LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND

EIN 38-1366931 · Human Services (P860)

What they do

EMPOWERING PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND or VISUALLY IMPAIRED WITH LIFELONG SKILLS for SAFE and INDEPENDENT DAILY TRAVEL.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $75.80 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders35 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

76.11%of revenue went to mission work75.8% of expenses · Program services

16.80%of revenue went to fundraising16.7% of expenses

$100.44spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

7.54%of revenue went to management and office costs7.5% of expenses

$1.15in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

97.9%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $92,292 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $312,102 for MELISSA L WEISSE (PRESIDENT AND CEO). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$20,872,200

Mission workProgram services$15,885,21776.11% of revenue75.8% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$1,572,7967.54% of revenue7.5% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$3,506,47916.80% of revenue16.7% of expenses

Total expenses$20,964,492100.44% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 75.8% mission · 7.5% management · 16.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.44% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 73.0% mission · 9.7% management · 17.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 79.68% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 67.9% mission · 13.5% management · 18.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 104.15% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 64.6% mission · 22.8% management · 12.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 119.78% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 78.7% mission · 9.4% management · 11.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 113.30% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 69.0% mission · 13.9% management · 17.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 84.87% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 76.7% mission · 9.9% management · 13.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 98.11% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 75.7% mission · 10.6% management · 13.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 107.78% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$20,872,200

Expenses$20,964,492

Annual shortfall $92,292 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$15,885,217 · 75.8% of expenses

Management and office costs$1,572,796 · 7.5% of expenses

Fundraising$3,506,479 · 16.7% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$20,872,200

Expenses$20,964,492

Assets$24,077,983

Income$22,438,810

Contributions$20,428,465

Mission work (program services)$15,885,217

Fundraising$3,506,479

Grants given$15,969,007

Average grant$1,996,126

Management and general$1,572,796

Executive compensation (total)$746,842

Stocks and bonds$3,326,881

Accounting fees$56,179

Investing fees$18,317

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

MELISSA L WEISSEPRESIDENT AND CEO · 40 hrs/week $312,102Base $290,000 · Other $22,102

SUSAN DANIELSFORMER PRESIDENT & CEO $293,281Base $288,203 · Other $5,078

DANIELLE LANDOLTVICE PRESIDENT AND CIO · 40 hrs/week $231,853Base $204,000 · Other $27,853

LORENE SUIDANVICE PRESIDENT AND CFO · 40 hrs/week $222,802Base $198,900 · Other $23,902

DAVID SMITH DVMDIRECTOR OF CANINE HEALTH · 40 hrs/week $209,909Base $198,011 · Other $11,898

KELLY WILSON DVMASST DIRECTOR OF CANINE HEALTH · 40 hrs/week $181,361Base $156,620 · Other $24,741

GERETTE KERBYDIRECTOR OF CANINE OPERATIONS · 40 hrs/week $178,194Base $156,702 · Other $21,492

MELISSA AUPPERLECHIEF PHILANTHROPY/MKTG OFFICER 7-29-24 · 40 hrs/week $166,174Base $148,872 · Other $17,302

CHRIS BEARUPDIRECTOR OF FACILITIES · 40 hrs/week $150,881Base $129,674 · Other $21,207

KATHRYN TUCKDIRECTOR OF FOUNDATION GIVING · 40 hrs/week $133,965Base $124,998 · Other $8,967

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (35)

MELISSA L WEISSEPRESIDENT AND CEO

SUSAN DANIELSFORMER PRESIDENT & CEO

DANIELLE LANDOLTVICE PRESIDENT AND CIO

LORENE SUIDANVICE PRESIDENT AND CFO

DAVID SMITH DVMDIRECTOR OF CANINE HEALTH

KELLY WILSON DVMASST DIRECTOR OF CANINE HEALTH

GERETTE KERBYDIRECTOR OF CANINE OPERATIONS

MELISSA AUPPERLECHIEF PHILANTHROPY/MKTG OFFICER 7-29-24

CHRIS BEARUPDIRECTOR OF FACILITIES

KATHRYN TUCKDIRECTOR OF FOUNDATION GIVING

MEGAN MCCANDLISHTRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024

MARC WISNIEWSKITRUSTEE

MARGARET DIMONDTRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024

MARIA KRISTICTRUSTEE

MARILYN KELLYTRUSTEE

MARK GUTHRIESECRETARY THRU 11/12/24/VICE CHAIR

MARY SMITHTRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024

TOM OMASTATRUSTEE

MICHELE HONOMICHLTREASURER

STEVE GUARINITRUSTEE

ANTHONY COSTANZOTRUSTEE

KURT TERRIENTRUSTEE

KIM GORMANVICE CHAIR THRU 11/12/24/TRUSTEE

KATHIE DAVISCHAIR THRU 11/12/2024/TRUSTEE

JOHN REEDCHAIR AS OF 11/12/2024

JILL GAUSTRUSTEE

JILL GARVEYTRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024

JACKIE BUCHANANTRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024

DR PAUL EDWARDSTRUSTEE

DR FRANKLIN CARMONATRUSTEE

DIANE HENDERSONTRUSTEE

DANIEL SPRIETTRUSTEE

BRIAN HOCKTRUSTEE

AVRIL RINNSECRETARY AS OF 11/12/2024

ARUN ANANDTRUSTEE THRU 11/12/2024

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1952
Location: 1039 SOUTH ROCHESTER ROAD, ROCHESTER HILLS, MI 48307
County: Oakland
In care of: MELISSA L WEISSE
Primary officer: MELISSA L WEISSE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(248) 659-5011

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: REHMANN ROBSON LLC
NTEE classification: Human Services (P860)
IRS tax category: Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities
Grant-giving organization: Yes