Large Asset Reserves
CharityWatch reduces the grade of any charity that has available assets equal to three to five years of operating expenses. Charities with "years of available assets" of more than five years receive an "F" grade regardless of other measurements. In CharityWatch's view, a reserve of less than three years is reasonable and does not affect a charity's grade. These reductions in grades are based solely on the charities' asset reserves as compared to budget. The CharityWatch definition of "years of available assets" includes funds currently available for the charity's use, including investments that the charity has set aside as a reserve but could choose to spend if it wanted to do so. Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind's letter grade rating has been downgraded because it has 3 or more years of available assets.
See Our Process to learn more about how CharityWatch considers a charity’s asset reserves and the High Asset List for a list of charities whose ratings have been reduced due to high assets.
Ratings & Metrics
Financial Documents
| Entity | Document Type | Tax ID |
|---|---|---|
| America’s VetDogs – The Veterans K-9 Corps, Inc. | IRS Form 990 | 20-8814368 |
| Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. | IRS Form 990 | 11-1687477 |
| Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. and America’s VetDogs – The Veteran’s K-9 Corps, Inc. | Consolidated Audited Financial Statements | Multiple |
|
Entity: America’s VetDogs – The Veterans K-9 Corps, Inc. Document Type: IRS Form 990 Tax ID: 20-8814368 |
|
Entity: Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. Document Type: IRS Form 990 Tax ID: 11-1687477 |
|
Entity: Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. and America’s VetDogs – The Veteran’s K-9 Corps, Inc. Document Type: Consolidated Audited Financial Statements Tax ID: Multiple |
Governance & Transparency
Top Salaries
| Name | Title | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Miller | President / CEO | $644,136 |
| 2 | Michael Rosen | Chief Marketing Officer | $272,062 |
| 3 | Laura English | Chief of Staff | $267,880 |
|
1 Name: John Miller Title: President / CEO Compensation: $644,136 |
|
2 Name: Michael Rosen Title: Chief Marketing Officer Compensation: $272,062 |
|
3 Name: Laura English Title: Chief of Staff Compensation: $267,880 |
Analysts' Notes
CharityWatch's rating of Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind also includes the financial activities of its related organization, America's VetDogs - The Veteran's K-9 Corps, which are consolidated in the Organization's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. Each entity is a 501(c)(3) public charity. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated in the audit consolidation. |
According to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind & America's VetDogs consolidated audit of June 30, 2025 (Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Gifts In-Kind): The Organization received gifts in-kind during fiscal 2025 on which it placed a total value of $4,395,012. Of this amount, $3,829,235 was attributed to "Air-time." [Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.] |
According to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind & America's VetDogs consolidated audit of June 30, 2025 (Note 6, Concentration of Credit Risk): "...Approximately 10% and 36% of total bequests and legacies recognized during the years ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, were attributed to one donor..." |
According to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind & America's VetDogs consolidated audit of June 30, 2025 (Note 10, Union Employees): "The Organization recognizes the International Union, UAW and Its Local 2179 (the “Union”), as the
sole collective bargaining agent for its full and part-time training, canine-care, and puppy staff
employed at the Organization’s training center in Smithtown, New York, and excludes all other
employees of the Organization. The contract term commenced December 1, 2020 and expired on
November 30, 2023. On March 18, 2024, the contract was extended through November 30, 2026." |
According to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind & America's VetDogs consolidated audit of June 30, 2025 (Note 12, Related Party Transactions): "The Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs have overlapping missions and operations,
whereby the costs of running both entities are shared, with the majority of all costs initially being paid
by the Guide Dog Foundation. As a result, costs are allocated to America’s VetDogs based upon the
number of teams placed by America’s VetDogs. For the years ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, Guide Dog
Foundation allocated costs of $8,273,829 and $8,856,607, respectively, to America’s VetDogs, which
were charged to America’s VetDogs through an intercompany obligation. The Guide Dog Foundation
and America’s VetDogs also share gifts in-kind. In-kind gifts are allocated to America’s VetDogs based
upon the number of teams placed by America’s VetDogs. For the years ended June 30, 2025 and 2024,
Guide Dog Foundation allocated gifts in-kind of $211,205 and $188,195, respectively, to America’s
VetDogs through an intercompany obligation. In conjunction with its mission of serving people with
disabilities, the Guide Dog Foundation made a contribution to America’s VetDogs of $765,702 and
$1,649,681 during the years ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of June 30, 2025 and 2024,
America’s VetDogs owed $166,093 and $297,791 to the Guide Dog Foundation, respectively." |
According to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, the Organization reports re: Compensation, Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II): The Organization reports providing "bonus & incentive compensation" to six individuals during 2024. John Miller, President & CEO, received $66,182 of bonus and incentive compensation with total reported compensation of $644,136. The remaining five individuals received $13,690 to $21,028 with total reported compensation ranging from $195,247 to $272,062. |