Go Team Therapy Dogs
Go Team Therapy Dogs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains and certifies volunteer handler-dog teams to provide comfort visits in hospitals, schools, airports, nursing homes, and disaster sites across 20+ U.S. states and Italy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersColorado Springs, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Go Team Therapy Dogs does
Go Team Therapy Dogs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in response to the Waldo Canyon fire. Its mission is to recruit, train, and certify volunteer handler-dog teams that deliver comfort and emotional support in hospitals, nursing homes, libraries, schools, airports, and crisis/disaster settings nationwide and overseas. The organization operates as GO TEAM Therapy, Crisis and Airport Dogs, Inc., and has trained over 1,000 handler-dog teams since inception, with active deployments in 20+ U.S. states plus Italy.
The core product is a two-day intensive training and certification program requiring dogs to first pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, followed by real-life situational training including elevator/stair drills, first responder scenarios, TSA airport security drills, and Paws 2 Read literacy program exposure. Graduates receive a one-year membership that includes an embroidered vest, ID card, graduation certificate, and liability insurance, with mandatory annual recertification to remain active. The organization differentiates through its TSA partnership enabling airport security-environment work, AKC affiliation, and a recognized crisis-response identity established during the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires.
Revenue is generated through three primary streams: training fees ($295 + S&H for one dog-handler team, $135 + S&H for each additional handler), annual membership renewal dues ($55 first handler plus $15 for each additional handler or dog), and donations/corporate sponsorships. Total reported revenue ranged from $82,066 to $123,271 annually between 2018 and 2022, with the most recent disclosed FY2022 figure of $99,767. Volunteer hours logged in 2023 reached 35,968 and miles traveled reached 363,819, indicating strong operational throughput despite a small administrative base. Distribution is volunteer-driven, with facility requests handled via the website and matched to teams based on geographic proximity and availability.
Go Team Therapy Dogs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Go Team Therapy Dogs
- Legal name
- GO TEAM Therapy, Crisis and Airport Dogs, Inc.
- Website
- https://goteamdogs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Go Team Therapy Dogs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains and certifies volunteer handler-dog teams to provide comfort visits in hospitals, schools, airports, nursing homes, and disaster sites across 20+ U.S. states and Italy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Go Team Therapy Dogs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Colorado Springs
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Go Team Therapy Dogs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Handler-dog teams pay annual membership renewal fees. The primary membership fee is $55 for the first handler plus $15 for each combination of additional handler and/or dog in the same household. Initial training registration is $295 + S&H for one dog and one handler.
- Donations and Contributions: The organization accepts monetary donations from individuals and corporate sponsors. Revenue from contributions and grants ranged from approximately $10,886 to $54,804 annually between 2018-2022.
- Training Fees: Initial training class fees of $295 + S&H for one dog/handler team and $135 + S&H for each additional handler with the same registered dog. This is a one-time fee at onboarding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Initial Training - One Dog and One Handler: $295 + S&H |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Additional Handler with Same Registered Dog: $135 + S&H |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership Renewal: $55 first handler + $15 each additional |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Class Withdrawal Fee: $50 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Go Team Therapy Dogs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Go Team Therapy Dogs delivers animal-assisted comfort and emotional support services through trained volunteer handler-dog teams. Its central deliverable is a two-day handler-dog training and certification program that prepares teams to provide therapy visits at hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries, and airports, as well as crisis response support for first responders and disaster evacuees. Graduates receive a one-year membership with liability insurance, an embroidered vest, ID card, and graduation certificate, with mandatory annual recertification.
Product overview
Go Team Therapy Dogs is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization offering a portfolio of therapy and crisis comfort dog services centered on its GO TEAM Handler-Dog Training and Certification Program. The core offering consists of a rigorous two-day training and certification program that prepares handler-dog teams to deliver therapy visits, crisis response, and airport comfort services. Upon passing, teams receive a one-year GO TEAM Membership including an embroidered vest, ID card, graduation certificate, and liability insurance, with mandatory annual recertification. The organization also offers supplementary programs including Paws 2 Read literacy visits, a donation processing system accepting multiple contribution methods, and a class registration platform. Services span therapy dog visits (hospitals, nursing homes, libraries, schools, airports), crisis response, and airport comfort programs nationwide and overseas.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GO TEAM Handler-Dog Training and Certification Program
- GO TEAM One-Year Membership
- Therapy Dog Visit Services
- Crisis Response Dog Services
- Airport Comfort Dog Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,000 handler-dog teams trained since founding in 2012
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Go Team Therapy Dogs
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Go Team Therapy Dogs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Go Team Therapy Dogs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Grant ThorntonminorCorporate partner providing sponsorship and support for GO TEAM programs. Listed among corporate partners on the organization's partnerships page.
- Kaiser PermanentecoreMajor healthcare partner that awarded GO TEAM member Melissa Manandic the 2023 David Lawrence Community Service Award, with Kaiser contributing $10,000 to nonprofit organizations of winners' choice. Kaiser Permanente's Healthy Spaces program supports wellness initiatives.
- Ent Credit UnionminorColorado-based credit union listed as a corporate partner supporting GO TEAM's mission.
- ColorSplash UniformsminorColorado uniform company listed as a corporate partner providing support.
- King SoopersminorKroger subsidiary grocery chain in Colorado listed as a corporate partner.
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA)coreGO TEAM has a unique partnership with TSA allowing their therapy dogs to participate in airport security drills and provide comfort at airports. Dogs receive specialized training including real or mock TSA airport security drills as part of their certification.
- American Kennel Club (AKC)coreGO TEAM is affiliated with AKC, requiring all dogs to pass the AKC-approved Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test before attending training. The organization also offers AKC CGCA (Community Canine) and AKC Urban CGC testing as part of their certification program.
- Guidestar (Candid)minorGO TEAM displays the GuideStar Transparency Seal on their website, indicating compliance with nonprofit reporting standards.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Go Team Therapy Dogs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Therapy Dogs International (TDI): TDI is one of the oldest and largest therapy dog certification organizations in the US, offering dog-only testing and certification for handler-dog teams visiting hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. It competes directly with Go Team for handler volunteers and facility relationships.
- Alliance of Therapy Dogs: Alliance of Therapy Dogs is a national therapy dog certification organization with volunteer testers and a similar member-based model. It provides comparable handler-dog certification and facility visitation programs across the US.
- Love on a Leash: Love on a Leash is a nonprofit therapy dog organization operating chapters across multiple US states with similar handler-dog certification and facility visitation services. Comparable in scale and direct therapy dog mission overlap.
Broad incumbents
- Pet Partners: Pet Partners is the largest therapy animal organization in the US, certifying therapy animal teams across multiple species and operating nationally with volunteer evaluator infrastructure. It is the closest broad incumbent to Go Team, with overlapping training, certification, and facility deployment model.
Others
- Puppies Behind Bars: Puppies Behind Bars trains service dogs for veterans and first responders through inmate assistance programs. While focused on service rather than therapy dogs, it overlaps in mission (crisis/comfort for first responders), nonprofit model, and relies on rigorous training standards comparable to Go Team's approach.
- Humane Society of the United States - Pets for Life: HSUS is a major national animal welfare nonprofit that operates adjacent programs (animal-assisted therapy grants, shelter pet initiatives). It is comparable as a large, established nonprofit animal organization that influences the broader pet care ecosystem in which Go Team operates.
Regional players
- Bright Spot Therapy Dogs: Bright Spot Therapy Dogs is a New England-based therapy dog organization focused on handler-dog certification and visits to hospitals, schools, and libraries. It overlaps with Go Team on training curriculum and crisis/community deployment but operates primarily in a different geography.
Emerging players
- Canine Companions for Independence: Canine Companions for Independence trains and places service dogs (not therapy dogs) for individuals with disabilities, using a professional training model. It is comparable as an adjacent player in the certified working dog space and competes for nonprofit donor dollars in animal-assisted services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Go Team Therapy Dogs social profiles
Digital presenceGo Team Therapy Dogs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Go Team Therapy Dogs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Go Team Therapy Dogs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Go Team Therapy Dogs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Go Team Therapy Dogs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Go Team Therapy Dogs
What does Go Team Therapy Dogs do?
Go Team Therapy Dogs delivers animal-assisted comfort and emotional support services through trained volunteer handler-dog teams. Its central deliverable is a two-day handler-dog training and certification program that prepares teams to provide therapy visits at hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries, and airports, as well as crisis response support for first responders and disaster evacuees. Graduates receive a one-year membership with liability insurance, an embroidered vest, ID card, and graduation certificate, with mandatory annual recertification.
Is Go Team Therapy Dogs a public or private company?
Go Team Therapy Dogs is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Go Team Therapy Dogs founded?
Go Team Therapy Dogs was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Go Team Therapy Dogs based?
Go Team Therapy Dogs is headquartered in Colorado Springs, United States, in the North America region.
How does Go Team Therapy Dogs make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are donations and Contributions and training Fees.
Who are Go Team Therapy Dogs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Therapy Dogs International (TDI), Alliance of Therapy Dogs and Love on a Leash. Pet Partners is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are Puppies Behind Bars and Humane Society of the United States - Pets for Life. Bright Spot Therapy Dogs is listed as a regional player. Canine Companions for Independence is listed as an emerging player.
Does Go Team Therapy Dogs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Go Team Therapy Dogs.