Leader Dogs for the Blind
Empowering people who are blind or visually impaired with lifelong skills for safe and independent daily travel.
Leader Dogs for the Blind at a glance
In short: Leader Dogs for the Blind gave $24K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $24K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $23,889
- +45.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,889
- +45.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $23,889
- Total assets
- $24,077,983
- -0.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Leader Dogs for the Blind funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Leader Dogs for the Blind Foundation ($24K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 5 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Leader Dogs for the Blind gives
- Giving fell 99% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $13K (2020) to $7.1M (2021). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $24K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Leader Dogs for the Blind Foundation Rochester Hills, MI | To Support the Foundation's Mission. | $23,889 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,077,983 | $20,872,200 | $20,964,492 | $23,889 | 1 | $174,175 |
| 2024 | $24,131,129 | $26,998,428 | $21,512,667 | $16,443 | 1 | $122,195 |
| 2023 | $27,686,017 | $20,424,355 | $21,271,443 | $15,480 | 1 | $6,309 |
| 2022 | $29,006,678 | $19,128,539 | $22,912,466 | $2,513,082 | 1 | $108,451 |
| 2021 | $33,492,766 | $19,666,578 | $22,282,369 | $7,112,732 | 1 | $176,349 |
| 2020 | $37,710,992 | $19,227,561 | $16,318,357 | $13,195 | 1 | $96,574 |
About Leader Dogs for the Blind
Based on IRS filings
Leader Dogs for the Blind is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Rochester Hills, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $24.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $24K. Net investment income was $174K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Leader Dogs for the Blind is led by Melissa L. Weisse, President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 10 of 35 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Melissa L. Weisse
President & CEO
Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer → Cpo, 2024
Cpo → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$169K (2020) → $290K (2025)
Susan M. Daniels
Former President & CEO
President & CEO → Former President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2020
$290K (2020) → $288K (2025)
John Reed
Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathie Davis
Chair
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Smith Dvm
Director of Canine Health
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$156K (2022) → $198K (2025)
Gerette Kerby
Director of Canine Operations
Director of Canine Operations → Director of Canine Operati, 2023
Director of Canine Operati → Director of Canine Operations, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$119K (2022) → $157K (2025)
Chris Bearup
Director of Facilities
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$131K (2024) → $130K (2025)
Kathryn Tuck
Director of Foundation Giving
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$125K (2025)
Arun Anand
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Spriet
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Franklin Carmona
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill Gaus
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marc Wisniewski
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Dimond
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn Kelly
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Smith
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Edwards
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Guarini
Trustee
Chair → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom O'Masta
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diane Henderson
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Hock
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jackie Buchanan
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill Garvey
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kurt Terrien
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Costanzo
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Kristic
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan McCandlish
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Landolt
Vice President & CIO
Chief Marketing Officer → CMO, 2024
CMO → Vice President & CIO, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$130K (2020) → $204K (2025)
Kelly Wilson Dvm
Assistant Director of Canine Health
Veterinarian → Assistant Director of Canine Health, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$115K (2020) → $157K (2025)
Lorene Suidan
Vice President & CFO
Vice President & COO → COO, 2024
COO → Vice President & CFO, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$166K (2020) → $199K (2025)
Melissa Aupperle
Chief Philanthropy & Mktg Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$149K (2025)
Avril Rinn
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Gorman
Vice Chair
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Guthrie
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michele Honomichl
Treasurer
Trustee → Trustee & Treasurer, 2024
Trustee & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Douglas Wright (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Kathryn Davis (2020–2024) — Chair
- Former: Anne Arvia (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Stephanie Dawkins Davis (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jeffrey Lev (2022–2024) — Former Vice President, CFO, Assistant Secretary & Assistant Treasurer · Filing note: Thru 63023
- Former: Alex Morgan (2024) — Chief People Officer
- Former: Terri Swaffield (2024) — Director of It
- Former: David Locklin (2020–2023) — Director of Programs
- Former: John Hebert (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Kevin O'Callaghan (2020–2023) — Former Chief Talent Officer
- Former: Paul Preketes (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Paul Teranes (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Daniel Markey (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: David Smith (2020–2021) — Director of Canine Health
- Former: Paul Hemeryck (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Rodney Haneline (2020–2021) — Former Vice President & Chief Program Services
- Former: Jeff Lev (2021) — Vice President & CFO -
- Former: Melissa Pena Gallis (2020) — Former Chief Talent Officer
- Former: Michelle Honomichi (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $290K, to Melissa L Weisse (President and CEO). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Leader Dogs for the Blind
How much does Leader Dogs for the Blind give each year?
Leader Dogs for the Blind gave $24K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $16K across 1 grant.
How large is Leader Dogs for the Blind?
Leader Dogs for the Blind reported $24.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.9M.
What is Leader Dogs for the Blind?
Leader Dogs for the Blind is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Rochester Hills, MI. It holds $24.1M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Leader Dogs for the Blind operate?
Leader Dogs for the Blind has awarded grants in Michigan.
What is Leader Dogs for the Blind's EIN?
Leader Dogs for the Blind's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-1366931. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 22, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Leader Dogs for the Blind funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Leader Dogs for the Blind's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Leader Dogs for the Blind's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Leader Dogs for the Blind down — hundreds of funders to go?