PLATINUM2023

OCCUPAWS GUIDE DOG ASSOCIATION

aka OccuPaws Guide Dog Association   |   Madison, WI   |  www.occupaws.org

Mission

Our mission is to provide the highest quality guide dogs to Wisconsin's and surrounding states visually impaired adults at no charge.

Notes from the nonprofit

OccuPaws had a 4 day field audit and onsite review by the International Guide Dog Federation in October, 2014. We met all the requirements and criteria for full membership and school accreditation and became a fully accredited member school of the IGDF, the worldwide guide dog school governance and practices association. Of the roughly 100 guide dog schools in the USA, only 13, now including OccuPaws, are full members. In addition, as a result of that onsite review, OccuPaws also received full membership and accreditation by the Assistance Dogs International. In May, 2019 OccuPaws had a 3 day renewal onsite review and audit by the IGDF which was completed successfully and our accreditation continues for another 5 years.

Ruling year info

2006

Principal Officer

Barbara Schultze

Main address

P. O. Box 45857 % Barbara A Schultze

Madison, WI 53744 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

20-5172386

NTEE code info

Blind/Visually Impaired Centers, Services (P86)

Human Service Organizations (P20)

Animal Protection and Welfare (includes Humane Societies and SPCAs) (D20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

We would like to reduce the waiting period our clients have to wait to receive a guide dog. To work toward that goal we have added 4 contract GDMI's and have added three female dogs to our breeding program. In the last two years we have reduced the average wait time from 10 months to just under 6 months. At goal.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Guide Dog Placement

We provide fully trained guide dogs to Visually Impaired Adults in Wisconsin and areas near Wisconsin's border (Northern Illinois, Eastern Iowa, Eastern Minnesota) at no cost to the client.

Population(s) Served
Adults

OccuPaws has several breeding females which produce the highest quality puppies for our 50 puppy raising families to raise, socialize, train, & love.

Population(s) Served
People with disabilities

Program to train inmates at New Lisvon Correctional (medium security prison) to raise and train guide and service dogs (similar to what outside puppy raisers do).  We provide 100% of the funding costs, materials, supplies, training classes, food, equipment and the inmates provide the training, care and love for the puppies. We currently have 22 inmates and 10 dogs in training at the facility.

Population(s) Served
People with disabilities

Where we work

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of clients placed

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

People with disabilities

Related Program

Guide Dog Placement

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Number of breeding females

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Puppy Breeding & Raising Program

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Number of dogs in training

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Puppy Breeding & Raising Program

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

The greater number of dogs in training increases the number of new teams each year.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Our major goal is to reduce the waiting time for an applicant to under 6 months.

In 2010 the average waiting time was 2 yrs and 7 months, in 2012 it was reduced to 2 yrs and 1 month and after the placement in November 2013 we will be under 19 months waiting time, and in 2015 it was average 14 months, in 2017 it was 11 months. and in 2019 we reached our goal of under 6 months wait time.

To begin our own breeding program to produce the best dogs possible.
To expand the prison dog training program to increase our capacity to produce quality guides. (now 2 prisons)
To add a second Guide Dog Mobility Instructor to increase our capacity. (now have 4 GDMI's)

We have the capacity to place 7-9 dogs per year at the present time, although with the addition of two additional instructors, we expect that to maintain 7-9 dogs per year.

We have placed 54 adult teams to date, 7 children teams, and 1 service dog team. During 2021 we expect to place 4 dogs in the spring, 5 dogs in the fall.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Visually Impaired Adults in our service area.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    Started a second monthly guide dog users group meeting with those who have had their guide dogs less than 9 months.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

OCCUPAWS GUIDE DOG ASSOCIATION
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

OCCUPAWS GUIDE DOG ASSOCIATION

Board of directors
as of 05/03/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Barbara Schultze

Retired

Term: 2021 - 2023

Barbara Schultze

Retired

Mark Schultze

Retired

Kristen Schoville

SW Technical college - Professor

Paul Turinske

Programmer

Kathy Ducat

Fiserv, Inc

Jim Schoville

Electrician

Lindsey Martin

Teacher

Kassel Gill

Accountant-CPA

John Fetters

Retired

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 5/4/2022
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person with a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.