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Animals : Animal Rights, Welfare, and Services

Canine Companions for Independence

Exceptional dogs for exceptional people

four stars

90.44

2965 Dutton Avenue P.O. Box 446
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
tel: (800) 572-2275   Web Site
EIN: 94-2494324

Board Leadership
John McKinney
Chair

CEO
Paige Mazzoni
CEO

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 90.44 four stars
  Financial 86.49 three stars
  Accountability & Transparency 100.00 four stars
This rating was published 12/23/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, Canine Companions for Independence enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly-trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. Canine Companions trains four types of assistance dogs to master over 40 specialized commands: Service Dogs, Skilled Companions, Hearing Dogs and Facility Dogs. We also provide service dogs to veterans with PTSD. After completing training, the dogs are teamed with a graduate during an intensive two week training period (Team Training). For the sixth consecutive year, Canine Companions placed over 300 assistance dogs, and over 6,600 dogs have been placed in the organization's history. All assistance dogs and follow-up services are provided free of charge to recipients. In 2020, a new North Central Region campus was completed in New Albany, Ohio.

Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, Canine Companions for Independence enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly-trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. Canine Companions trains four types of assistance dogs to master over 40 specialized commands: Service Dogs, Skilled Companions, Hearing Dogs and Facility Dogs. We also provide service dogs to veterans with PTSD. After completing training, the dogs are teamed with a graduate during an intensive two week training period (Team Training). For the sixth consecutive year, Canine Companions placed over 300 assistance dogs, and over 6,600 dogs have been placed in the organization's history. All assistance dogs and follow-up services are provided free of charge to recipients. In 2020, a new North Central Region campus was completed in New Albany, Ohio.

Impact Information

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GuideStar is Charity Navigator's trusted partner in sharing information on how this organization seeks impact.  GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Platinum Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly sharing information about how they measure their progress and results.  Learn More about Impact Information.
Reported Results
Total in 2018
Number of assistance dogs placed during the year
339
Success rate of our dogs that become assistance dogs
53
This organization has earned a GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by voluntarily sharing the measures of progress and results they use to pursue their mission. Organizations earn Platinum Seals by selecting from a catalog of over 900 expert recognized metrics or by creating a new metric that best fits their work. This information is reported by the organization and displayed publicly on their GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. With over 1.6 million Nonprofit Profiles, 9 million annual visitors and over 200 data partners, GuideStar is the world's leading source of information about nonprofit organizations. A nonprofit itself, GuideStar is dedicated to providing better data for better decisions for a better world.
This impact information is current as of August 2020, when it was provided to us by GuideStar. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

three stars

86.49

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

100.00

This rating was published 12/23/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 71.9%
  Administrative Expenses 10.2%
  Fundraising Expenses 17.7%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.14
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 3.41
  Program Expenses Growth 7.7%
  Liabilities to Assets 4.8%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Canine Companions for Independence on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Canine Companions for Independence on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Canine Companions for Independence (CA) 90.44 four stars
Can Do Canines (MN) 96.19 four stars
Freedom Service Dogs of America (CO) 94.67 four stars
ECAD, Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities (CT) 90.57 four stars
The Gentle Barn (CA) 92.61 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $35,413,027
   Federated Campaigns $21,314
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $3,016,410
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $287,147
Total Contributions $38,737,898
   Program Service Revenue $2,369,008
Total Primary Revenue $41,106,906
   Other Revenue $1,969,466
TOTAL REVENUE $43,076,372
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $20,887,787
   Administrative Expenses $4,129,560
   Fundraising Expenses $4,476,753
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $29,494,100
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $13,582,272
   
Net Assets $98,410,543

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Training $11,082,761 53.1%
Breeding and Puppy Raising $5,916,002 28.3%
Public Information and Local Presence $3,889,024 18.6%

Ratings History
Canine Companions for Independence has received 2 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2019-12 12/23/2020 90.44 four stars
2018-12 12/20/2019 90.34 four stars
2017-12 12/21/2018 88.43 three stars
2016-12 04/01/2018 88.11 three stars
2015-12 02/01/2017 86.55 three stars
2014-12 06/01/2016 86.63 three stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-12 12/22/2015 84.88 three stars
2014-12 12/01/2015 84.62 three stars
2013-12 06/01/2015 88.55 three stars
2012-12 02/01/2014 84.24 three stars
2011-12 04/01/2013 86.39 three stars
2010-12 02/01/2012 91.04 four stars
2009-12 09/20/2011 89.19 three stars
 
CN 1.0
2009-12 12/22/2010 84.71 three stars
2008-12 12/01/2009 85.08 three stars
2007-12 04/01/2009 81.16 three stars
2006-12 05/01/2008 78.35 two stars
2005-12 10/01/2006 81.60 three stars
2004-12 10/01/2005 78.47 two stars
2003-12 09/01/2004 82.86 three stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 94-2494324
Name in IRS Master File CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE
NTEE Code P8X
NTEE Classification [Not Provided by IRS]
NTEE Type [Not Provided by IRS]
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (30) School, college, trade school, etc.
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date February, 1979
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End December
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • December, 2017
  • December, 2016
  • December, 2015
  • December, 2014
  • December, 2013
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$242,450 0.82% Paige Mazzoni CEO

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Canine Companions for Independence (CA) 90.44 four stars
Guide Dogs of America (CA) 97.28 four stars
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (CA) 94.28 four stars
Guide Dogs of the Desert (CA) 87.81 three stars
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation (CT) 91.67 four stars

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This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Canine Companions for Independence
2965 Dutton Avenue
P.O. Box 446
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
tel: (800) 572-2275
fax: (707) 577-1712
TTY: (707) 577-1756
EIN: 94-2494324

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

John McKinney
Chair

CEO

Paige Mazzoni
CEO

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