NEADS

What NEADS does

NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services), founded in 1984 and headquartered in Princeton, Massachusetts, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that breeds, trains, and places service dogs with individuals with disabilities. Its core 'product' is a purpose-bred yellow or black Labrador Retriever trained for 18-24 months to perform specialized tasks, then matched with a client and finalized through a 2-week on-campus training period at the Princeton facility. Service lines span six program areas: Service Dogs for Veterans (including the Trauma Assistance Dog program for diagnosed PTSD), Service Dogs for Hearing, Service Dogs for Adults and Children with Physical Disabilities, Service Dogs for Children with Autism, and Assistance Dogs for Facility Settings (classroom, ministry, counseling, courthouse). Veterans receive dogs at no cost.

The underlying technology is animal husbandry and task training rather than software: NEADS maintains its own breeding program, deploys 50-60 task curricula for veteran dogs, and is accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) — a credential required for veterans to access VA Service Dog Benefits. The organization has matched 1,900+ Service Dog teams over 41 years and has placed 100-145+ dogs with veterans at no cost since 2006, following its pioneering engagement at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The revenue model is donation-driven, not fee-for-service. Each client is asked to fundraise $8,000 toward NEADS as a contribution (not a payment), while the true cost of a dog exceeds $45,000. Funding is assembled from direct individual and corporate donations (Morgan Stanley, Harbor Sweets, Polar Beverages, Blue Pearl, Embark, Boston Duck Tours), the Stephen Baum Fund for unmatched client contributions, community fundraising events such as the annual Pulling 4 Paws and '50 for 50' Walk, a merchandise e-commerce shop, and partner ecosystems including Blue Star Mothers and Quilts of Valor. The go-to-market is community-led: outreach through social media, client testimonials, volunteer networks, and word-of-mouth among existing supporters and alumni. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

NEADS

Legal name

NEADS Inc.

Website

https://neads.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NEADS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 in Princeton, Massachusetts that breeds and trains purpose-bred Labrador Retrievers as service dogs for adults, children, and veterans with disabilities, including specialized programs for PTSD, hearing loss, autism, and facility settings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Assistance Dog Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Service & Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Accommodations Management (EDALAGAK)

Keywords

• Service dog training
• Assistance dog placement
• Service dog programs
• Therapy dog services
• Guide dog organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Princeton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Client Fundraising: NEADS clients are required to fundraise $8,000 toward the organization as part of the service dog application process. This is not a payment for the dog but rather a contribution to support the organization's mission. The true cost of a NEADS Service Dog is over $45,000. Funds go toward breeding, raising, training, and matching World Class Service Dogs.
2. Direct Donations: NEADS accepts direct donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID# 23 7281887) and encourages general donations as well as donations toward client fundraising campaigns.
3. The Stephen Baum Fund: A fund consisting of donations made toward client fundraising without the donor choosing a specific client. Used to support matching funds days and incentives for client fundraisers.
4. Community Fundraising Events: NEADS hosts and participates in community fundraising events including the annual Pulling 4 Paws event. Teams participate with fundraising goals, with some teams raising over $6,000.
5. Online Shop: NEADS operates an online shop at shop.neads.org selling merchandise to support the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NEADS breeds, trains, and places purpose-bred Labrador Retriever service dogs with individuals with disabilities across multiple specialized programs, including Service Dogs for Veterans (and the Trauma Assistance Dog program for PTSD), Service Dogs for Hearing, Service Dogs for Adults and Children with Physical Disabilities, Service Dogs for Children with Autism, and Assistance Dogs for Facility settings. Each dog is trained for 18-24 months, and matched teams complete a 2-week on-campus client training at the Princeton, MA headquarters.

Product overview

NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services) is a non-profit organization that breeds, trains, and places World Class Service Dogs with individuals with disabilities. The core offering consists of purpose-bred Labrador Retrievers trained for 18-24 months, which are then matched with clients across various specialized programs including Service Dogs for Veterans (including Trauma Assistance Dog/TAD for PTSD), Hearing Dogs, Service Dogs for Physical Disabilities (for both adults and children), Facility Dogs (Classroom, Ministry, Counseling, Courthouse), and Service Dogs for Children with Autism. All dogs are trained at the NEADS campus in Princeton, MA, followed by a 2-week client training period. The organization also operates a client fundraising platform (built on Classy) where clients raise $8,000 to support the organization. NEADS has matched over 1,900 Service Dog teams during its 41+ years of operation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Service Dogs for Veterans (SDV): Program pairing trained service dogs with qualified veterans of the armed services who could benefit from canine assistance. Formerly known as Canines for Combat Veterans (CCV).
• Trauma Assistance Dog (TAD)
• Pulling 4 Paws

Products and services

• World Class Service Dogs NEADS purpose-bred yellow and black Labrador Retrievers trained for 18-24 months to perform specific task work for individuals with disabilities. Dogs are matched with clients and complete a 2-week on-campus training at the NEADS Princeton, MA facility.
• Service Dogs for Veterans (SDV) Pairs highly trained NEADS dogs with qualified U.S. armed services veterans who can benefit from canine assistance for physical disabilities, hearing loss, or PTSD. Service dogs are provided at no cost to veterans. Since 2006, NEADS has placed more than 100 dogs with veterans.
• Trauma Assistance Dog (TAD) Program Specialized program for veterans with diagnosed service-related PTSD from trauma during active duty. Dogs help with overcoming fear of public places, coping with anxiety triggers, reintegration into civilian settings, and therapeutic tactile exercises.
• Service Dogs for Hearing Service Dogs trained to alert deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals (including veterans) to important sounds at home and in public, including knocks at the door, smoke detectors, cell phone ringing, and their name being called.
• Service Dogs for Adults with Physical Disabilities Service Dogs trained to assist adults with physical disabilities with tasks including picking up dropped items, switching on light switches, retrieving objects off counters or table tops, and opening doors.
• Service Dogs for Children with Physical Disabilities Service Dogs specifically trained and matched to assist children with physical disabilities, providing support and increasing independence in daily activities.
• Service Dogs for Children with Autism Service Dogs trained to assist children with autism spectrum disorders, providing support, safety, and companionship.
• Assistance Dogs for Facility Settings Assistance Dogs placed in classroom, ministry, counseling, and courthouse professional environments to provide therapeutic support and assistance to individuals in those settings.
• NEADS Online Shop Online merchandise store at shop.neads.org selling branded apparel and goods to support NEADS' mission.
• Client Fundraising Platform Online fundraising platform built on Classy that allows NEADS clients to create personal fundraising pages, post updates, share to social media, and accept donations. Each client is asked to fundraise $8,000 toward the organization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,900 Service Dog teams matched in 41 years of operation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Quilts of ValorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Quilts of Valor has presented beautiful, hand-made quilts to each of NEADS' veteran clients since 2010. Over 125 quilts have been created for NEADS veteran clients. The founder, Catherine Roberts, started the organization after a dream about her son deployed in Iraq.
• Walter Reed National Military Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2006NEADS was the first Service Dog organization invited to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington, D.C. to give a presentation about the skills and tasks that their dogs could offer combat veterans. This led to the formation of the Canines for Combat Veterans (CCV) program, now known as Service Dogs for Veterans (SDV).
• Blue Star Mothers of Leominster and WorcestercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Blue Star Mothers have provided meals for veteran clients during their training at NEADS since 2006. They have fed each of the 129 veterans served by NEADS since 2006, providing 3 meals a day for 10 days of training. This equates to approximately 3,810 meals total. They also assist with NEADS events and veteran support activities.
• Morgan StanleyminorOthersCorporate supporter of NEADS organization as shown in supporter logos on the website.
• D'Ambrosio Eye CareminorOthersCorporate supporter of NEADS organization as shown in supporter logos on the website.
• Harbor SweetsminorOthersCorporate supporter of NEADS organization as shown in supporter logos on the website.
• Advisors Mortgage Group (AMG)minorOthersCorporate supporter of NEADS organization as shown in supporter logos on the website.
• Tower of HopeminorOthersCorporate supporter of NEADS organization as shown in supporter logos on the website.
• Polar BeveragesminorOthersCorporate supporter of NEADS organization as shown in supporter logos on the website.
• Blue PearlminorOthersCorporate supporter of NEADS organization as shown in supporter logos on the website. Blue Pearl provides veterinary services.
• EmbarkminorOthersCorporate supporter of NEADS organization as shown in supporter logos on the website. Embark provides dog DNA testing.
• Boston Duck ToursminorOthersCorporate supporter of NEADS organization as shown in supporter logos on the website.
• The Black DogminorOthersCorporate supporter of NEADS organization as shown in supporter logos on the website.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans can apply for VA Service Dog Benefits if the reason for the Service Dog is service-connected. The VA provides health insurance cards for approved Service Dogs covering veterinary care. NEADS is an ADI-accredited organization making veterans eligible for these benefits.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• K9s For Warriors: Nonprofit that pairs service dogs with veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, and MST. Directly competes for veteran clients with PTSD, overlapping heavily with NEADS' TAD program.
• America's VetDogs: ADI-accredited nonprofit that provides service dogs to veterans with disabilities, physical injuries, and hearing loss. Direct veteran-focused peer with overlapping programs (mobility, hearing, PTSD) and VA benefit eligibility.
• Dogs for Better Lives: Formerly Dogs for the Deaf, this ADI-accredited nonprofit places service dogs (hearing assistance, autism, facility) across similar client segments to NEADS, including classroom/facility placements.
• 4 Paws for Ability: Nonprofit placing service dogs with children with disabilities and veterans. Comparable mission including autism service dogs and veteran programs, with a similar donation-driven model.
• Guide Dogs for the Blind: ADI-accredited nonprofit training guide dogs for blind/visually impaired individuals and service dogs for veterans. Comparable scale and operating model with similar breeding, training, and placement pipeline.
• Canine Companions for Independence: National ADI-accredited nonprofit that breeds, trains, and places service dogs with people with disabilities and veterans. Most comparable direct competitor with similar mission scope, including veteran and hearing dog programs, and a multi-regional campus model.
• Service Dogs Inc. Texas-based ADI-accredited nonprofit providing mobility assistance and PTSD service dogs for veterans. Comparable training pipeline and veteran service focus.
• Paws With A Cause: National nonprofit that trains service, hearing, and seizure alert dogs for people with disabilities. Directly comparable client fundraising model and disability-focused program mix.

Others

• Assistance Dogs International: Industry accrediting body for service dog organizations. Not a direct competitor, but the governing organization whose accreditation enables NEADS' veterans to access VA Service Dog Benefits.

Regional players

• ECAD (Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities): Connecticut-based ADI-accredited nonprofit training service dogs for mobility, hearing, and veteran PTSD. Comparable programs but serves primarily the Northeast US with similar regional overlap to NEADS' Princeton, MA catchment area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NEADSassistancedogs
• Facebookfacebook.com/NEADSdogs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/neadsdogs
• Instagraminstagram.com/neadsdogs
• Xx.com/NEADSdogs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NEADS