Nonprofit · EIN 38-1366931
LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND
Tax-exempt · ROCHESTER HLS, MI 48307
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $20,872,200 | $20,964,492 | -$92,292 | $24,077,983 | $1,734,056 | $22,343,927 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $26,998,428 | $21,512,667 | $5,485,761 | $24,131,129 | $1,816,957 | $22,314,172 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $20,428,465
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $174,175
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $21,105
- Net income from fundraising events
- $163,065
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $43,586
- Other revenue
- $269,560
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $23,889
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $978,637
- Other salaries and wages
- $10,363,802
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $14,241,224
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $73,466
- Accounting fees
- $56,179
- Occupancy
- $872,668
- Travel
- $528,812
- Depreciation
- $1,195,168
- Program services (functional)
- $15,885,217
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,572,796
- Fundraising (functional)
- $3,506,479
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $24,131,129
- Total assets, end of year
- $24,077,983
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,734,056
- Net assets, end of year
- $22,343,927
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $15,192,942
- Publicly traded securities
- $3,326,881
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $17,011,756
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $5,332,171
- Gross unrelated business income
- $43,586
- Gross receipts
- $22,438,810
- Employees
- 221
- Volunteers
- 993
- Year formed
- 1952
- State of legal domicile
- MI
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MELISSA L WEISSE | PRESIDENT AND CEO Officer | 40 | $290,000 | $22,102 |
| SUSAN DANIELS | FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO Former | 0 | $288,203 | $5,078 |
| DANIELLE LANDOLT | VICE PRESIDENT AND CIO Officer | 40 | $204,000 | $27,853 |
| LORENE SUIDAN | VICE PRESIDENT AND CFO Officer | 40 | $198,900 | $23,902 |
| DAVID SMITH DVM | DIRECTOR OF CANINE HEALTH Highest-paid employee | 40 | $198,011 | $11,898 |
| KELLY WILSON DVM | ASST DIRECTOR OF CANINE HEALTH Highest-paid employee | 40 | $156,620 | $24,741 |
| GERETTE KERBY | DIRECTOR OF CANINE OPERATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $156,702 | $21,492 |
| MELISSA AUPPERLE | CHIEF PHILANTHROPY/MKTG OFFICER 7-29-24 Officer | 40 | $148,872 | $17,302 |
| CHRIS BEARUP | DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $129,674 | $21,207 |
| KATHRYN TUCK | DIRECTOR OF FOUNDATION GIVING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $124,998 | $8,967 |
| JOHN REED | CHAIR AS OF 11/12/2024 Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK GUTHRIE | SECRETARY THRU 11/12/24/VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AVRIL RINN | SECRETARY AS OF 11/12/2024 Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KIM GORMAN | VICE CHAIR THRU 11/12/24/TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELE HONOMICHL | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
20 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANTHONY COSTANZO | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ARUN ANAND | TRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRIAN HOCK | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DANIEL SPRIET | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DIANE HENDERSON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DR PAUL EDWARDS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DR FRANKLIN CARMONA | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JACKIE BUCHANAN | TRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JILL GARVEY | TRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JILL GAUS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KATHIE DAVIS | CHAIR THRU 11/12/2024/TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KURT TERRIEN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARC WISNIEWSKI | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARGARET DIMOND | TRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARIA KRISTIC | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARILYN KELLY | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARY SMITH | TRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MEGAN MCCANDLISH | TRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEVE GUARINI | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TOM O'MASTA | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 39 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN M DANIELS | PRESIDENT & CEO THRU 1/31/24 Officer | 40 | $319,000 | $29,856 |
| MELISSA L WEISSE | CPO THRU 1/31/24,CEO AS OF 2/1/24 Officer | 40 | $230,078 | $17,492 |
| DANIELLE LANDOLT | CMO THRU 2/4/24,VP/CIO AS OF 2/5/24 Officer | 40 | $202,000 | $26,278 |
| LORENE SUIDAN | COO THRU 2/4/24, CFO AS OF 2/5/24 Officer | 40 | $196,950 | $26,096 |
| ALEX MORGAN | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $186,850 | $25,469 |
| JEFFREY LEV | FORMER VP/CFO/ASST SECRETARY/ASST TREASURER Former | 0 | $180,385 | $21,767 |
| DAVID SMITH DVM | DIRECTOR OF CANINE HEALTH Highest-paid employee | 40 | $189,525 | $11,082 |
| GERETTE KERBY | DIRECTOR OF CANINE OPERATI Highest-paid employee | 40 | $157,498 | $20,781 |
| KELLY WILSON DVM | ASST DIRECTOR OF CANINE HEALTH Highest-paid employee | 40 | $153,106 | $23,833 |
| TERRI SWAFFIELD | DIRECTOR OF IT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $151,974 | $6,878 |
| CHRIS BEARUP | DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $131,195 | $19,466 |
| KATHRYN DAVIS | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KIM GORMAN | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK GUTHRIE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELE HONOMICHL | TRUSTEE; TREASURER AS OF 11/14/23 Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNE ARVIA | TREASURER THRU 11/14/23; TRUSTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANTHONY COSTANZO | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ARUN ANAND | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AVRIL RINN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN HOCK | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DANIEL SPRIET | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DIANE HENDERSON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUGLAS WRIGHT | TRUSTEE THRU 11/14/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR PAUL EDWARDS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| FRANKLIN CARMONA | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JACKIE BUCHANAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JILL GARVEY | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JILL GAUS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN REED | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KURT TERRIEN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARC WISNIEWSKI | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARGARET DIMOND | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARIA KRISTIC | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARILYN KELLY | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY SMITH | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MEGAN MCCANDLISH | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHANIE DAWKINS DAVIS | TRUSTEE THRU 11/16/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVE GUARINI | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM O'MASTA | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1039 S ROCHESTER RD, ROCHESTER HLS, MI 48307-3115
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- MELISSA L WEISSE, 1039 SOUTH ROCHESTER ROAD, ROCHESTER HILLS, MI 48307
- Signed the 990
- MELISSA L WEISSE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
- Phone
- (248) 659-5011
- Website
- WWW.LEADERDOG.ORG
- Return prepared by
- REHMANN ROBSON LLC
Mission
EMPOWERING PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED WITH LIFELONG SKILLS FOR SAFE AND INDEPENDENT DAILY TRAVEL.
Program accomplishments
- GUIDE DOG: SINCE 1939, LEADER DOG HAS BEEN HIGHLY RESPECTED FOR OUR INNOVATIVE GUIDE DOG PROGRAM. OUR FREE 21-DAY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM SERVES CLIENTS WHO ARE LEGALLY BLIND, 16 YEARS OLD AND UP, AND ABLE TO CARE FOR A DOG. TRAINING IS PERSONALIZED AND EACH CLIENT IS MATCHED WITH A DOG THAT FITS THEIR LIFESTYLE, PACE, PHYSICAL SIZE AND MORE. CLIENTS TRAIN WITH THEIR GUIDE DOG IN A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTS TO FIT BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS, INCLUDING URBAN, SUBURBAN AND RURAL LOCATIONS; COLLEGE CAMPUSES; STORES AND OTHER SETTINGS. THROUGH THE ADAPTIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, GUIDE DOGS ARE PROVIDED TO PEOPLE WITH HEARING LIMITATIONS, COGNITIVE ISSUES, OR OTHER PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS SUCH AS LOSS OF A LIMB.Expenses $12,807,628
- VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY OUTREACH: VOLUNTEERS ARE INTEGRAL TO THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF LEADER DOG AND ALLOW US TO SERVE MORE CLIENTS EACH YEAR. VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE THEIR TIME AND SKILLS IN MANY AREAS INCLUDING ON-CAMPUS, AND THROUGH PUPPY RAISING AND HOSTING BREEDING STOCK DOGS. COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS CONDUCTED NATIONALLY WITH VOLUNTEERS ATTENDING CONFERENCES AND/OR GIVING PRESENTATIONS BEFORE VARIOUS GROUPS IN SCHOOL, CORPORATE OR COMMUNITY SETTINGS. THEY SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT GUIDE DOGS, ORIENTATION & MOBILITY, AND LEADER DOG OPERATIONS.Expenses $941,256 · revenue $62,909
- ORIENTATION & MOBILITY (O&M): THIS FREE FIVE-DAY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO TRAVEL SAFELY USING A WHITE CANE IN A MUCH SHORTER TIMEFRAME THAN TRADITIONAL O&M TRAINING. HAVING GOOD O&M SKILLS, INCLUDING KNOWING HOW TO MAINTAIN ORIENTATION WHILE TRAVELING, IS THE NECESSARY FIRST STEP TO BECOMING A SAFE AND INDEPENDENT TRAVELER. TRAINING IS PROVIDED ON A 1:1 CLIENT-TO-INSTRUCTOR RATIO AND IS PERSONALIZED TO EACH CLIENT'S NEEDS AND CAPABILITIES. TRAINING IS OPEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LEGALLY BLIND AND AT LEAST 16 YEARS OF AGE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY PLAN TO EVENTUALLY TRAIN WITH A GUIDE DOG.Expenses $2,112,444
- SUPPORT THE MISSION OF LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND FOUNDATIONExpenses $23,889 · grants $23,889
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 38-1366931
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1952
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Human services (P860)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $24,077,983
- Income (IRS master file)
- $22,438,810
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $20,872,200 | $20,964,492 | $24,077,983 | XML |
| 990-T | June 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $26,998,428 | $21,512,667 | $24,131,129 | XML |
| 990-T | June 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $20,424,355 | $21,271,443 | $27,686,017 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | $19,128,539 | $22,912,466 | $29,006,678 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 38-1366931).
Questions about LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND
- What is the EIN of LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND is 38-1366931.
- Is LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1952.
- Are donations to LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names MELISSA L WEISSE.
- Who are the officers and directors of LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 35 people; 10 received compensation from the organization, the highest $290,000 (MELISSA L WEISSE, PRESIDENT AND CEO).
- How much revenue does LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $20,872,200, expenses of $20,964,492 and total assets of $24,077,983 at year end.
Other nonprofits in ROCHESTER HLS
- LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND FOUNDATION EIN 45-4529860 · last filed 990 for 2025
- DUTTON FARM INC EIN 27-1940625 · last filed 990 for 2025
- MOTHER WADDLES COMMUNITY OUTREACH INC EIN 27-3676785 · last filed 990 for 2024
- ROCHESTER AREA NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE INC EIN 38-1956214 · last filed 990 for 2024
- FAITH WORKS MICHIGAN EIN 27-4210364 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ST MARY THEOTOKOS EIN 39-4954165 · last filed 990 for 2025
- CASA COLIBRI EIN 26-1947552 · last filed 990 for 2025
- THINK EDUCATION ATHLETICS & MORE EIN 26-2012889 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025