American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation
The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, Inc. (CHF) is a public charity based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1995, it funds scientific research and supports the sharing of health information to help prevent, treat, and cure canine disease.
Key facts about American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation
In short: American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation gave $2.7M across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $158K), top state Pennsylvania. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 13-3813813
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,682,848
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- Average grant
- $157,815
- Median grant
- $170,654
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (4 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $41,822,710
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (14% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Review the relevant RFP and eligibility requirements, submit a pre-proposal through the online application system, and proceed to a full proposal if invited. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$41.8M
+9.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
-2.7% YoY
Grant Count
17
+13.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$158K
-14.2% YoY
Is American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 17 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $160K; repeat grants $157K. How we count
Medians: $123K first-time, $177K repeat.
- 41% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
CHF’s stated mission is to advance the health of all dogs and their owners by funding scientific research and supporting the dissemination of health information to prevent, treat, and cure canine disease. Its 2024 filing describes support for biomedical research on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as communications about canine health and specialized veterinary training. Topics identified in that filing include cancer, epilepsy, allergy and skin health, eye health, behavior, canine reproduction, and sports medicine and rehabilitation.
CHF’s 2025 filing lists research as the purpose of its itemized grants. Among its grantees, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania describes its own mission as combining education, research, and patient care. Colorado State University’s supporting organization, CSU STRATA, says it aids Colorado State University System institutions in research and education. The University of Georgia Research Foundation says it advances the University of Georgia’s teaching, research, and public-service mission. These are descriptions of the grantees, not CHF.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, CHF reported 17 itemized grants totaling $2,682,848. Grant amounts ranged from $13,468 to $366,533, with a median of $170,654. The largest listed awards were $366,533 to the University of Pennsylvania, $250,000 to Colorado State University, $239,030 to the University of Florida, $233,211 to the University of California Davis, and $221,199 to Auburn University; each was designated for research.
CHF’s website says international researchers may apply if their organization and project meet the eligibility requirements, mission, and focus. Proposals need not focus on purebred dogs, and principal investigators are not required to hold a specific degree if they demonstrate appropriate experience, expertise, and ability to lead the project. The website’s research FAQ describes Acorn grants as up to $30,000 and Oak grants as over $30,000. The funding-eligibility page lists restrictions that include projects using dog research colonies or non-client-owned dogs, disease-induction or injury models, and transportation of live or deceased dogs. The maximum allowable indirect-cost request is 15% of the total grant budget. Some travel expenses may be considered case by case.
CHF’s website says active and upcoming RFPs require a pre-proposal and an invitation to submit a full proposal. The Fall 2027 cycle page describes a two-stage competitive review. The 2027 schedule lists a Spring 2027 cycle deadline of February 23, 2027, a focused research opportunity on juvenile cataracts in Golden Retrievers with a March 9, 2027 deadline, and a Fall 2027 cycle deadline of August 3, 2027.
The foundation also lists residency-program opportunities. Its sports medicine and rehabilitation residency grant offers up to $300,000 for U.S. training programs accredited by the ACVSMR; its small animal theriogenology residency grant offers up to $150,000 to accredited U.S. veterinary schools. These are training-program awards, distinct from the research RFPs.
How to Apply
Review the relevant RFP and eligibility requirements, submit a pre-proposal through the online application system, and proceed to a full proposal if invited. CHF’s website provides application checklists and required templates for applicants.
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation
Active Dog Wellness RFP - Acorn Grant
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation
Amount
Up to US $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Active Dog Wellness RFP - Oak Grant
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation
Amount
More than US $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF): Early Career Investigator RFP - Acorn Studies Grant
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation
Amount
Up to US $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CHF’s website states that it accepts eligible submissions from research organizations internationally. Its 2025 grants were distributed among recipients in multiple U.S. states, led by Pennsylvania, which received 14% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.1M (2023) to $3.1M (2020). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Pennsylvania ($367K). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 38 grants of 94 (40%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Research | $366,533 |
| Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO | Research | $250,000 |
| University of Florida Gainesville, FL | Research | $239,030 |
| University of California Davis Davis, CA | Research | $233,211 |
| Auburn University Auburn, AL | Research | $221,199 |
| Texas A&M Agrilife Research College Station, TX | Research | $209,500 |
| Cornell University Ithaca, NY | Research | $182,821 |
| University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc Athens, GA | Research | $177,109 |
| Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Blacksburg, VA | Research | $170,654 |
| North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC | Research | $163,570 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,822,710 | $5,599,003 | $5,782,290 | $2,682,848 across 17 grants |
| 2024 | $38,151,708 | $6,410,099 | $5,237,133 | $2,758,275 across 15 grants |
| 2023 | $34,077,418 | $6,158,860 | $4,992,763 | $2,120,901 across 20 grants |
The 2024 filing narrative separately reports that CHF awarded $3.2 million in grants supporting 42 studies that year.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $41,822,710 | $38,151,708 | $34,077,418 |
| Revenue | $5,599,003 | $6,410,099 | $6,158,860 |
| Expenses | $5,782,290 | $5,237,133 | $4,992,763 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,278,070 | $1,689,123 | $1,302,787 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 29, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 20, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary Smith as chairman, Wayne Jensen as vice chairman, Steven Hamblin as treasurer, and Susan LaCroix Hamil as secretary. It also lists Kristin Bloink, A. Duane Butherus, William I. Christensen, Sally L. Fineburg, J. Charles Charlie Garvin, and Laura Liscum as board members.
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation is led by Stephanie Montgomery Dvm Phd Dacvp, Chief Executive Officer on the 2025 filing; 5 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stephanie Montgomery Dvm Phd Dacvp
Chief Executive Officer
New on the 2025 filing
55 hrs/week
$305K (2025)
Mary Smith Bvms Phd Dacvim Neuro
Chairman
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fleming Samuels
Director of Philanthropy
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$119K (2024) → $119K (2025)
David Neal
Senior Director of Finance
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$134K (2025)
Joshua Brown
Community & Public Relations Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$116K (2025)
Andrea Fiumefreddo
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2024
55 hrs/week
$217K (2024) → $220K (2025)
A. Duane Butherus PhD
Board Member
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Bloink Pa-C Mph Dvm
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Lacroix Hamil
Secretary
Vice Chairman → Board Member, 2020
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wayne Jensen Dvm PhD MBA
Vice Chairman
Board Member → Vice Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William I. Christensen MD MPH
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Hamblin
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Smith
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Liscum PhD
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. Charles Charlie Garvin Md Facs
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Miele
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Sansone
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sally L. Fineburg
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valeria Rickard Dvm
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Zoila Tina A. Truesdale
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Karolynne McAteer (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Smith Bvms PhD (2019–2024) — Chairman
- Former: Nancy Shaw (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Rhonda Hovan (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Tina Truesdale (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Michael Knight PhD (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Stephanie A. Montgomery Dvm PhD (2021–2024) — Dacvp & Chief Executive Officer
- Former: Susan Childs (2024) — Director of Finance
- Former: J. Charles Garvin MD (2019–2023) — Chairman
- Former: Andrea Fiumefreddo Ms (2020–2023) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Darin Collins Dvm (2021–2023) — Chief Executive Officer
- Former: Marleen Livingstone (2023) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Jennifer Macleay Mba Phd Dacvim (2022) — Chief Scientific Officer
- Former: Ann M. Viklund (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Katherine Brantley Mac CPA (2021) — Director of Finance
- Former: Cindy Vogels (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Sue Copeland (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Calvin Carpenter Dvm MBA (2020) — Executive Director
- Former: Diane Brown Dvm PhD (2019) — Chief Executive Officer
- Former: Harvey Wooding (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $305K, to Stephanie Montgomery DVM PHD Dacvp (Chief Executive Officer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 8051 Arco Corporate Drive Suite 30, Raleigh, NC 27617
Phone: (919) 334-4010
Website: https://akcchf.org
Frequently asked questions about American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation
How much does American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation give each year?
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation gave $2.7M across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.8M across 15 grants.
What is American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation's typical grant size?
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $170,654, and its average grant was $157,815, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation that year got $160K on average.
Where does American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation give grants?
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation's top state is Pennsylvania, with 14% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Colorado (9%) and Florida (9%).
Does American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research" (17 grants).
Who are American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation's largest grantees?
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Pennsylvania ($366,533), Colorado State University ($250,000) and University of Florida ($239,030), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation?
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation reported $41.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.6M.
What does American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation fund?
CHF’s stated mission is to advance the health of all dogs and their owners by funding scientific research and supporting the dissemination of health information to prevent, treat, and cure canine disease. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation?
Review the relevant RFP and eligibility requirements, submit a pre-proposal through the online application system, and proceed to a full proposal if invited. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation's EIN?
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3813813. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation by hand.
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