Paws Giving Independence, NFP

What Paws Giving Independence, NFP does

Paws Giving Independence (PGI) is an Illinois-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 by Bradley University students Michelle Yuen and Brandi Weyers. The organization trains and places service dogs free of charge to individuals with mobility, medical-response, vision, and hearing disabilities, plus facility dogs for hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and rehabilitation centers. Each dog enters training as a young puppy (or rescue) and lives with a volunteer trainer for 18 months to 2 years, with task-specific positive-reinforcement training covering mobility support, seizure/diabetes alerting, balance assistance, retrieval of dropped items, light and door operation, and hearing alerts. A separate Skilled Facilitator Assisted track serves individuals with developmental delays where a trained family member handles the dog in public.

The organization's core technology is its training methodology rather than a software product, executed through three programmatic channels: individual service dog placement, facilitator-assisted placement, and facility dog placement. Career-changed dogs that do not complete training are rehomed via a Family Pet Adoption program at fees starting at $699. PGI is accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI), and all training capacity is delivered by volunteers — including students at Bradley University (Wags for Mags) and Illinois State University (Indy-pendence Service Dogs), plus inmate handlers through the Helping Paws program at Logan Correctional Center, which provides 24/7 training capacity.

PGI operates entirely on donations and has no paid staff. Revenue is generated through a three-tiered Sponsor A Dog program ($100 / $2,500 / $5,000), general charitable contributions, merchandise sales (apparel, plush toys, ornaments, bandanas), and a calendar of recurring fundraising events (Trivia Night, Puppy Yoga, Running With the Dogs, Puzzles for Paws). Since 2008 the organization has placed 200+ dogs with handlers. Headquarters and weekly training classes are based in Peoria, IL, and applicants must commit to weekly in-person training at that location, with current wait times of approximately 1–2 years.

Name

Paws Giving Independence, NFP

Legal name

Paws Giving Independence NFP

Website

https://givingindependence.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Paws Giving Independence is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Peoria, Illinois that trains and places service, facilitator-assisted, and facility dogs free of charge to individuals with disabilities and institutions, relying entirely on volunteer labor, donations, and university and correctional-facility training partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Assistance Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Training-Integrated Dog Daycare (Day Training) (HSANAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Service dog training
• Mobility assistance dogs
• Disability support services
• Facility dog programs
• Nonprofit animal rescue

Headquarters

HQ city

Peoria

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, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: PGI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that runs entirely on public donations. Service dogs are placed FREE of charge. Donations cover vet bills, everyday care, and training costs.
2. Dog Sponsorship Programs: Three-tiered sponsorship program: Give a Paw Sponsorship ($100) for basic vet care/training supplies; Puppy Sponsorship ($2,500) covering first year of training; Full-Service Dog Training Sponsorship ($5,000) covering total training. It costs approximately $2,500 per year to train each dog, with each dog training for about 2 years.
3. Merchandise and Product Sales: Online shop selling merchandise including t-shirts, ornaments, bandanas, stickers, dog plush toys, cookbooks, and note card sets to raise funds.
4. Fundraising Events: Hosted events including Running With the Dogs (virtual run/walk/bike), Sips and Sniffs Trivia Night ($20/person or $140/table of 8), Puzzles for Paws, Puppy Yoga Fundraiser ($30), and Panda Express fundraisers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Paws Giving Independence (PGI) trains and places service dogs at no cost to individuals with mobility, medical, visual, and hearing disabilities. The organization also places Skilled Facilitator Assisted Service Dogs for individuals with developmental delays where a parent or caregiver is certified to handle the dog, and Facility Dogs that perform animal-assisted interventions at hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and rehabilitation centers. Dogs complete an 18-month to 2-year training program before placement.

Product overview

Paws Giving Independence (PGI) offers a unified service dog training and placement program. The core offerings include three types of trained service dogs: Service Dogs for mobility and medical assistance, Skilled Facilitator Assisted Service Dogs for individuals requiring caregiver handling, and Facility Dogs for institutional settings. Dogs complete an 18-month to 2-year training program and are placed free of charge to recipients. PGI supplements its mission through a Sponsor A Dog program with three donation tiers ($100-$5,000), a merchandise shop selling apparel and novelty items, and fundraising events including trivia nights, puppy yoga, and running events. Career-changed dogs are offered for family pet adoption starting at $699.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers1 record

Segments3 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

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Helping Paws (Logan Correctional Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGI partnered with Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, IL for the Helping Paws training program, an Illinois Correctional Industries (ICI) program. This allows PGI to expand training capacity with targeted training conducted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by inmates. The program has been featured in news coverage about reuniting inmates with mobility service dogs they trained.
• Wags for Mags (Bradley University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent-led organization at Bradley University launched in 2012 that teams up with PGI to train service dogs. Bradley students participate as student trainers or foster homes for service dogs. The program focuses on student volunteers, fundraising, and dog training. Faculty advisor Dr. Stacie Bertram (physical therapy professor) oversees the group. Named in memory of Maggie Bertram who was a longtime PGI volunteer.
• Indy-pendence Service Dogs (Illinois State University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndy-pendence Service Dogs is a Registered Student Organization at Illinois State University. ISU students participate as student trainers or foster homes for service dogs. Each trainer is assigned a dog and responsible for it during the dog's campus visit, completing training reports daily.
• Uftring SubarumajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-time sponsor supporting PGI for over a decade. Has sponsored dogs including Seeker (named after Subaru Trailseeker car), Gary, Major, and Rocket. Company logo appears on sponsorship materials and race sponsors.
• First Federated ChurchmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of multiple dogs including Coco (2026), Solo (2025-2026), Archer (2025-2026), Mango (2024-2025), and Marty (2024-2025). Listed on sponsor page and dog sponsorship pages.
• Petco FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor on PGI's sponsors page, providing support for the organization.
• Inspection Support NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor on PGI's sponsors page.
• Coastal Pet ProductsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing pet products support. Featured in blog post 'How Dogs Changed My Life'.
• JimaxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of dog Locke (2026-2027).
• Dechra Veterinary ProductsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMade a generous donation to PGI covering veterinary costs of dogs in training.
• Veterinary Partners (Demanes Animal Hospital, Eastland Animal Hospital, Big Hollow Animal Hospital, Heartland Dog Training Center)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal veterinary hospitals and dog training center listed as sponsors and partners.
• Tres Rojas WineryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for Sips and Sniffs Trivia Night and Puzzles for Paws fundraising events.
• Twin City TriviaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Sips and Sniffs Trivia Night fundraiser event.
• Grafelman Farms RescueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRescue organization that donated Grover (named by Illinois Department of Corrections) to PGI's program.
• ICAN (Assistance Dogs)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerABC (Assistance Dogs International) partner that provided Seeker, an 8-week-old Golden Lab Cross.
• Edwards English DoodlesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBreeder that provided Freddy, a 1-year-old English Cream Doodle, at 8 weeks old.
• Pet Pack Rescue InitiativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRescue organization that has trusted PGI with care and training of rescue pups.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NEADS World Class Service Dogs: ADI-accredited service dog organization placing mobility, hearing, and service dogs for veterans and civilians. Direct peer in mission, training methodology, and free/low-cost placement; uses correctional facility partnerships similar to PGI's Helping Paws.
• Freedom Service Dogs: Non-profit service dog organization training mobility-assistance and PTSD service dogs, placed free of charge to clients. Comparable in mission and free-placement model, with a similar reliance on volunteer trainers and donations.
• 4 Paws for Ability: Non-profit service dog organization with focus on children with disabilities and veterans. Comparable in mission, ADI accreditation, and use of volunteer raisers; operates at larger scale than PGI.
• Canine Companions for Independence: Largest ADI-accredited service dog organization in the U.S., placing mobility, hearing, and facility dogs free of charge to recipients. Directly comparable to PGI in mission and ADI-accredited placement model, but operates at significantly larger national scale.
• Paws With A Cause: ADI-accredited service dog organization training mobility, hearing, and seizure-alert dogs for clients with disabilities. Directly comparable in service categories and ADI accreditation; charges a nominal $150 application fee versus PGI's free model.
• East Coast Assistance Dogs (ECAD): Non-profit ADI-accredited service dog organization training mobility, autism, and facility dogs. Comparable in program breadth (mobility + facilitator/facility) and free placement; operates in a different geography.
• Canine Assistance (Canine Assistants): Non-profit that trains and places service dogs for mobility assistance, seizure response, and other disabilities. Closely comparable in ADI accreditation and free-placement model.
• Service Dogs, Inc. Non-profit ADI-accredited service dog organization providing mobility-assistance dogs to individuals with physical disabilities. Direct peer in service category and free-placement model.

Broad incumbents

• Pet Partners (Therapy Animal Organization): Largest non-profit registry of therapy animals in the U.S., including facility/animal-assisted intervention dogs. Adjacent peer given PGI's facility-dog program for hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.
• Dogs for the Deaf: Long-established ADI-accredited organization focused on hearing-assistance and service dogs. Adjacent peer with broader regional reach and longer operational history than PGI.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PawsGivingIndependence
• Instagraminstagram.com/pgidogs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paws-giving-independence-nfp

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Paws Giving Independence, NFP