Puppies Behind Bars trains incarcerated individuals to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and first responders, facility dogs for police departments, and explosive-detecton canines for law enforcement.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
92¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 250 volunteers and 15 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.0M a year · 24% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
92%
of spending
Looks good: 92% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.2M
to officers and key staff · 31% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 31% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $15.7M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.6 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $26K
Looks good: 6 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.6M
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.9M
+11% vs prior year
Spent
$4.0M
To programs
92%
Net assets
$23.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$4.9M
FY2025▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.2M
FY2021$3.7M
FY2022$5.8M
FY2023$4.0M
FY2024$4.4M
FY2025$4.9M
Expenses
$4.0M
FY2025▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.8M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$3.4M
FY2023$3.0M
FY2024$3.6M
FY2025$4.0M
Net assets
$23.0M
FY2025▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$17.4M
FY2021$19.3M
FY2022$18.8M
FY2023$20.1M
FY2024$21.2M
FY2025$23.0M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1998.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

92 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 92% · $3.7M Management & general 4% · $178K Fundraising 3% · $123K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

14 people listed on the 990; $1.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President and Founder
$400,000Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Edc Programs &
$200,000Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Development
$195,833Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Dog Tags, & Inst
$152,160Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Volunteers & I
$150,781Pt VII · Sec A
Database Manager
$145,000Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Investment Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Gloria Gilbert Stoga’s $400K as President and Founder is at the 99th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3868 $1–10M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Gloria Gilbert Stoga$400,000$375,000$375,000$377,500$342,050$383,786
Eric Barsness———$227,500$190,000$165,000
Carl Rothe$200,000$195,000$158,333$157,499$140,833$135,000
Douglas J Hamilton$195,833$150,700$145,031$106,249——
Nora Moran$152,160$141,056$134,869$133,125$132,050$116,286
Darryl Tyson$150,781$120,868$102,600$112,500$112,050—
Anais Zafra$145,000$125,000—$102,499$124,295—
Susan Lobel—$136,760$112,516———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Trains incarcerated individuals to become expert dog trainers, enhancing their skills and providing purpose through puppy-raising.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $3.7M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Raising service dogs in prision and pairing them with wounded veterans, first responders and facility dogs for police departments:pbb trains incarcerated individuals in four ny prisons to raise service dogs for wounded veterans, first responders, and facility dogs for police departments (PDS).

$2.8Mprogram expense
02

Employment of Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

Incarcerated puppy-raisers in our program become expert dog trainers and gain interpersonal skills as well. They must work as part of a team to solve problems, attend rigorous weekly classes, do written homework assignments, and maintain a daily journal of their puppies'progress.

$588Kprogram expense
03

Raising Explosive-Detection Canines in Prison

PBB raises explosive-detection canines (edcs) for work with law enforcement in two prisons in new york. An average of 40 incarcerated individuals take part in our program, raising 16 to 20 dogs at any given time. The training process takes approximately 10 months, and between 16 and 20 of these dogs graduate each year.

$264Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
See all 6 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$956K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$114K
Money outPt IX
$4.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.7M
Managementcol C$178K
Fundraisingcol D$123K
Owns and owesPt X
$23.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$533K
Total assetsLn 16$24.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.8M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$71K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$114K
Investment incomeLn 3$956K
Gains on assetsLn 7$569K
Total revenueLn 12$4.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$533K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$533K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$15.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.6M
Other assetsLn 15$1.6M
Total assetsLn 16$24.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.6M
Net assetsLn 32$23.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 515
VolunteersI 6250
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.6M$533K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$12.8M$15.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.6M$6.6M
Total assetsLn 16$21.8M$24.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$577K$1.6M
Net assetsLn 32$21.2M$23.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$400K$340K$18K$42K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$1.5M$1.3M$89K$29K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$49K$45K$4K$677
Payroll taxesLn 10$137K$127K$8K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$78K$74K$3K$675
Investment management feesLn 11f$123K$123K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$9K$9K$566$127
Advertising and promotionLn 12$149K$123K$26K
Office expensesLn 13$94K$86K$7K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$251K$213K$35K$3K
TravelLn 17$20K$20K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$170K$157K$10K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$151K$149K$1K$998
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$778K$765K$898$13K
All other expensesLn 24e$83K$81K$2K$115
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.0M$3.7M$178K$123K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $4.9M$4.0M$961K$23.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 $4.4M$3.6M$884K$21.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.0M$3.0M$987K$20.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.8M$3.4M$2.4M$18.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.7M$2.9M$768K$19.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.2M$2.8M$334K$17.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,918,300 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,406,260$3,848,635
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $111,465$114,065
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $925,879$955,600
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $3,970$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,447,574$4,918,300
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,891,259$2,051,169
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,671,975$1,906,582
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,563,234$3,957,751
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $884,340$960,549
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,918,300 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$57,161
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,791,474
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$70,700
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,848,635
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $114,065$114,065
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $386,222$386,222
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $569,378$569,378
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $114,065 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $955,600$4,918,300
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,957,751 across 15 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $340,000 · Management $17,500 · Fundraising $42,500$400,000
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $1,346,197 · Management $89,341 · Fundraising $29,335$1,464,873
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $44,875 · Management $3,661 · Fundraising $677$49,213
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $126,976 · Management $8,255 · Fundraising $1,852$137,083
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $74,278 · Management $3,009 · Fundraising $675$77,962
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $123,032$123,032
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $8,705 · Management $566 · Fundraising $127$9,398
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $122,940 · Fundraising $26,278$149,218
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $85,924 · Management $6,986 · Fundraising $1,568$94,478
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $213,066 · Management $34,971 · Fundraising $3,429$251,466
IX-17 TravelPrograms $19,611$19,611
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $157,464 · Management $10,052 · Fundraising $2,256$169,772
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $148,623 · Management $1,270 · Fundraising $998$150,891
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $764,620 · Management $898 · Fundraising $12,702$778,220
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $80,883 · Management $1,536 · Fundraising $115$82,534
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,657,194 · Management $178,045 · Fundraising $122,512$3,957,751
Part X · Balance sheet $24,578,896 assets, 14 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,646,521$532,982
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $184,271$39,780
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $51,441$52,388
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $6,554,606$6,647,238
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $12,769,636$15,686,369
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $605,188$1,620,139
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $21,811,663$24,578,896
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $104,963$104,734
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $471,792$1,464,757
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $576,755$1,569,491
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $21,234,908$22,969,405
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$40,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $21,234,908$23,009,405
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $21,811,663$24,578,896
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $23,009,405 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,918,300
XI-2 Total expenses$3,957,751
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$960,549
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$21,234,908
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$813,948
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$23,009,405

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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