irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $26.00MPUBLIC EDUCATION AND CANINE WELFARE: EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP AND BREEDING, PROVIDING KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE ABOUT PROPER CARE, HEALTH, AND TRAINING FOR ALL DOGS, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE CAUSES FURTHERING CANINE WELFARE.
- #2 $23.21MDOG & LITTER REGISTRATIONS: REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF PUREBRED DOGS AND LITTERS, CONTRIBUTED TO ACCURATE GENEALOGY RECORDS AND ADVANCED THE QUALITY OF EACH BREED. EDUCATING THE DOG-LOVING PUBLIC ABOUT RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP AND BREEDING, PROVIDING KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE ABOUT PROPER CARE, HEALTH AND TRAINING FOR ALL DOGS.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
AKC Gazette
Monthly magazine providing news, event coverage, and educational content for dog owners, breeders, and enthusiasts
Breeder Toolkit (BRET)
Online platform for breeders to manage litters, complete registrations, access electronic litter kits, and transfer puppy ownership
Dog & Litter Registrations
Registry service for purebred dogs and litters, maintaining accurate genealogical records and supporting responsible breeding practices
Dog Events, Performance, and Judging
Sanctions and promotes conformation, companion, and performance events across the U.S., including over 26,000 events annually
Public Education and Canine Welfare
Provides resources and guidance on responsible dog ownership, care, health, and training; supports charitable causes advancing canine welfare
activities · 9 groups
What they do
-
Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Administers awards and recognition programs for dogs and breedersPresents annual awards including the Breeder of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Outstanding Sportsmanship, and the AKC Paw of Courage to honor contributions to the purebred dog community and heroic acts by working dogs.
-
-
Animal Protection Advocacy & Campaigns 1 activity
- Advocates for dog owners' rights and responsible dog ownership through legislative and policy engagementConducts advocacy and legislative monitoring to protect dog owners' rights, promotes responsible ownership, and has supported laws such as the federal PETS Act and Georgia’s anti-dogfighting legislation.
-
-
Genetic and Neurological Disease Research Funding 1 activity
- Funds canine health research and disease prevention studiesProvides grants through the AKC Canine Health Foundation to support millions of dollars in research on major dog diseases, funding scientists and professionals to advance the prevention and treatment of canine illnesses.
-
-
Women's Rights and Empowerment Grants 1 activity
- Funds public education and community initiatives on responsible dog ownershipProvides grants and resources to organizations nationwide to support public education programs and government relations efforts, including funding 11 "pets allowed" women’s shelters for survivors of domestic violence.
-
-
Lost and Found Pet Reunification Services 1 activity
- Operates dog rescue and pet recovery servicesSupports a national network of over 450 rescue groups that provide fostering and rehabilitation, and runs the AKC Reunite program, which has reunited over 470,000 lost pets with their owners through microchipping and a national recovery database.
-
-
Specialized Research Library Access 1 activity
- Operates the Museum of the Dog and maintains canine-related archives and library collectionsHouses the largest collection of dog art in the U.S., preserves over 18,000 volumes including rare books and historical documents, provides online access to over 100 years of AKC publications, and offers in-person research access to its Library & Archives.
-
-
Dog Sports and Conformation Events 1 activity
- Organizes and sanctions dog sports and performance eventsHosts over 22,000 conformation, companion, and performance dog events annually, including large all-breed shows with over 3,000 dogs and receiving more than 3 million entries across agility, obedience, and other disciplines.
-
-
Humane Education and Responsible Pet Ownership 1 activity
- Provides public education on responsible dog ownership and canine careOffers outreach programs, publications, and advisory services on dog breed, health, training, and responsible breeding practices to strengthen the human-canine bond and promote dog welfare.
-
-
Uncategorized 2 activities
- Manages digital platforms and account services for dog owners and breedersProvides a free online account system and the Breeder Toolkit platform to manage dog registrations, breeding records, litter registrations, and ownership transfers across AKC systems.
- Registers purebred dogs and maintains genealogy recordsRegisters over 1.2 million dogs and 555,000 litters annually, recognizing 200 dog breeds and preserving accurate lineage data to support breeding integrity and breed quality improvement.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$99.65M
Contributions & grants$9K0%
Program service revenue$68.91M69%
Investment income$10.37M10%
Other revenue$20.36M
expenses
Total expenses$96.42M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$46.81M
Grants paid out$5.45M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$266.51M
Cash$10.90M
Investments$176.64M
Liabilities$96.20M
Net assets$170.31M
Liquid reserves23.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +0.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 25
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENNIS B SPRUNG | PRESIDENT & CEO | 50 | $1.73M |
| Gina M DiNardo | EXECUTIVE SECRETARY | 50 | $889K |
| MARK DUNN | EXECUTIVE VP | 50 | $787K |
| Daphna Straus | VP, BUS DEVELOPMENT | 50 | $733K |
| RONALD H FURMAN | VP BROADCAST & SPONSER MEDIA | 50 | $632K |
| HEATHER MCMANUS | VP & DEPUTY GEN COUNSEL | 50 | $628K |
| THEODORE PHILLIPS | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 50 | $593K |
| Doug Ljungren | EVP, SPORTS & EVENTS | 50 | $518K |
| KEITH FRAZIER II | EVP BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES | 50 | $405K |
| Brandi Hunter-Munden | VP, PR & COMMUNICATIONS | 50 | $339K |
| Gordon Comfort | COO (AS OF 09/2024) | 50 | $196K |
| ANN WALLIN | DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
| CHRISTOPHER L SWEETWOOD | DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
| DANIEL SMYTH | DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
| DOMINIC P CAROTA | VICE-CHAIR/DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
| DR CARMEN BATTAGLIA | DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
| DR CHARLES GARVIN | DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
| DR MICHAEL KNIGHT | DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
| Dr THOMAS DAVIES | CHAIR/DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
| HAROLD TATRO III | DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
| RITA J BIDDLE | DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
| STEVEN HAMBLIN | DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
| THOMAS S POWERS | DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
| SALLY FINEBURG | DIRECTOR (AS OF 03/2024) | 5 | $9K |
| KAROLYNNE M MCATEER | DIRECTOR (THROUGH 03/2024) | 5 | $3K |
relationships · 20
Who they work with
- AKC Network — Member of the American Kennel Club network of affiliated organizations
- AKC Canine Health Foundation Partner — Funds canine health research through an affiliated foundation.
- AKC Canine Health Foundation Partner — Subsidiary organization funding canine health research through grants to scientists and professionals.
- AKC Government Relations Department Government — Department advocating for dog owners' rights and monitoring canine-related legislation at local, state, and federal levels.
- AKC Humane Fund Network — Administers the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) in partnership with The American Kennel Club.
- AKC Humane Fund Partner — Organization providing grants and resources to promote public education on responsible dog ownership.
- AKC Library Partner — Maintains a comprehensive archive and library on domestic dogs.
- AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin Partner — Hosts the Breeder of the Year Award presentation during its annual event.
- AKC Rescue Network Network — National network of over 450 independent dog rescue groups providing fostering and rehabilitation services.
- AKC Rescue Network Partner — Coordinates a national network of over 450 dog rescue groups.
- AKC Reunite Partner — Not-for-profit pet ID and recovery service offering microchipping, a national database, and disaster relief support.
- AKC Reunite Partner — Operates a pet recovery program for microchipped and tattooed pets.
- Dogs for Defense Partner — Collaborated with Dogs for Defense during World War II to mobilize dog owners to donate animals for training to assist American troops.
- Google Partner — Uses Google services to deliver content and support website functionality.
- Museum of the Dog Partner — Hosts the AKC Library at the Museum of the Dog, where the majority of the breed-specific collection is available to the public.
- Museum of the Dog Partner — Institution dedicated to preserving and exhibiting art and artifacts related to dogs and the human-canine relationship.
- Museum of the Dog Partner — Operates a museum dedicated to dog art and history.
- The Kennel Club (England) Partner — Established a reciprocal agreement with The Kennel Club (England) in 1914.
- master@akc.org Partner — Point of contact for requesting graphic banners to link to the AKC website.
- parent club Network — AKC-recognized national club devoted to a particular breed, responsible for developing breed standards
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Breed Standards as Tools for Canine Quality and Functionmethodology: breed_standard_developmentBy developing and maintaining breed standards based on historical form and working purpose, AKC improves breed quality and preserves innate canine abilities because standardized evaluation guides ethical breeding and performance competition.
- Centralized Knowledge Repository for Education and Preservationmethodology: centralized_repository_for_research_and_educationBy maintaining and digitizing a national repository of purebred dog history and records, AKC supports research, education, and public engagement because accessible historical data strengthens stewardship and continuity in the dog community.
- Inclusive Participation to Broaden Access and Engagementmethodology: inclusive_participationBy including mixed-breed dogs and removing barriers to entry in dog sports, AKC increases public participation and strengthens community commitment to canine activities because broader access fosters greater investment in responsible dog ownership.
- Integrated Systems for Dog Recovery and Reunificationmethodology: integrated_recovery_systemBy combining permanent identification, centralized recovery infrastructure, and disaster response systems, AKC increases the likelihood of reuniting lost dogs with families because coordinated technology and preparedness reduce time-to-recovery in critical situations.
- Responsible Ownership Through Education and Engagementmethodology: responsible_ownership_educationBy promoting responsible dog ownership through education, public engagement, and participation in dog sports, AKC strengthens the human-canine bond and improves long-term canine welfare because informed owners are more likely to provide lifelong, ethical care.