Champ Assistance Dogs
CHAMP Assistance Dogs is a St. Louis-based nonprofit founded in 1998 that raises, trains, and places assistance, facility, and therapy dogs free of charge to individuals with disabilities and community institutions across the greater St. Louis region, operating with ADI accreditation and a 96% volunteer-powered workforce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Champ Assistance Dogs does
CHAMP Assistance Dogs is a nonprofit organization founded in 1998 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that raises, trains, and places highly skilled assistance dogs with individuals with disabilities in the greater St. Louis region. The organization operates three core programs: Assistance Dogs (service dogs placed with individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities, including public access service dogs, home service dogs, and family placement dogs), Facility Dogs (trained dogs placed with professional caregivers at hospitals, schools, courthouses, child advocacy centers, and counseling centers), and Therapy Dogs (volunteer-handler teams conducting comfort visits across community settings). All assistance dogs are placed free of charge to recipients, with the approximately $40,000 per-dog program cost covered through individual donations, foundation and corporate grants, an annual gala fundraiser, in-kind wish list contributions, and planned giving programs.
The organization relies on positive-reinforcement training methods and ADI-accredited standards, requiring all service dogs to pass the Assistance Dogs International Public Access Test with annual recertification. CHAMP is one of only three organizations in Missouri holding ADI accreditation, which represents the industry's highest international standards for dog training, client support, animal welfare, and program operations. The workforce is approximately 96% volunteer-powered, including puppy raisers, therapy dog handlers, and event supporters, with a small paid staff and a network of 90+ certified therapy dog teams serving 80+ community locations.
CHAMP's business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. Ancillary service lines include therapy dog training classes for community members, educational presentations on dog safety and ability awareness, and birthday party experiences. The organization maintains a BBB Accredited Charity designation and operates within a 50-mile service radius of its Maryland Heights, MO office, with Columbia, MO serving as a secondary facility dog placement hub. Since 1998, CHAMP has completed 104 service and facility dog placements and reached 4,683 individuals through educational presentations at 57 venues, with 2025 therapy dog visits reaching 80,000+ individuals.
Champ Assistance Dogs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Champ Assistance Dogs
- Legal name
- CHAMP Assistance Dogs
- Website
- https://champdogs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CHAMP Assistance Dogs is a St. Louis-based nonprofit founded in 1998 that raises, trains, and places assistance, facility, and therapy dogs free of charge to individuals with disabilities and community institutions across the greater St. Louis region, operating with ADI accreditation and a 96% volunteer-powered workforce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Champ Assistance Dogs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Assistance Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Animal Boarding (Kennels, Catteries) (AFAEALAA)
Keywords
Where Champ Assistance Dogs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Champ Assistance Dogs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring monetary donations from individuals supporting the mission. Donations help cover the approximately $40,000 cost to raise, train, and place each assistance dog.
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Grant funding from foundations and organizations to support training programs, operations, and community outreach.
- Fundraising Events: Annual gala event (Champ's Best Friend Gala) featuring silent and live auctions, seated dinner, and community engagement to raise funds and awareness.
- In-Kind Donations via Wish Lists: Amazon and Chewy wish lists provide supplies, equipment, enrichment tools, treats, and training essentials. Donors purchase items directly from wish lists.
- Planned Giving: Legacy giving options including estate plans and trusts that allow supporters to include CHAMP in their long-term financial planning.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Free placement for eligible individuals |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Champ Assistance Dogs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Champ Assistance Dogs is a nonprofit that raises, trains, and places highly skilled assistance dogs, facility dogs, and therapy dogs. The organization runs three core programs: Assistance Dogs (service dogs partnered with individuals with disabilities), Facility Dogs (placed with professional caregivers at institutions), and Therapy Dogs (volunteer-handler teams that provide community comfort visits). All placements are provided at no cost to recipients, with the approximately $40,000-per-dog cost covered through donations and grants.
Product overview
CHAMP Assistance Dogs is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of three core dog programs: Assistance Dogs (individually trained service dogs for people with disabilities), Facility Dogs (trained dogs placed with professional caregivers in hospitals, schools, and other institutions), and Therapy Dogs (volunteer-handler teams providing community visits). Supporting these core programs are ancillary services including Therapy Dog Classes (training to certify handler-dog teams), Educational Presentations (dog safety and ability awareness), Birthday Parties (community engagement events), and an annual Gala fundraiser. The organization uses positive-reinforcement training methods and ADI-accredited standards across all programs, serving the greater St. Louis, MO region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Assistance Dogs (Service Dogs) Trained assistance dogs partnered with individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities to perform tasks that increase independence, confidence, and quality of life. Includes Public Access Service Dogs (certified under ADI with full ADA rights), Home Service Dogs (specialized skills for mobility-related tasks in the home without public access), and Family Placement Dogs (placed with clients and family members/caregivers). Provided free of charge to eligible recipients.
- Facility Dogs Highly trained dogs placed with professional caregivers in hospitals, child advocacy centers, courthouses, schools, and counseling centers. Facility dogs support therapeutic, educational, and emotional outcomes and may serve hundreds of individuals per year, but do not have public access rights.
- Therapy Dogs Certified volunteer-handler teams providing comfort visits to hospitals, schools, nursing homes, hospice centers, and other community settings. Services include Facility Visits, Partners for Literacy (reading programs), and Serenity Visits (grief support at funerals and memorial services).
- Therapy Dog Classes Training classes that prepare handlers and their canine partners to become certified therapy dog teams through positive training, skill-building, and temperament assessment. Classes include evaluations and multiple session dates.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80,000+ individuals served through therapy dog visits in 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Champ Assistance Dogs
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Champ Assistance Dogs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Champ Assistance Dogs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Assistance Dogs International (ADI)coreADI is the worldwide leader in assistance dog standards and training excellence. CHAMP is one of only three organizations in Missouri accredited by ADI. This partnership ensures CHAMP meets rigorous international standards for dog training, client support, animal welfare, and program operations. ADI provides resources and referrals for those seeking service dogs outside CHAMP's service area.
- Ameristar Casino Resort SpaminorVenue host for CHAMP's annual Best Friend Gala fundraising event. Located at 1 Ameristar Blvd., St. Charles, MO 63301.
- Amazon Wish ListminorAmazon wish list provides donors a way to purchase supplies, equipment, enrichment tools, treats, and training essentials directly for dogs in training.
- Chewy Wish ListminorChewy wish list allows donors to purchase pet supplies and essentials that support dogs in training and ongoing care.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Champ Assistance Dogs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Freedom Service Dogs: ADI-accredited nonprofit that custom-trains service dogs for veterans and others with disabilities at no cost. Overlaps with CHAMP in training methodology, veteran client segment, and free-placement model.
- America's VetDogs: ADI-accredited nonprofit (affiliated with Guide Dogs for the Blind) training service dogs for veterans and first responders with disabilities. Comparable mission and beneficiary overlap with CHAMP.
- Paws With A Cause: National ADI-accredited nonprofit providing custom-trained service dogs for clients with disabilities. Comparable in placement methodology, ADI standards, and donor-supported no-cost model.
- NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services): ADI-accredited nonprofit that trains and places service dogs, including facility dogs, with individuals and institutions. Closely matches CHAMP's three-program structure (service, facility, therapy/community) and ADI-aligned methods.
- Canine Companions for Independence: One of the largest ADI-accredited nonprofit service dog organizations in the U.S., providing service dogs to individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities. Directly comparable to CHAMP in mission, placement model, and ADI accreditation standards.
- Canine Assistance Rehabilitation & Education Services (CARES): Nonprofit service dog organization placing trained dogs with individuals with disabilities and working professionals. Comparable to CHAMP in placement model, ADI affiliation, and reliance on community fundraising.
Broad incumbents
- Assistance Dogs International (ADI): The umbrella accrediting body for CHAMP and peer service dog nonprofits; comparable as the industry standards-setter whose accreditation drives referral flows into accredited programs like CHAMP.
- Guide Dogs for the Blind: One of the largest and longest-running ADI-accredited service dog nonprofits in North America. Comparable as a broader incumbent operating parallel training, placement, and alumni support functions at greater geographic scale than CHAMP.
Emerging players
- Pet Partners: Largest nonprofit registry of therapy dog teams in the U.S., focused on therapy dog certification and community visits rather than service dog placement. Most directly comparable to CHAMP's therapy dog program.
- K9s For Warriors: Nonprofit focused specifically on pairing service dogs with military veterans with PTSD/TBI. Overlaps with CHAMP's veteran client segment while concentrating on a narrower use case.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Champ Assistance Dogs social profiles
Digital presenceChamp Assistance Dogs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Champ Assistance Dogs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Champ Assistance Dogs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Champ Assistance Dogs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Champ Assistance 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 Champ Assistance Dogs
What does Champ Assistance Dogs do?
Champ Assistance Dogs is a nonprofit that raises, trains, and places highly skilled assistance dogs, facility dogs, and therapy dogs. The organization runs three core programs: Assistance Dogs (service dogs partnered with individuals with disabilities), Facility Dogs (placed with professional caregivers at institutions), and Therapy Dogs (volunteer-handler teams that provide community comfort visits). All placements are provided at no cost to recipients, with the approximately $40,000-per-dog cost covered through donations and grants.
Is Champ Assistance Dogs a public or private company?
Champ Assistance Dogs is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Champ Assistance Dogs founded?
Champ Assistance Dogs was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Champ Assistance Dogs based?
Champ Assistance Dogs is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Champ Assistance Dogs make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants, fundraising Events, in-Kind Donations via Wish Lists and planned Giving.
Who are Champ Assistance Dogs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Freedom Service Dogs, America's VetDogs, Paws With A Cause, NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services), Canine Companions for Independence and Canine Assistance Rehabilitation & Education Services (CARES). Broad incumbents are Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and Guide Dogs for the Blind. Emerging players are Pet Partners and K9s For Warriors.
Does Champ Assistance Dogs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Champ Assistance Dogs.
What industry is Champ Assistance Dogs in?
Champ Assistance Dogs's product category is Disability Assistance Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAA, Animal Shelters & Adoption Services, with a secondary code of AFAEALAA, Animal Boarding (Kennels, Catteries). Its NAICS code is 624310 and its SIC code is 8300.