irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $87KRESEARCH AND AWARENESS - WITH MAJOR ACADEMIC AND SCIENTIFIC PARTNERS, GOOD DOG CONDUCTS RESEARCH TO ASSESS THE EFFECTS OF THERAPY DOG INTERVENTIONS ON SPECIFIC POPULATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTS TO HELP BUILD AN EVIDENCE BASE FOR THE INDUSTRY. RECENT STUDIES INCLUDE: 1) A LONG-TERM STUDY WITH MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER IN NYC THAT ASSESSED AAT FOR PATIENTS WITH ADVANCE THROAT AND NECK CANCERS. THE FINDINGS PUBLISHED IN THE PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTIVE ONCOLOGY PROVED THAT PATIENTS SPENDING THERAPEUTIC TIME WITH THERAPY DOGS DURING RADIATION AND CHEMOTHERAPY HAD IMPROVED EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING VS THOSE WHO DIDN'T. GOOD DOG DISSEMINATED THE FINDINGS BROADLY THROUGH ONLINE, BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA AIMED AT HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. 2) A STUDY WITH YALE UNIVERSITY PARENTING CENTER EXAMINED THE ROLE OF DOGS TO HELP LOWER STRESS IN CHILDREN. 3) A STUDY WITH PACE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSESSING THE VALUE OF USING SPECIALLY TRAINED GOOD DOG THERAPY TEAMS AS PART OF AN IN-PRISION PARENTING PROGRAM FOR FEMALE INMATES WHO WILL BE REUNITING WITH THEIR MINOR CHILDREN. 4) A SURVEY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE PROVIDING THE FIRST-EVER-IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THERAPY DOG TRAINING METHODS ON A NATIONAL BASIS. IN ADDITION, GOODD DOG REGULARLY CONFERS, ASKS FOR AND/OR SHARES INFORMATION WITH SCIENTISTS AND ACADEMIANS INCLUDING THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH UNIVERSITIES, PET CARE INDUSTRY GROUPS, HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTION ASSOCIATIONS, AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE GOOD DOG FOUNDATION WAS FORCED TO CEASE ITS MISSION-DRIVEN PROGRAMMATIC OPERATIONS (THERAPY DOG VISITS AND CERTIFICATION TRAINING) AND CANCEL OUR CHIEF FUNDRAISER, OUR ANNUAL GALA. THE RESULT WAS THE LOSS OF NEARLY HALF OUR ANNUAL REVENUE. FORTUNATELY, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CARES ACT SBA LOAN PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWED US TO RETAIN ALL OUR EMPLOYEES AND REDIRECT OUR ATTENTION TO BUILDING A NEW, MORE EFFECTIVE WEBSITE AND OTHER "INFRASTRUCTURE" ENHANCEMENTS SO THAT WE WOULD BE READY TO PROVIDE OUR VITAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ACTIVITIES AS SOON AS THE BAN ON IN-PERSON INTERVENTION AT HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS AND NURSING HOMES WAS RELAXED. THE SBA LOAN HAS HELPED THE ORGANIZATION MOVE FROM PANDEMIC STRUGGLING TO POST PANDEMIC THRIVING. WE ARE REBUILDING OUR CERTIFIED THERAPY DOG VOLUNTEER TEAM (NOW OVER 320 CERTIFIED TEAMS) AND WORKING WITH OVER 200 FACILITIES NOT ONLY HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS AND NURSING HOMES BUT WITH BUSINESSES NEEDING POST PANDEMIC WORKFORCE WELLNESS HELP.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Crisis Response Certification
Weekend training for certified volunteers to assist in national disasters with therapy dog support.
Professional Training Certification
Training for educators, therapists, and other professionals to integrate their dogs into clinical or educational practice.
Research and Awareness
Collaborative research with academic and medical institutions such as Mount Sinai, Yale, Pace University, and University of Pennsylvania to study therapy dog impacts on patient wellbeing, child stress, and prison parenting programs.
Volunteer Therapy Skills Certification
Four-week in-person training course for dog-handler teams to become certified for therapy visits in hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. Includes obedience, temperament assessment, and safety protocols. Fee: $280.
activities · 1 group
What they do
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Animal-Assisted Support Services 10 activities
- Conduct research on therapy dog interventionsConducts and collaborates on research with major hospitals and universities—including Mount Sinai Medical Center, Yale University, Pace University, and the University of Pennsylvania—to study the impact of therapy dogs on emotional wellbeing, stress reduction in children, parenting skills among female inmates, and national training standards, with findings published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated through media.
- Deploy crisis response therapy dog teamsDeploys specially trained therapy dog teams to support communities affected by national and local disasters, including mass shootings and other traumatic events, when invited and funding is available. Volunteer teams are eligible for crisis response work after one year of active participation.
- Deploy therapy dog teams in hospitals, schools, and long-term care facilitiesProvides free therapy dog visits to partner facilities including hospitals, schools, youth programs, and long-term care facilities to support children and adults recovering from stress, trauma, and illness or coping with disabilities and learning issues. Serves 100,000 children and adults annually through a network of certified therapy dog teams across 300+ partner facilities in the Tri-State/Greater NY Metro area.
- Design and implement school-based prevention programs with therapy dogsCo-designed a pilot program with CAPS using therapy dog teams in a three-day school workshop to teach second graders how to recognize, avoid, and report abusive behavior.
- Ensure safe and ethical therapy dog visit environmentsConducts pre-inspections and requires signed Partnership Agreements with facilities to ensure safe, structured environments for therapy dog visits. Limits therapy dog volunteering to one hour per day to protect animal welfare and prevent fatigue or stress.
- Host therapy dog engagement events at public gatheringsHosts Therapy Dog Love Sessions at organizational galas, offering attendees individualized quality time with certified therapy dogs and their handlers to promote public awareness and engagement.
- Provide professional certification and support for educator-dog teamsOffers a six-hour professional certification course for K-12 educators and their dogs to conduct Animal Assisted Interventions in schools, including individualized Zoom practicum counseling and consultation with school administration to support safe integration of therapy dogs on campus during the first semester.
- Recruit and train volunteer dog trainersSeeks and trains positive reinforcement dog trainers in Westchester County, Fairfield County, and the NYC Metro Area to prepare people and their dogs for therapy dog work.
- Support workforce wellness through therapy dog visitsOperates the Workforce Wellness program, allowing businesses to schedule periodic therapy dog visits to support employee mental wellbeing and morale.
- Train and certify therapy dog teamsOffers in-person and remote training programs for individuals and their dogs to become certified therapy dog teams, including a 2-week remote course with Zoom classes, homework, and progress tracking, as well as four weekly 90-minute in-person classes. Provides ongoing support and requires annual reevaluation for certified teams in the NY Metro area.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$892K
Contributions & grants$768K86%
Program service revenue$123K14%
Investment income$800%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$981K
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$608K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$342K
Cash$94K
Investments$0
Liabilities$593K
Net assets$-252K
Liquid reserves1.1 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -9.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRUCE FAGIN | EXEC. DIRECTOR- CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER | 40 | $120K |
| RACHEL MCPHERSON | FOUNDER/PRESIDENT | 40 | $120K |
| WILLIAM ROSS | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMIN | 24 | $53K |
| TIAROSE BIASI | VP OF BUSINESS DEV | 6 | $21K |
board members · 21
- ABIGAIL RUDZIN — DIRECTOR
- ADAM B WEXLER — DIRECTOR
- ALEXANDER STROMBERG — VICE CHAIR
- ANDREA HONDA — DIRECTOR
- CARL COMSTOCK — DIRECTOR
- CHRISTINA DE MARVAL — SENIOR VICE CHAIR
- CLAYTON ECK — DIRECTOR
- ELIZABETH KALLENBERG — DIRECTOR
- ELLEN LEIKIND — DIRECTOR
- GLENN TROOST — DIRECTOR
- HYEBIN MCGILLIVARY — DIRECTOR
- JAIME BELL — DIRECTOR
- JESSICA C KATES — DIRECTOR
- LORI SHAPIRO — DIRECTOR
- MARISA BEENEY — DIRECTOR
- MEGAN M NEWHOUSE — DIRECTOR
- MELISSA BARNETT — DIRECTOR
- MERAV PEPERE — DIRECTOR
- MICHELE KRIEGER — DIRECTOR
- NICHOLAS DELLAVECCHIA — DIRECTOR
- PATRICK G GORDON — VICE CHAIR
relationships · 44
Who they work with
- Blackstone Charitable Foundation Partner — Leadership supporter of The Good Dog Foundation's Workforce Wellness therapy dog program.
- Blackstone Foundation Funder — Recognized The Good Dog Foundation with second place in its annual global nonprofit philanthropic program
- CAPS (Child Abuse Prevention Services) Partner — Co-designed a pilot program using therapy dog teams in a school-based workshop to teach child abuse prevention to second graders.
- EmblemHealth Partner — Corporate partner supporting therapy dog services and programs.
- EmblemHealth Partner — Corporate partner that has engaged The Good Dog Foundation for therapy dog services.
- Facebook Partner — Corporate partner supporting therapy dog services and workplace wellness programs.
- Facebook Partner — Corporate partner that has engaged The Good Dog Foundation for therapy dog services.
- International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations Network — Member organization collaborating on global human-animal interaction initiatives.
- International Society for Anthrozoology Network — Member organization participating in the study of human-animal interactions.
- Jane Goodall Institute USA Partner — Honored collaborator in promoting animal welfare, environmental conservation, and the interconnected well-being of people, animals, and the planet.
- Juilliard School Partner — Provides jazz artists to perform at The Good Dog Foundation's annual gala.
- Morgan Stanley Partner — Corporate partner supporting therapy dog services and initiatives.
- Morgan Stanley Partner — Corporate partner that has engaged The Good Dog Foundation for therapy dog services.
- Mount Sinai Hospital Partner — Receives animal-assisted therapy services from Good Dog Foundation therapy dog Ralph.
- Mount Sinai Medical Center Partner — Research partner on a long-term study assessing animal-assisted therapy for cancer patients
- Mount Sinai Medical Center New York Partner — Collaborated on a study assessing therapy dog benefits for cancer patients undergoing treatment.
- National Institutes of Health Partner — Entity with which The Good Dog Foundation regularly confers and shares information related to human-animal interaction research
- Nature.com Partner — Platform where the full study on dog ownership and cancer survival is published.
- New York City Department of Education Partner — Collaborates with DOE to offer certification programs for its employees.
- New York City Emergency Management Partner — Government entity that has partnered with The Good Dog Foundation for therapy dog services.
- New York City Emergency Management Partner — Partner agency collaborating on crisis response and disaster relief efforts.
- New York Presbyterian Hospital Partner — Hosts weekly visits by Good Dog Foundation therapy dog team Stella.
- Pace University Department of Criminal Justice Partner — Collaborated on a multi-year pilot using therapy dog teams to help female inmates build parenting skills.
- Pace University Department of Criminal Justice Partner — Research partner on assessing therapy dog teams in an in-prison parenting program for female inmates
- PepsiCo Partner — Corporate partner engaged in wellness and therapy dog initiatives.
- PepsiCo Partner — Corporate partner that has engaged The Good Dog Foundation for therapy dog services.
- Public Theater Partner — Corporate partner engaging in therapy dog programs and events.
- Public Theater Partner — Corporate partner that has engaged The Good Dog Foundation for therapy dog services.
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Partner — Corporate partner supporting therapy dog programs and services.
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Partner — Corporate partner that has engaged The Good Dog Foundation for therapy dog services.
+ 14 more
strategies · 2
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.
- Animal-Assisted Intervention for Therapeutic and Educational Outcomesmethodology: animal_assisted_interventionBy integrating trained therapy dog teams into clinical, educational, and crisis settings, we improve psychological resilience, learning, and emotional safety because the human-animal bond triggers neurobiological responses (e.g., oxytocin release) and creates nonjudgmental relational spaces that enhance engagement and recovery.
- Evidence-Based Development of Animal-Assisted Practicesmethodology: evidence_based_practice_developmentBy conducting and collaborating on longitudinal research and multidisciplinary science, we validate and refine therapy dog interventions because sustained, data-driven inquiry strengthens clinical credibility and program scalability across medical, educational, and psychological domains.