Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy is a Chicagoland 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that deploys nearly 200 volunteer therapy dog teams to deliver goal-directed animal-assisted therapy programs at hospitals, schools, libraries, and corporate sites, serving 38,000+ individuals annually across approximately 50 program types.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersMorton Grove, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy does
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987 by educator Nancy Lind in Morton Grove, Illinois. It is the largest and longest-serving pet therapy organization in the Chicago metropolitan area, deploying nearly 200 certified volunteer handler-and-dog teams to deliver goal-directed animal-assisted therapy at hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, schools, libraries, park districts, corporate offices, and crisis-response settings. The organization's core "technology" is a rigorously trained therapy dog workforce combined with a 2009-published activity manual covering 50 therapeutic interventions; there is no software platform or AI capability. It serves roughly 38,000 individuals annually across approximately 50 distinct program types including adult and pediatric ICU, NICU/PICU, oncology, hospice, palliative care, behavioral health, rehabilitation, and reading/literacy programs.
Rainbow's business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven rather than transactional. Revenue streams include: (1) unrestricted individual and corporate donations, (2) a tiered annual Dog Sponsorship Program with six levels priced $365 to $5,000 offering recognition, on-site wellness visits, and annual luncheon tickets, (3) annual membership dues of $45 (individual) and $65 (family) for active therapy teams, (4) training and apprehension class fees ranging $75–$175, and (5) corporate event services provided in exchange for tax-deductible donations. Services to not-for-profit facilities are delivered at no charge. Major hospital partners include NorthShore University HealthSystem (Endeavor Health), Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Advocate Children's Hospital, and Little Company of Mary Hospital.
The go-to-market model is community-led and volunteer-driven: growth is generated through word-of-mouth volunteer recruitment, direct outreach to facilities, corporate sponsorships, and earned media coverage (Good Morning America, NBC Chicago, WGN Radio, Chicago Sun-Times). Distribution is exclusively regional, restricted to the Chicagoland area, and explicitly excludes nursing homes due to capacity constraints. The organization operates a small paid staff (11–50 employees) supporting a much larger volunteer base, with revenue not publicly disclosed and no commercial revenue lines beyond fees, sponsorships, and donations.
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy
- Legal name
- Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy, Inc
- Website
- https://rainbowaat.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy is a Chicagoland 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that deploys nearly 200 volunteer therapy dog teams to deliver goal-directed animal-assisted therapy programs at hospitals, schools, libraries, and corporate sites, serving 38,000+ individuals annually across approximately 50 program types.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal-Assisted Therapy Services
- NAICS
- Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF)
Keywords
Where Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Morton Grove
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: As a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization, Rainbow relies on generous donations from individuals and organizations. Donations support the continuous learning, training, enrichment activities, and overall well-being of therapy dogs.
- Dog Sponsorship Program: Annual corporate and individual sponsorships for therapy dogs at various levels ($365 to $5,000). Sponsors receive benefits including recognition, wellness visits, and tickets to the annual Rainbow Luncheon.
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees: $45 for individual (1 handler, 1 dog) and $65 for family (2 handlers, 1 dog). Required for active therapy teams to maintain working status.
- Training Classes: Therapy Dog Training Class ($125 for one handler, $175 for two handlers) and Dog Apprehension Class ($75 for one child, $130 for two or more children). Revenue from class fees supports program operations.
- Corporate Event Services: Therapy dog services for corporate events including employee de-stressing, wellness sessions, marketing, and presentations. Tax-deductible donations are requested for corporate events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual membership for therapy teams |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Therapy Dog Training Class |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dog Apprehension Class for children |
| Subscription | Annual | Community Supporter Sponsorship |
| Subscription | Annual | Community Advocate Sponsorship |
| Subscription | Annual | Impact Partner Sponsorship |
| Subscription | Annual | Leadership Partner Sponsorship |
| Subscription | Annual | Champion Partner Sponsorship |
| Subscription | Annual | Legacy Partner Sponsorship |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy provides goal-directed animal-assisted therapy services through nearly 200 certified volunteer therapy dog teams across Chicagoland. Its core offerings are facility-based therapy programs (medical centers, schools, libraries, park districts, corporate events, and crisis-response deployments) plus specialized classes including Dog Apprehension Classes for children with cynophobia, Dog Safety Programs, Read to the Dog Programs, and Therapy Dog Training Classes for prospective volunteers. The organization is funded by donations, dog sponsorships, memberships, and training class fees, and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Product overview
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy is a nonprofit organization offering a unified set of animal-assisted therapy services through nearly 200 certified therapy dog teams. The core offering consists of therapeutic programs delivered at hospitals, schools, libraries, and workplaces, supported by specialized programs including Dog Apprehension Classes, Dog Safety Programs, and Read to the Dog Programs. The organization also operates a Community Response Unit for crisis situations. Supporting offerings include Therapy Dog Training Classes for volunteer certification and a Dog Sponsorship Program for donors. Services are provided at no charge to not-for-profit facilities and are funded through donations and corporate sponsorships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Medical Center Programs Goal-directed animal-assisted therapy visits by certified therapy dog teams to patients, families, and staff across hospital units. Delivered at no charge to not-for-profit hospitals. Active partnerships include NorthShore/Endeavor Health, Advocate Lutheran General, Lurie Children's, Advocate Children's, and Little Company of Mary.
- Schools and Libraries Programs Recurring therapy dog visits at K-12 schools and public libraries covering early learning through high school, including weekly sessions for students with special needs and dog safety presentations. Active customers include Winston Campus Elementary, Solomon School, Molloy Education Center, Fremont Public Library, and Evanston Public Library.
- Read to the Dog Program Program delivered at libraries and schools where children read aloud to therapy dogs to build reading confidence, turn-taking, and independence. Fremont Public Library was the first in the area to offer the program 14 years ago.
- Dog Safety Program Educational program for children ages 5-9 (grades K-4) that teaches safe dog interaction, canine body language recognition, and techniques to avoid dog bites and respond to aggressive behavior.
- Dog Apprehension Class Structured six-class session for children ages 4-13 with excessive fear of dogs (cynophobia), providing individualized 1:1 work with certified therapy dogs to build confidence and safe interaction skills. Priced at $75 per child or $130 for two or more children.
- Corporate Events Therapy dog services for corporate events including employee de-stressing sessions, wellness programs, marketing activations, and presentations. Tax-deductible donations are requested from corporate buyers in lieu of fixed fees.
- Community Response Unit (CRU)
Companies that use Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered ongoing, supporting, notable and core.
- Evanston Public LibraryongoingRead to the Dog Program partnership returning to Evanston Public Library in May 2026 after launching in March. Provides children opportunity to read aloud to therapy dogs.
- Region VII Trauma CoordinatorssupportingImpact Partner Sponsor of therapy dog Trooper since October 2025. Supporting community response unit work.
- USO IllinoisnotablePartnership to support military personnel through therapy dog visits at airports and military facilities. Rainbow dog Louie visited the airport to support USO Illinois.
- R1 RCEsupportingImpact Partner Sponsor of therapy dog Tilly since June 2025. Supporting the dog's therapy work through corporate sponsorship.
- Gift of Hope Organ & TissuesupportingImpact Partner Sponsor of therapy dog Teddy G since March 2025. Corporate sponsorship supporting therapy work.
- Glenbrook Hospital (Endeavor Health)supportingCommunity Advocate Sponsor of therapy dog Watson since January 2025. Hospital-based sponsorship of therapy dog.
- WGN Radio 720notableRadio interview with President Carol Schuster discussing facility's role in providing therapy dogs at the Democratic National Convention.
- Democratic National Convention (DNC)notableRainbow therapy dogs deployed to help 'de-stress' law enforcement during DNC duty in Chicago. Elite volunteer corps of therapy dogs provided emotional support to federal, state, and city law enforcement agencies.
- Chicago Sun-TimesnotablePress coverage of therapy dogs deployed to help law enforcement during DNC duty, featuring Rainbow's volunteer corps.
- Good Morning America (ABC News)notableMedia coverage featuring Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy on Good Morning America discussing benefits of spending time with dogs. Susan Burrows, program coordinator, was interviewed.
- Chicago Police DepartmentnotableTherapy dogs helping Chicago police relieve stress of the job. Therapy dog Teddy visited 18th District police station for roll call.
- NorthShore University HealthSystem (Endeavor Health)coreLong-standing partnership for dog therapy visits at Glenbrook Hospital and other NorthShore facilities. Watson the therapy dog is exclusively sponsored by Glenbrook Hospital.
- Advocate Lutheran General Hospitalcore10-year partnership providing dog therapy visits at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and Advocate Children's Hospital in Park Ridge.
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's HospitalcorePediatric therapy dog visits providing emotional support to children in hospital settings, observed to decrease pain and anxiety.
- Fremont Public LibraryongoingFirst library in the area to offer Read to the Dog Program 14 years ago. Partnership has brought new patrons to the library.
- FW Cook & CompanysupportingChampion Partner Sponsor of therapy dog Momo since April 2025. Exclusive sponsorship supporting the dog's work in the Rainbow program.
- Kerlin Walsh LawsupportingLaw firm interview with President Carol Schuster and Bill Egan (handler for therapy dog Milo). Firm sponsors the therapy dog Milo.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Therapy Dogs International: One of the oldest therapy dog registries in the US, certifying teams for visits to hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and disaster sites. Directly comparable volunteer-handler model with comparable program portfolio.
- Pet Partners: The largest therapy animal organization in the United States, operating nationwide with therapy teams across multiple species. Comparable to Rainbow as a direct animal-assisted therapy provider but at national rather than regional scale.
- Alliance of Therapy Dogs: A national nonprofit registering therapy dog teams that visit hospitals, schools, libraries, and nursing homes. Closest direct competitor in the therapy dog certification and visitation space, though with broader geographic reach than Rainbow.
Others
- Banfield Foundation: The charitable arm of Banfield Pet Hospital, focused on pet welfare, veterinary care access, and disaster relief for pets. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but shares the nonprofit animal-welfare funding ecosystem.
Direct peers
- Love on a Leash: A nonprofit therapy dog organization with chapters across multiple states providing animal-assisted therapy visits to hospitals, libraries, and schools. Comparable volunteer-driven model to Rainbow with similar service categories.
- Lutheran Church Charities Comfort Dogs: A faith-based therapy dog ministry also headquartered in Chicagoland that deploys comfort dogs to hospitals, schools, and crisis sites (e.g., Sandy Hook, Boston Marathon bombing). Direct overlap with Rainbow's hospital visits and Community Response Unit activities in the same geography.
Emerging players
- Domesti-Paws: A nonprofit animal-assisted therapy organization serving the Indianapolis/Indiana region with therapy dog visits to hospitals, schools, and libraries. Comparable program mix and nonprofit structure to Rainbow at a smaller scale.
- Canine Assisted Therapy: A smaller nonprofit providing animal-assisted therapy services in healthcare and educational settings. Comparable clinical/therapeutic orientation with a similar volunteer-handler delivery model.
- Canine Companions for Independence: A nonprofit providing highly trained service dogs (not therapy dogs) for individuals with disabilities. Adjacent in mission and donation-funded nonprofit model, but focused on service rather than therapy visits — relevant for donor overlap.
Regional players
- Bright Spot Therapy Dogs: A New England-based therapy dog organization providing certified teams to hospitals, schools, and libraries. Comparable program structure but operates in a different U.S. region from Rainbow's Chicagoland base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy social profiles
Digital presenceRainbow Animal Assisted Therapy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy 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 Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy
What does Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy do?
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy provides goal-directed animal-assisted therapy services through nearly 200 certified volunteer therapy dog teams across Chicagoland. Its core offerings are facility-based therapy programs (medical centers, schools, libraries, park districts, corporate events, and crisis-response deployments) plus specialized classes including Dog Apprehension Classes for children with cynophobia, Dog Safety Programs, Read to the Dog Programs, and Therapy Dog Training Classes for prospective volunteers. The organization is funded by donations, dog sponsorships, memberships, and training class fees, and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Is Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy a public or private company?
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy founded?
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy based?
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy is headquartered in Morton Grove, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are dog Sponsorship Program, membership Dues, training Classes and corporate Event Services.
Who are Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Therapy Dogs International, Pet Partners and Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Banfield Foundation is listed as an others. Direct peers are Love on a Leash and Lutheran Church Charities Comfort Dogs. Emerging players are Domesti-Paws, Canine Assisted Therapy and Canine Companions for Independence. Bright Spot Therapy Dogs is listed as a regional player.
Does Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy.
What industry is Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy in?
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy's product category is Animal-Assisted Therapy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAD, Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAF, Foster & Volunteer Network Programs. Its NAICS code is 624190 and its SIC code is 8300.