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CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE

EIN 94-2494324 SANTA ROSA, CA

Revenue 2025
$51,415,601
Expenses 2025
$48,602,224

Program services were 78.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
P8XZ
Classification
1000
Street
2965 DUTTON AVE

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 · 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.

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • 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

The first 25 listed. 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

  • 2025
    Revenue
    $51,415,601
    Expenses
    $48,602,224
    Contributions
    $48,377,835
    Grants paid
    $28,923
  • 2024
    Revenue
    $54,867,794
    Expenses
    $40,391,072
    Contributions
    $51,048,246
    Grants paid
    $12,805
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $50,314,259
    Expenses
    $36,899,565
    Contributions
    $48,283,516
    Grants paid
    $9,127
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $45,778,486
    Expenses
    $33,715,274
    Contributions
    $44,954,151
    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

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $77,839,171
    Expenses
    $32,275,061
    Assets (EOY)
    $157,007,920

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $32,341,640
    Expenses
    $30,536,653
    Assets (EOY)
    $112,104,409

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $43,076,372
    Expenses
    $29,494,100
    Assets (EOY)
    $103,372,633

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $40,236,959
    Expenses
    $27,725,217
    Assets (EOY)
    $83,787,306

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $31,135,417
    Expenses
    $26,185,688
    Assets (EOY)
    $71,349,587

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $31,929,720
    Expenses
    $23,263,606
    Assets (EOY)
    $64,681,007

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $22,124,348
    Expenses
    $21,269,203
    Assets (EOY)
    $56,352,754

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $22,997,195
    Expenses
    $19,722,355
    Assets (EOY)
    $55,113,246

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $19,150,721
    Expenses
    $16,905,068
    Assets (EOY)
    $50,424,902

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $15,995,086
    Assets (EOY)
    $46,565,724

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

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Declared as related by

Taxable family

From Schedule R Parts I, III and IV: entities that legally are the filer, and taxable partnerships, corporations and trusts it is related to. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money.

Disregarded entities on its 2025 return

California fundraising campaigns

Campaigns run by paid fundraisers, commercial coventurers and thrift stores naming this organization, as California published them. Both figures are as filed, and what the first one counts depends on the campaign type — a coventurer or a thrift store files its own sales rather than money collected for the charity. The 990 reports this only as a yearly total, never per campaign.

  • SUBARU OF AMERICA INC.

    $4,109,341 in sales

    2020 Commercial Coventurer

    $16,220 to charity

  • SUBARU OF AMERICA INC.

    $64,878,251 in sales

    2019 Commercial Coventurer

    $248,125 to charity

Amounts are as filed and do not add up: a commercial coventurer reports one promotion's whole gross once for each charity that shared in it. A campaign may also name more than one registered charity, in which case it appears on each.

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 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2025, the newest we have parsed for this organization.