- Contributions
- $5,015,469
- Grants paid
- $0
-
2023
- Revenue
- $4,111,021
- Expenses
- $5,115,600
- Contributions
- $3,809,591
- Grants paid
- $0
-
2022
- Revenue
- $2,952,164
- Expenses
- $4,111,489
- Contributions
- $3,138,192
- Grants paid
- $0
The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.
Other returns filed
-
2023 · 990-T
- Revenue
- not reported
- Expenses
- not reported
- Assets (EOY)
- not reported
-
2022 · 990-T
- Revenue
- not reported
- Expenses
- not reported
- Assets (EOY)
- not reported
-
2021 · 990
- Revenue
- $3,272,972
- Expenses
- $3,690,767
- Assets (EOY)
- $17,690,343
-
2021 · 990-T
- Revenue
- not reported
- Expenses
- not reported
- Assets (EOY)
- not reported
-
2020 · 990
- Revenue
- $4,285,698
- Expenses
- $3,638,030
- Assets (EOY)
- $19,873,703
-
2020 · 990-T
- Revenue
- not reported
- Expenses
- not reported
- Assets (EOY)
- not reported
-
2019 · 990
- Revenue
- $3,405,556
- Expenses
- $3,645,525
- Assets (EOY)
- $16,938,225
-
2018 · 990
- Revenue
- $2,535,158
- Expenses
- $3,813,431
- Assets (EOY)
- $17,163,075
-
2017 · 990
- Revenue
- $3,872,629
- Expenses
- $3,363,233
- Assets (EOY)
- $19,081,460
-
2016 · 990
- Revenue
- $3,168,804
- Expenses
- $3,164,040
- Assets (EOY)
- $17,984,873
Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.
Grants made
No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.
Grants received
-
R & H MILLER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
$112,968
2023 CHARITABLE
-
2024 For grant recipient's exempt purposes
-
2023 For grant recipient's exempt purposes
-
2022 For grant recipient's exempt purposes
-
$45,440
2023 Human Services
-
$38,883
2024 Human Services
-
$30,000
2023 OPERATIONS
-
2024 GENERAL SUPPORT
-
2024 ENVIRONMENT & ANIMAL PROTECTION
-
2022 HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM SUPPORT
The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.
Other IRS files
Auto-Revocation List
Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.
Publication 78
Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.
These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.
What this page reflects
The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 1 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.