Seeing Eye, Inc.
Independence & Dignity Since 1929
Mission
The Seeing Eye is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to enhance the independence, dignity and self-confidence of blind people through the use of Seeing Eye dogs.
Ruling year
1935
President and Chief Executive Officer
Peggi Howard
Main address
PO Box 375
Morristown, NJ 07963 USA
EIN
22-1539721
NTEE code
Blind/Visually Impaired Centers, Services (P86)
Other Services (D60)
Eye Diseases, Blindness and Vision Impairments (G41)
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
The Seeing Eye is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to enhance the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people through the use of Seeing Eye® dogs.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Genetics and Breeding
Before conception even occurs, throughout training, and until the end of its working career, a Seeing Eye® dog has been directed to its special destiny with the benefit of science. Today, The Seeing Eye leads the way in its research in canine genetics, breeding, disease control, and behavior.
Much of our research is driven by the fact there is no "perfect Seeing Eye® dog.” Variations in temperament, size, strength, stride, and energy are characteristics that must be closely matched to create a successful partnershito funding cutting edge research in DNA sequencing, The Seeing Eye is the leader in building, if not the "perfect dog,” then certainly the most healthy, productive, predictable, and reliable dog guides possible.
The Seeing Eye breeds German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and Lab/golden crosses. Our breeding station, dedicated in 2002, consists of interconnected geometric pavilions, designed so that dogs can see each other and see people enter the kennel, so barking –not to mention stress – are greatly reduced. The goal was to provide a facility most conducive to a positive early childhood experience for the puppies and to providing a healthy, active lifestyle for the adult dogs.
The Seeing Eye breeds its own dogs for the program: German shepherds, Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers. Female dogs produce four litters and male dogs sire up to 15 litters before they are matched with a student or are adopted by a loving family. Here a mother rests with her new babies.
The Seeing Eye Puppy Raising Program
Until a Seeing Eye dog is ready for training, it spends its time with a "foster family", a family that gives the dog love, gentle guidance, and consistent care. You and your family (children AND adults) can nurture a puppy to accomplish its special destiny.
In 1942 the school partnered with 4-h to organize and maintain puppy-raising clubs. Although many of our clubs still have a strong 4-h connection, there are also many clubs independent of 4-h. Clubs meet regularly to plan outings, provide socialization and share tips on teaching good puppy behavior.
When it’s time for the puppy to begin formal training, the dog returns to The Seeing Eye to learn to assist a blind person in leading a more independent, fulfilling life. Be a part of the magic of The Seeing Eye! Volunteer to raise a puppy(/raise/default.aspx?M_ID=425) with a special destiny.
Instruction and Training
Twelve times each year, a group of up to 24 students arrives in Morristown from all over the United States and Canada to begin their instruction with Seeing Eye® dogs. Every dog is specifically matched to meet the individual needs of each student. Matches are made based on handler/dog compatibility in strength, pace, temperament, and home environment.
Students arrive on campus on Saturday and receive their dogs two days later. If receiving their first dog guides, they stay to train with the dogs for 27 days; for subsequent dogs, the instruction lasts about 20 days. Each student is assigned to work with one instructor, who has no more than four or five students in a class.
Daily instructional routines may include traveling throughout the heavily trafficked streets of downtown Morristown, the quiet residential areas, country roads, shopping malls, train stations, bus routes, hotels, and even the nearby streets of New York City. When the newly formed teams leave The Seeing Eye, they have mastered the techniques they will need to navigate safely through daily life in their hometowns.
What Our Graduates Tell Us
The difference The Seeing Eye makes in the lives of people who are blind can best be demonstrated by the graduates themselves … people who are living their lives – some ordinary and others not-so-ordinary – enhanced by their daily experiences with their dogs. We strive to make constant improvements to our program, listening closely to what all our students have to say during exit interviews at the end of class and in surveys that take place several months after they return home.
Five years of survey results revealed the following:
93.4 percent said they are more mobile now than before they had a dog.
83 percent described their overall Seeing Eye experience as "excellent,” and 13 percent as "good.”
97.7 percent said they would recommend The Seeing Eye program to others.
Where we work
Awards
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsAverage number of years of formal education for teachers/instructors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with vision impairments, Adults
Related Program
Instruction and Training
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Our instructors must have a four-year college degree followed by a three-year in-house apprenticeship program.
Average number of service recipients per month
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Older adults, Seniors, Young adults, People with vision impairments
Related Program
Instruction and Training
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Our class sizes returned to our pre-pandemic levels in 2022. In addition, we provide follow-up support as needed to our 1,800 active graduates in the U.S. and Canada.
Total number of periodical subscribers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, People with vision impairments
Related Program
Instruction and Training
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We also have many people who download our periodical from our website at www.seeingeye.org/guide. Our publication is printed as text as well as braille and as an audio file.
Total number of guided tours given
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with vision impairments, Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We gave weekly guided tours until COVID-19. We now do virtual tours. We are expecting to return to in-person tours in 2023.
Number of free participants of guided tours
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with vision impairments, Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We have gone to virtual tours in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We expect to return to in-person tours in 2023.
Hours of expertise provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, People with vision impairments
Related Program
Instruction and Training
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Each new student spends three weeks living on our campus to learn how to care for and use a Seeing Eye dog. In addition, we provide follow-up support for the lifetime of the partnership.
Total numbers of veterinarians registered/licensed by the veterinary statutory body of the country
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, People with vision impairments
Related Program
Genetics and Breeding
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of new donors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, People with vision impairments
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, People with vision impairments
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We did not allow volunteers on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, but volunteers continued to assist us remotely. We began to gradually return to on-campus volunteers in 2022.
Number of program graduates
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, People with vision impairments
Related Program
Instruction and Training
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Due to COVID-19, we reduced our class sizes from 2020-2022, but we are gradually returning to full classes.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our Goals:
1 - To increase the independence and dignity of people who are blind, at all times treating applicants, students and graduates with respect.
2 - To provide the best dog guides possible by ensuring they are well bred and cared for, appropriately socialized, and expertly trained.
3 - To educate the public about the use of dog guides and the capabilities of people who are blind, and to provide recommendations regarding public policy issues.
4 - To provide ongoing assistance to our graduates and their dogs in order to extend the life of each partnership.
5 - To practice fiduciary responsibility, ensuring that we can fulfill the future needs of Seeing Eye dog users.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
In pursuit of our mission, The Seeing Eye:
1 - Breeds and raises puppies to become Seeing Eye dogs (or obtains them occasionally by purchase or exchange);
2 - Trains Seeing Eye dogs to guide blind people;
3 - Instructs blind people in the proper use, handling, and care of the dogs;
4 - Conducts and supports research on canine health and development
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
1 - Mission Passion: Our passion for the mission of The Seeing Eye gives each day purpose.
2 - Stewardship: We keep the trust of our constituents and protect their interests through responsible individual action and caring use of the organization's resources.
3 - Teamwork and Collaboration: We hold ourselves accountable for adding value as individuals, being supportive of our colleagues in their work, and working together to foster team success.
4 - Respect for Others: We treat others with the respect and dignity that we desire for ourselves.
5 - Integrity: We are guided by principles of honesty, integrity, and high ethical conduct in all we do. We will always do what is right.
6 - Pursuit of Excellence: We are committed to excellence now and in the future through a shared commitment to quality, timely responsiveness, and to ongoing improvement in every phase of our operations.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since our founding in 1929, The Seeing Eye has produced nearly 17,500 Seeing Eye dog teams. There are currently about 1,700 active Seeing Eye dog teams throughout the United States and Canada, and each year we serve hundreds of people, including those who are applying for a first or subsequent dog; those we instruct in the use and care of the dogs; and those who request follow-up support after graduation. The Seeing Eye’s mission is to enhance the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people through the use of Seeing Eye dogs, and our long-term goal is to be here to provide Seeing Eye dogs as long as people need them.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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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 make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, 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 engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild 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
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Seeing Eye, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 01/27/2023
Ms. Cynthia Bryant
Thomas J Duffy
KPMG LLP
Margaret E Howard, D.Litt
Vicki N Meyers-Wallen, VMD, Ph.D, Dipl. ACT
J.A. Baker Institute for Animal Health Cornell University
Cynthia R Bryant, LLM
Federal Communications Commission
Karon C Bales, T.E.P., C.S.
Bales Beall LLP
Ari Benacerraf
Diamond Castle Holdings LLC
Thomas H Kean
THK Consulting, LLC
Michael B McKitish
Peddie School
Catherine A. Kiernan
Seton Hall University
OhSang Kwon
Michael W. Ranger
Diamond Castle Holdings, LLC
Hugh A. D'Andrade
Michael H. Mittelman
Salus University
Susan E. Gnall
Morgan Stanley
Vikram Agarwal
Bean Kinney & Korman
Richard V. Boulger
David Hertz
Sealy Mattress Co. of NJ, Inc.
Susan Pomerantz, Ph.D.
Glenn Hoagland
The Seeing Eye
Michael Amoruso
Amoruso & Amoruso
Anthony J. DeCarlo, V.M.D.
RBVH Veterinary Healthcare Network
Ira H. Fuchs
John Gogarty
Coyne Public Relations
Karen Keninger
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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
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