Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Area Certification
The Area Search Team Field Qualification Test assesses the ability of an area search canine team (handler and canine) to locate hidden subjects in a large area within a prescribed time period, the ability of the handler to correctly read the behavior of the canine, the ability of the canine to show a trained, recognizable change in behavior when it detects a person, and the ability of the handler to formulate and execute a search plan.
Avalanche Certification
The objective of the Avalanche Test is to simulate a real world K-9 incident with the human contamination one might expect to find when responding to an avalanche. The dog and handler team will be evaluated on their abilities to perform as an effective avalanche K-9 team and on their ability to successfully find avalanche victims.
Land Human Remains Detection Certification
The canine search and rescue team must be capable of searching a house/building where the case begins, identifying the vehicle that transported the victim, and searching the wooded area where the victim was placed.
Water Human Remains Detection Certification
The Water Recovery Team Field Qualification Test demonstrates the ability of a water recovery canine team (handler and canine) to locate victims of drowning related incidents such that recovery resources can be employed in the area of indication with a high degree of probability. Recovery of the victim will be successful based upon information provided by the canine team.
Trailing Certification
The purpose of the Wilderness Trailing Test is to evaluate the Handler/K-9 team’s ability to correctly follow a trail and locate the missing person. The objective is to simulate a real world incident with the typical human contamination found at a search scene.
Backtrack Certification
The Backtrack standard has been developed by NSDA to assist the U.S. Border Patrol. It is helpful for law enforcement, fish and game, evidence searches and any related use where the subject’s trail must be followed back to its source in order to locate additional items or people. We recommend that a handler have their canine well-founded in forward trailing techniques and obedience before pursuing this standard.
SAR Team Mentoring
NSDA provides mentorship to give teams the opportunity to have someone they can trust to offer assistance in team matters, training issues and search dilemmas.
Disaster Certification
This test has been promulgated by the NSDA to assess handler/canine team’s ability to locate human remains or live subjects in natural and man-made disasters. It will also assess the canine’s ability to maneuver and search in various types of rubble and debris.
Gun Source Residue
Assistance to law enforcement in locating firearms, cartridges, or miscellaneous items, fired or unfired, with gun powder or oil residue.
Area search with Large Source Human Remains
Search dog teams are often deployed into the field not knowing if they are looking for a live person or deceased. This certification is to prove that one team can locate both.
Where we work
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of organization members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Emergency responders
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of unique website visitors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Emergency responders
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of field certification tests given
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Emergency responders
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We offer seven different disciplines for which search dog teams can certify. The numbers above are the annual composite of all seven types of tests.
Goals & Strategy
Learn 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?
The purpose of NSDA is to educate handlers, law enforcement and the public on the value, benefits and methods of proper use of K-9 Search and Rescue (SAR) teams. NSDA strives to develop and maintain high quality certification standards for K-9 teams in order to better serve the public.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Goal 1: Maintain quality, national certification standards.
Strategy:
Adhere to regular NSDA peer reviews by experts in various disciplines.
Meet guidelines recommended by the forum, Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal Detector Guidelines (SWGDOG).
Goal 2: Develop effective educational programs.
Strategy:
Learn the needs of our target audience to develop potential programming ideas.
Create online training manuals and other multimedia presentations.
Goal 3: Build a bridge of communication amongst K-9 SAR teams, law enforcement, government agencies, and the general public.
Strategy:
Expand the audience and content of our podcasts.
Market our free e-newsletter to a specific target audience.
Provide online and offline opportunities for people to network and share ideas.
Goal 4: Provide in person education to all parts of the country.
Strategy:
Provide qualified, free instructors for hands on training at small, local seminars in various states at the lowest possible cost to the K-9 handlers.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
NSDA is well positioned to be the one-stop information source for all K-9 search and rescue teams. The following resources have, and will continue to, enable us to reach ambitious programmatic and financial sustainability goals:
1. A dedicated Board of Directors;
2. A committed leadership team;
3. An expanding community of members and donors; and
4. A diverse group of talented volunteers.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
NSDA has established standards to meet national criteria, expanded representation in major regions throughout the country, and provided training seminars and conferences. We also publish a monthly e-newsletter, distributed to 1,500 readers, and broadcast a series of educational podcasts featuring expert speakers. In the coming years, we will develop a speakers' bureau to educate law enforcement and search coordinators, increase our online brand presence, and raise funds for an outreach instructional program for handlers.
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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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
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
NATIONAL SEARCH DOG ALLIANCE
Board of directorsas of 02/09/2022
Roy Pescador
National Search Dog Alliance
Term: 2020 - 2022
Roy Pescador
National Search Dog Alliance
Sherry Scruggs
National Search Dog Alliance
Brendan Fike
National Search Dog Alliance
Julie Grinnell
National Search Dog Alliance
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? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
No data
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data