Believet Canine Service Partners

What Believet Canine Service Partners does

Believet Canine Service Partners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 by Sam Daly and John Sinning in Northfield, Minnesota. Its core mission is to provide service dogs free of charge to U.S. military veterans diagnosed with PTSD, MST, or TBI, addressing a market gap in which veterans face years-long waitlists or prohibitive commercial costs for trained assistance dogs. Each placement involves 120-200 hours of hands-on training at Believet's Northfield facility, a careful veteran-dog matching process, and lifelong support, with the organization operating ADI (Assistance Dogs International) accreditation required for VA recognition of service dogs.

The organization's product surface consists of two interconnected programs. The Veteran Service Dog Program is the flagship, providing free trained service, facility, emotional support, and therapy dogs to veterans and partner institutions (veteran's homes, first responder organizations, schools, family courts). The Believet Dog Training Academy offers paid training services to the general public — including weekly board-and-train, private lessons, day training, and group classes culminating in AKC Canine Good Citizen certification — with comprehensive assistance dog training programs costing over $20,000. Underlying service delivery relies on individualized, positive, relationship-based training methods executed by specialized staff trainers, supported by a volunteer foster network (puppy, weekend, respite) and an ambassador program.

Revenue is generated primarily through charitable donations and event fundraising (annual golf tournament, clay shooting tournament, fall festival), supplemented by vehicle donations via CARS, merchandise sales through a SpreadShop storefront, and fees from the paid Dog Training Academy. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: veterans apply via an online eligibility survey, while donor acquisition depends on community events, Instagram content, email newsletter, and grassroots volunteer networks. The organization has 11-50 staff, an advisory Board of Directors with veteran and civilian representation, and operates exclusively within the United States from a single regional headquarters.

Name

Believet Canine Service Partners

Legal name

Believet Canine Service Partners

Website

https://believet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Believet Canine Service Partners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free trained service dogs to U.S. military veterans with PTSD, MST, and TBI, and operates a paid Dog Training Academy for the general public in southern Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Northfield

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Believet relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, organizations, and community members. The organization promotes various donation tiers ranging from $20 to $42,000 to support service dog breeding, training, and care.
2. Event Fundraising: Annual signature events including golf tournaments, clay shooting tournaments, and fall festivals serve as major fundraising channels. Events offer registration fees, sponsorship packages, silent auctions, and dinner-only ticket options to generate revenue.
3. Vehicle Donations: Partnership with CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services) enables supporters to donate vehicles, which are converted to cash support for the organization's mission.
4. Dog Training Services: The Believet Dog Training Academy offers paid training programs including weekly boarding training, private lessons, day training, and group classes to the general public, generating revenue from non-veteran dog owners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Believet Canine Service Partners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides trained service dogs free of charge to U.S. military veterans with PTSD, MST, TBI and other service-related disabilities, including 120-200 hours of hands-on training and lifelong support. The organization also operates the Believet Dog Training Academy, offering weekly board-and-train programs, private lessons, day training, and group classes to the general public in southern Minnesota.

Product overview

Believet Canine Service Partners operates as a dual-purpose organization with two interconnected programs. The Believet Dog Training Academy is a professional training facility offering weekly board-and-train programs (4-6 weeks), private 1-hour lessons, day training, group classes including AKC Canine Good Citizen certification, and specialized assistance dog training (service dogs, facility dogs, emotional support dogs, therapy dogs). The Veteran Service Dog Program provides highly skilled service dogs to veterans with PTSD, TBI, MST and other disabilities at no cost, including dog selection, foster training, careful matching, and 100-200 hours of hands-on training. The organization also maintains volunteer foster programs (puppy, weekend, and respite fosters) and an ambassador program to support community outreach. Believet is accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Veteran Service Dog Program Free service dog program for U.S. military veterans with PTSD, TBI, MST and other service-related disabilities. Includes dog selection, foster training, veteran-dog matching, and 120-200 hours of hands-on training at the Northfield, MN facility.
• Believet Dog Training Academy Professional dog training academy offering multiple programs including weekly board-and-train, private lessons, day training, group classes, and specialized assistance dog training for service dogs, facility dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs.
• Weekly Board-and-Train Program Immersive training program where dogs stay at the training center Monday through Friday for 4-6 weeks, receiving daily structured training tailored to individual needs. Includes a private lesson component on Fridays for owner training.
• Private Lessons One-hour personalized one-on-one coaching sessions tailored to individual dog needs and owner goals using positive training techniques.
• Day Training Daytime training program with morning drop-offs and evening pickups. Dogs receive training on obedience, leash manners, socialization, and good behavior while owners maintain normal schedules.
• Group Classes Group training classes for puppies through advanced obedience, including AKC Canine Good Citizen certification preparation. Booked through PawPartner platform.
• Assistance Dog Training Specialized training for service dogs, facility dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs with world-class trainers. Comprehensive programs can exceed $20,000 in training costs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Veterans report being able to go into clothing stores alone, enjoy restaurant meals after years of avoidance, attend sporting events independently, and become more active in daily life
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Assistance Dogs International (ADI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADI is the leading authority and coalition of nonprofit organizations in the Assistance Dog industry. Believet's accreditation by ADI means veterans can be assured that service dogs are trained to high standards and provides lifelong support for veteran-dog teams. This accreditation is required for VA recognition of service dogs.
• CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVehicle donation program partnership allowing supporters to donate cars they no longer need. Donated vehicles are converted to cash support for Believet's mission of providing service dogs to veterans.
• ZeffyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline donation platform used for event registration, sponsorship, and general mission donations. Enables cashless giving for supporters.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Pet Partners: Nonprofit focused on therapy animal training and visits (rather than service dog placement) for veterans, seniors, schools, and healthcare facilities. Comparable in therapeutic-dog mission and nonprofit structure, but with a different deployment model.

Direct peers

• America's VetDogs: National ADI-accredited nonprofit providing service dogs to veterans, active-duty military, and first responders. Directly comparable veteran-focused service dog mission with similar training intensity and donation-based funding.
• Patriot Paws Service Dogs: Nonprofit training and providing service dogs free of charge to disabled American veterans. Directly comparable veteran-focused mission, training methodology, and donation-driven nonprofit model.
• NEADS World Class Service Dogs: ADI-accredited nonprofit training service dogs for veterans with PTSD, mobility, and hearing disabilities. Comparable service dog mission, donation-funded model, and ADI-accredited training standards.
• K9s For Warriors: The largest nonprofit in the U.S. providing service dogs to military veterans with PTSD/TBI. Directly comparable in mission, ADI accreditation, free-to-veteran model, and donor-funded structure, though operating at significantly greater national scale.
• Canine Companions for Independence: One of the largest ADI-accredited service dog nonprofits in the U.S., placing dogs with veterans, adults with disabilities, and children. Highly comparable in service dog training craft, nonprofit structure, and donation-funded free placement model.
• Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs: Nonprofit providing trained service dogs to veterans and first responders with PTSD, TBI, and physical disabilities. Comparable veteran-focused mission, training-intensive placement model, and donor-funded structure.
• Paws With A Cause: ADI-accredited nonprofit that trains service dogs, hearing dogs, and seizure response dogs, including for veterans. Comparable in service dog placement model, accreditation, and nonprofit funding structure.
• Service Dogs Inc. ADI-accredited nonprofit placing mobility and PTSD service dogs, including for veterans. Comparable service dog mission, training methodology, and nonprofit operating structure.

Regional players

• St. Hubert's Dog Training School: Regional nonprofit dog training school offering obedience, agility, and service-dog training in the Northeast. Comparable in providing paid and subsidized dog training programs to community members, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/believet.csp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/believet-canine-service-partners

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Believet Canine Service Partners