Helping Paws

What Helping Paws does

Helping Paws is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The organization breeds and trains purebred Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers as assistance dogs, then places them with three primary recipient groups: individuals with physical disabilities, veterans and first responders experiencing PTSD, and facility placements in professional settings such as healthcare, courtrooms, and educational environments. The end-to-end program encompasses a Breeding Program, Assistance Dog Training, and Graduate Placement with lifetime follow-up support, with each dog requiring approximately 2.5 years and an investment of about $35,000-$40,000 to produce.

The organization operates a substantial volunteer-driven production model, supported by 175+ dedicated volunteers donating over 95,000 hours annually across roles including Host Homes, Volunteer Dog Trainers, Dogsitters, and Caretaker Homes. Helping Paws is accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and meets Charities Review Council Standards of Accountability, signaling adherence to international training standards and a program expense ratio above 70%.

The business model is donation-based rather than fee-based: assistance dogs are provided to recipients at no charge, and the organization is funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, signature fundraising events (Tail Waggin' Dinner gala hosting 500+ guests at Radisson Blu Mall of America, Paws In Motion 5K, and a Charities Golf Tournament partnership with Northeast Winslow Lewis Lodge #125), and planned giving programs including a tiered Blue Coat Circle donor recognition program and Legacy/Planned Giving. GTM is event-driven and community-engaged rather than transactional, with regional concentration in the Midwest.

Name

Helping Paws

Legal name

Helping Paws, Inc.

Website

https://helpingpaws.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Helping Paws is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that breeds, trains, and places purebred Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever assistance dogs at no cost to individuals with physical disabilities, veterans and first responders with PTSD, and facility settings, funded entirely through donations, sponsorships, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Assistance Dog Services

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF)

Keywords

• Assistance dog training
• Service dog placement
• Disability support services
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Volunteer dog programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Eden Prairie

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the mission of providing assistance dogs
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Annual corporate sponsorships supporting volunteer training, veterinary care, and lifetime support for graduates
3. Event Fundraising: Revenue from signature events including Tail Waggin' Dinner gala and Paws In Motion 5K community event
4. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts including wills, bequests, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, and Donor Advised Fund contributions

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Helping Paws is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that breeds, trains, and places assistance dogs with people who have physical disabilities, veterans and first responders with PTSD, and facility dogs for professional settings. Each dog requires approximately 2.5 years and $35,000-$40,000 to breed, train, and match, funded entirely through donations, corporate sponsorships, and event fundraising. The organization is supported by 175+ volunteers contributing over 95,000 hours annually.

Product overview

Helping Paws is a nonprofit organization offering a single, unified program focused on breeding and training assistance dogs. The core service encompasses a breeding program (using purebred Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers), assistance dog training, and graduate placement with lifetime follow-up support. Supporting programs include volunteer opportunities (Dogsitter, Caretaker Home, Volunteer Dog Trainer, Host Homes), donor engagement (Blue Coat Circle, Legacy and Planned Giving), and corporate/event sponsorship. The organization trains approximately 175+ volunteers who donate 95,000 hours annually, with an investment of about $35,000-$40,000 per assistance dog over a 2½ year process.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Breeding Program
• Assistance Dog Training
• Graduate Placement
• Corporate Sponsorship
• Event Sponsorship
• Blue Coat Circle
• Legacy and Planned Giving

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Northeast Winslow Lewis Lodge #125minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 July 2025Masonic lodge partnership for the annual Charities Golf Tournament. Event scheduled for July 13 at Green Haven Golf Course.
• Assistance Dogs International (ADI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADI is a global coalition of nonprofit assistance dog organizations. Helping Paws is an accredited member, indicating adherence to international standards for assistance dog training, breeding, and placement practices.
• Radisson Blu Mall of AmericaminorOthersVenue partner for the annual Tail Waggin' Dinner signature gala event. The event hosts over 500 guests each year at this venue.
• Charities Review CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal accountability organization that has verified Helping Paws meets Standards of Accountability, requiring at least 70% of expenses go toward program activities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• America's VetDogs: Nonprofit ADI-accredited organization training guide and service dogs for disabled veterans and first responders. Comparable mission, volunteer-driven model, and ADI-accredited status with national reach.
• Canine Companions for Independence: Nonprofit ADI-accredited organization that breeds, trains, and places service dogs with individuals with disabilities and facility dogs. Most directly comparable peer — same mission, similar breed focus, multi-region placement model at substantially larger scale.
• Canine Assistants: Nonprofit ADI-accredited organization breeding and training service dogs for people with physical disabilities and facility placements. Closely aligned operational model using Golden Retrievers and Labradors with volunteer breeder/foster programs.
• NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services): Nonprofit ADI-accredited organization training service dogs for people with disabilities and veterans. Comparable service dog training and placement nonprofit with similar mission.
• 4 Paws for Ability: Nonprofit ADI-accredited service dog organization providing service dogs to children with disabilities and veterans. Comparable nonprofit service dog provider with a similar multi-year training cycle and donation-funded model.
• Service Dogs, Inc. Nonprofit ADI-accredited organization training mobility assistance service dogs for individuals with physical disabilities. Closely comparable mission, breed focus, and placement-driven nonprofit model.
• ECAD (Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities): Nonprofit ADI-accredited service dog organization placing dogs with individuals with physical disabilities and veterans. Comparable breeding/training nonprofit with similar volunteer-driven delivery model.
• K9s For Warriors: Nonprofit ADI-accredited organization specifically placing service dogs with veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Direct overlap on Helping Paws' primary veteran/first responder PTSD segment.
• Guide Dogs for the Blind: Nonprofit ADI-accredited organization providing guide dogs and service dogs to people with visual impairments and other disabilities. Comparable breeding/training model with much larger national footprint and donor base.
• Paws for Purple Hearts: Nonprofit ADI-accredited organization providing service dogs to veterans with PTSD and TBI, plus military facility dog programs. Direct overlap on veteran/first responder and facility dog placements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HelpingPawsMN/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/helpingpawsmn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/helping-paws-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/accounts/login/?next=%2Fhelpingpawsmn%2F
• Xx.com/helpingpawsmn

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Helping Paws