GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC

Programs

1. Training program -our instructors complete a three year apprenticeship program before they become certified instructors. During fy 2025, 189 dogs began formal training for placement with a consumer of either the guide dog foundation for the blind, inc. Or its related organization america's vetdogs -the veteran's k-9 corps, inc. The guide dog foundation manages america's vetdogs and is reimbursed for the services it provides to america's vetdogs. Formal training takes approximately three to four months during which time the foundation cares for all dogs. Dogs are housed on campus in state of the art kennels in the designated training center. Not every dog that enters formal training becomes a guide or service dog. The foundation currently estimates a success rate of approximately 50%. After completion of formal training, the dog is ready to be teamed with a consumer. The consumer or student and their dog are trained to work together as a team either on our campus, in the consumer's home community or a combination of the two. The process and the foundation's commitment continues after placement with aftercare, follow-up, support and outreach throughout the life of the dog. The cycle…

   $3,915,962 spent
   48% of program spending

2. Breeding and puppy program -during fy 2025, the foundation supported 108 dogs in the breeding colony. The breeding colony is carefully selected after extensive screening and testing. During fy 2025, 362 puppies were added to the programs of the guide dog foundation and america's vetdogs. Puppies spend seven to eight weeks in our puppy nursery. From the nursery they spend approximately one year in the home of a volunteer puppy raiser or prison puppy program before coming back to the organization for formal training. During fy 2025 a total of 373 puppies were placed. 266 puppies were placed in puppy raiser homes and 107 puppies participated in our prison puppy program. The organization currently supports puppy raisers in nearly 20 states and has agreements with 14 prisons throughout massachusetts, maryland, florida, connecticut, maine and pennsylvania. During the time the puppies are in puppy raiser homes, we support the volunteer family through constant outreach, communication and training. We bring our volunteer regional puppy raiser coordinators on campus for training and support that they can share with their local regionally based puppy raising families. The professional puppy…

   $1,654,885 spent
   20% of program spending

3. Public education - public outreach and education are important parts of the mission of guide dog foundation for the blind. The foundation partnered with the new york islanders to raise guide dog monte and demonstrated various skills a guide dog can provide. This past year, three issues of the guideway were distributed to over 38,600 recipients. The guideway is the official newsletter to educate the public about guide dogs, guide dog etiquette, and disability issues. Organization graduates, puppy raisers and caretakers went on over 98 speaking engagements off campus and each one typically has an audience of 30 or more people. The guide dog foundation has embraced social media as a means to reach our supporters efficiently and effectively. We currently have nearly 46,100 likes on facebook and over 4,800 followers on twitter. Additionally, we have another 113,000 followers through youtube, linkedin, tik tok, threads and instagram.

   $1,437,116 spent
   18% of program spending

4. Student and graduate services -during fy 2025, the guide dog foundation graduated 29 guide dog teams. In addition, america's vetdogs - graduated 6 guide dog teams, 36 ptsd/service dog teams, 32 service dog teams, 1 seizure dog team, 4 hearing dog teams, and also placed 6 facility dogs. Facility dogs were placed at keller army community hospital, the pentagon, mac dill air force base, andrews air force base, ucla clinical translational research center, and carl r darnall army medical center. Our students come from all over the u.s. As well as outside the u.s. Each consumer's needs are evaluated, and if possible a dog is trained to meet those needs. Some of the disabilities served include: physically disabled, prosthetic limb recipients, traumatic brain injuries, profound hearing loss and those with a primary diagnosis of ptsd. In addition to the tasks, the dogs are trained to mitigate a person's disability. Service dogs also provide comfort and provide re-socialization assistance for our veterans. Students typically stay on campus for approximately two weeks in the student residence which can accommodate up to 17 students at a time. Each student has a private room with private…

   $1,167,713 spent
   14% of program spending

The 4 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $8,175,676.