The average cost of breeding, raising, training, and matching a NEADS dog is over $45,000. Clients do not pay a fee for their dogs, but instead, they work alongside NEADS staff to raise funds that will help support the organization. Clients are an important part of the NEADS fundraising team.

After your initial interview and upon being accepted into the NEADS program, you will meet with a NEADS representative. Together you will brainstorm and develop a personalized fundraising plan which will include your own fundraising page on the NEADS website.  To view the client fundraising pages click here.

Fundraising is not a requirement.  While we do anticipate that each client will support NEADS by bringing in $8,000 worth of donations, we welcome our clients to do this in whichever way works best for them.  NEADS clients are welcome to donate out of pocket if they would prefer.  As a client, you are free to choose any combination of personal donations and fundraising to best suit your needs.

While many other organizations charge a fee for their Service Dogs, NEADS has decided to remove that financial burden from our clients’ shoulders. Instead, we ask our clients to become a part of our fundraising team.  This allows for all of us – clients and staff – to work together toward our shared goal of sustaining the organization.  Donations brought in by clients directly impact our ability to both accept new clients into our programs, and to continue raising and training our remarkable Service Dogs.

No, NEADS dogs are matched based on a very complex list of criteria and we pride ourselves on our team matches – this is our number one priority.  That being said, if a dog is ready to be matched and there are several clients who would be a good fit, the effort put forth toward fundraising will be taken into consideration.

Clients are asked to begin fundraising immediately after acceptance into the program.  A minimum of $1,000 must be raised each quarter, with the goal being the completion of fundraising within two years.

Many of our clients exceed the minimum fundraising goal, and many chose to help other clients reach their fundraising goals.  It really is a team effort!  For those clients who enjoy the fundraising process and are willing to continue, we have additional fundraising options available that will be discussed during your initial interview.

All donations raised through client fundraising go toward the operating costs involved in breeding, raising, training, and matching World Class Service Dogs.  The contributions will not be applied for client’s benefit or for a specific dog, and thus, are not refundable.

Please note – Donations to NEADS are tax deductible, which is only possible if the donation expressly benefits NEADS and does not directly benefit a client.

NEADS is a registered 501(c)(3). Donations in support of the organization are tax deductible.

Donations through client fundraising are tax deductible as they support NEADS and do not directly benefit individual clients.  See IRS publication 526 for details.

IRS publication 526   from page 6

Contributions to Individuals

You can't deduct contributions to specific individuals,

including the following.

• Contributions to individuals who are needy or worthy. You can't deduct these contributions even if you make them to a qualified organization for the benefit of a specific person. But you can deduct a contribution to a qualified organization that helps needy or worthy individuals if you don't indicate that your contribution is for a specific person.

Example. You can deduct contributions to a qualified organization for flood relief, hurricane relief, or other disaster relief. However, you can’t deduct contributions earmarked for relief of a particular individual or family.