Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2014.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
12 people listed on the 990; $71K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Lauren Dougall’s $86K as CEO/ President is at the 89th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1220 $100K–1M animals 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lauren Dougall | $86,000 | $78,340 | $71,400 | $62,333 | — | — |
| Jessica Petty | — | — | — | $5,688 | $62,563 | $69,800 |
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.
See Retrieving Independence INC executive salaries →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 15aNo
Programs and updates
Trains and places skilled dogs with people with disabilities to improve their lives.
Questions for Retrieving Independence INC
Your first name shows with your question. Retrieving Independence INC answers here, for everyone.
In 2023, retrieving independence trained and placed 8 dogs that were housed, fed, and trained to assist persons with disabilities.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2023. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 46-0648411) · Dispute this lineTraining Camps
Ten day training camp centers around new owners, family members and the service dogs. New dog owners and their families learn skills so all participants are comfortable returning to their homes with their service dogs. Additionally, the client and dog are certified for public access prior to leaving the program.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2023. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 46-0648411) · Dispute this lineInmate and Partner Recipient Training
Retrieving independence partners with inmates at TN prisons to train and socialize dogs for placement. Inmates receive 30 hours intensive training before working with puppies. A team of two inmates receives a puppy that will live, work and train with them for the next 14 to 20 months under the direct supervision of ri trainers and staff.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2023. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 46-0648411) · Dispute this lineFunders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2023 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY23 | End FY23 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $158K | $122K |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $0 | |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $45K | $35K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $203K | $171K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $8K | $11K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $196K | $159K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1 | $0 | |||
| Grants to domestic individualsLn 2 | $0 | |||
| Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3 | $0 | |||
| Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4 | $0 | |||
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $71K | $71K | ||
| Pay of disqualified personsLn 6 | $0 | |||
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $145K | $145K | ||
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $0 | |||
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $0 | |||
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $17K | $17K | ||
| Management feesLn 11a | $0 | |||
| Legal feesLn 11b | $5K | $5K | ||
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $7K | $7K | ||
| Lobbying feesLn 11d | $0 | |||
| Professional fundraising feesLn 11e | $0 | |||
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $0 | |||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $13K | $13K | ||
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $13K | $13K | ||
| Office expensesLn 13 | $4K | $4K | ||
| Information technologyLn 14 | $3K | $3K | ||
| RoyaltiesLn 15 | $0 | |||
| OccupancyLn 16 | $3K | $3K | ||
| TravelLn 17 | $1K | $1K | ||
| Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18 | $0 | |||
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $0 | |||
| InterestLn 20 | $2K | $2K | ||
| Payments to affiliatesLn 21 | $0 | |||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $10K | $10K | ||
| InsuranceLn 23 | $3K | $3K | ||
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $90K | $90K | ||
| All other expensesLn 24e | $22K | $10K | $13K | |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $410K | $344K | $66K | $0 |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS Jun 27, 2026 | $480K | $518K | −$37K | $127K | 990 PDF |
| FY2024Filed with the IRS May 23, 2025 | $469K | $480K | −$11K | $161K | 990 PDF |
| FY2023 ViewingFiled with the IRS Sep 2, 2024 | $360K | $410K | −$50K | $159K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS May 15, 2023 | $276K | $372K | −$96K | $196K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS Jun 27, 2022 | $505K | $374K | $131K | $352K | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS Jul 19, 2021 | $291K | $314K | −$23K | $197K | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2023 990
Part I · Summary $359,776 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, 4 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $359,776 across 10 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $409,597 across 31 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $170,874 assets, 21 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $159,406 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file FY2023 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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