Give.org logo
Support Give.org
Support Give.org
CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: November 2025 Expires: November 2027

OccuPaws Guide Dog Association

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
1 7 18
(608) 772-3787
Post Office Box 45857
Madison, WI, 53744
https://occupaws.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

OccuPaws Guide Dog Association does not meet the following 3 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

OccuPaws does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Review the performance of the chief executive officer at least once Every 2 Years.

Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

OccuPaws does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.

Standard 18 (Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy)
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

OccuPaws does not meet this Standard because:

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 14, 15

OccuPaws Guide Dog Association meets the remaining 15 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
“to place fully trained guide dogs of excellent health and temperament with Midwest adult residents who have visual impairments at no charge.”

Year, State Incorporated:
2006, WI

OccuPaws Guide Dog Association (OccuPaws) acquires, raises, trains and places guide dogs with visually impaired adults in Wisconsin and contiguous states. The organization’s PawsForward program at the Lisbon medium security men’s prison helps inmates raise and train the dogs. In 2024, OccuPaws reports placing eight guide dogs and providing review training to 55 teams that received dogs in previous years.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, OccuPaws Guide Dog Association's program expenses were:

Program services $369,866
Total Program Expenses $369,866

Chair of the Board
Barb Schultze

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
President, OccuPaws

Board Size
7

Paid Staff Size
0

*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Invitations to fund raising events, Television, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements

Fundraising costs were 5% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $449,079, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on OccuPaws Guide Dog Association's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Individual, foundation, and corporate contributions $406,085
Adoption fees $54,625
Investment return, net $41,022
Special event and concessions income $37,494
In-kind donations $5,500
Total Income $544,726

Programs: 91% Fundraising: 6% Administrative: 3%

Total Income $544,726
Total expenses: $405,370
  Program expenses $369,866
  Fundraising expenses $22,791
  Administrative expenses $12,713
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $139,356
Beginning Net Assets $626,253
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $765,609
Total Liabilities $6,796
Total Assets $772,405

Note: According to the organization’s 2024 audited financial statements, OccuPaws received in-kind contributions of $5,500 including facilities ($3,000) and entertainment ($2,500).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Serving Wisconsin