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

Guide Dog Foundation and America's VetDogs

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
Accreditation seal
(631) 930-9000
371 East Jericho Turnpike
Smithtown, NY, 11787
https://guidedog.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

Guide Dog Foundation and America's VetDogs meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
Guide Dog Foundation: "to improve the quality of life for people who are blind, have low vision, or have other special needs." America's VetDogs: "to help those who have served our country honorably live with dignity and independence."

Year, State Incorporated:
1946, NY

Also Known As:
America's VetDogs - The Veteran's K-9 Corps Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind (GDF) and America's VetDogs (AVD) provide guide and service dogs, at no cost, to people who are blind, visually impaired, or with other disabilities and seek the increased independence, mobility, and companionship that an assistance dog can provide. Volunteers called "puppy raisers" raise the puppies in their homes for one year. Puppies are returned to the organization to begin their formal training. Students come to GDF from all across the United States and Canada. Training options are available for blind individuals in residence at GDF's 10-acre campus or training entirely in a student's home environment. Throughout the training, students and their dogs bond and learn to work together as a team. Students also learn about the proper care for their dog, from grooming to exercising to veterinary care. Assistance and aftercare services are available to deal with issues or concerns after a team graduates from the programs. GDF promotes assistance dog use throughout the United States, builds public awareness for their work, and teaches people about etiquette and how to interact with a person who has a guide or service dog. The organization's website features news and information about guide and service dogs and essential access laws that give individuals the right to be accompanied by their guide or service dog everywhere the public is allowed.

For the year ended June 30, 2023, Guide Dog Foundation and America's VetDogs's program expenses were:

Dog training: $6,254,641

Breeding and puppy program: $3,285,401

Student related services: $2,127,659

Public education: $3,079,616

Total Program Expenses: $14,747,317

Chief Executive
John Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$577,167

Chair of the Board
Donald Dea

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired, Co-Founder, Fusion Productions

Board Size
19

Paid Staff Size
172

*2022 compensation is for the management of GDF and AVD  and includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Special events, Foundation grants, Print advertisements, Corporate solicitation

Fundraising costs were 8% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $21,679,239, 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 Guide Dog Foundation and America's VetDogs's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023.

Source of Funds
Contributions $10,984,663
Government grants $1,000,000
Bequests and legacies $7,690,828
Other revenue $204,202
Special events, net $421,238
Investment income, net $1,384,063
In-kind contributions $1,582,510
Total Income $23,267,504

Programs: 83% Fundraising: 10% Administrative: 8%

Total Income $23,267,504
Total expenses: $17,865,571
  Program expenses $14,747,317
  Fundraising expenses $1,732,835
  Administrative expenses $1,385,419
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $5,401,933
Beginning Net Assets $50,364,617
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $55,766,550
Total Liabilities $2,057,262
Total Assets $57,823,812

Note 1: According to GDF and AVD's audited financial statements - consolidated - for the year ended June 30, 2023, the organization received in-kind contributions totaling $1,582,510 in the form of air time ($1,057,000), veterinary services ($259,014), advertising ($199,625), supplies ($40,721), and furniture and computers ($26,150).

Note 2: The above financial summary includes information from both Guide Dog Foundation and America's VetDogs - The Veteran's K-9 Corps.

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 Wise Giving Alliance