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SOLDIERS BEST FRIEND

PEORIA, AZ · EIN 274665797 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE P20 · Human Services · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.soldiersbestfriend.org
revenue
$1.4M
expenses
$738K
net assets
$4.2M
employees
24
volunteers
100
program ratio
66%
mission · from form 990

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SERVICE/THERAPEUTIC COMPANION DOG TRAINING FOR VETERANS LIVING WITH COMBAT-RELATED POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER OR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY . OUR PROGRAM IS ARIZONA-BASED, PROVIDING LIFE-CHANGING SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE VETERANS AND AZ HOMELESS DOGS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Soldier's Best Friend is an Arizona-based nonprofit that provides U.S. military veterans living with service-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Service or Therapeutic Companion Dogs. The organization rescues most of its dogs from local shelters and trains the veteran and dog together to build a trusting relationship. The program aims to improve the lives of both veterans and rescued dogs.

named programs · 1 · from sources

what they call their work

Service or Therapeutic Companion Dog Training
Provides U.S. military veterans with military service-related PTSD or TBI with service or therapeutic companion dogs, most of which are rescued from local shelters. The program involves training the veteran and dog together.
activities · 2 clusters

what they do

  • Veteran Service Dog Training & Placement 4 activities
    • Provide Service and Therapeutic Companion Dogs to Veterans
      Provides U.S. military veterans living with military service-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Service or Therapeutic Companion Dogs. The program has graduated 483 veteran-dog teams since May 2011 and plans to serve 225 veterans in 2026.
    • Provide Service and Therapeutic Companion Dogs to Veterans
      Provides U.S. military veterans living with military service-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Service or Therapeutic Companion Dogs. The program has graduated 483 veteran-dog teams since May 2011 and plans to serve 225 veterans in 2026.
    • Service Dog Training
      Provides training for service dogs, including 3,376 training hours in 2025. Training qualifies dogs to meet Canine Good Citizen standards, pass four Public Access Tests, complete an airport outing, and master a minimum of three tasks related to the veteran's PTSD and/or TBI symptoms. Training is conducted at locations across Arizona, including Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff, Yuma, Show Low, Kingman, and Sierra Vista.
    • Service Dog Training
      Provides training for service dogs, including 3,376 training hours in 2025. Training qualifies dogs to meet Canine Good Citizen standards, pass four Public Access Tests, complete an airport outing, and master a minimum of three tasks related to the veteran's PTSD and/or TBI symptoms. Training is conducted at locations in the Phoenix area, Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff, Yuma, Show Low, Kingman, and Sierra Vista.
  • Dog Foster Care & Adoption 2 activities
    • Dog Rescue and Preparation
      Rescues over 380 homeless dogs from Arizona shelters. Prior to placement with veterans, the organization spays/neuters, vaccinates, and provides preventative medications for all dogs.
    • Rescue and Prepare Dogs for Service
      Rescues over 380 homeless dogs from Arizona shelters. These dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and provided with preventative medications and training equipment prior to placement with veterans.
financials · form 990 · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$1.41M
Contributions & grants$1.34M95%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$70K5%
Other revenue$-3K
expenses
Total expenses$738K
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$419K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.25M
Cash$864K
Investments$2.41M
Liabilities$39K
Net assets$4.21M
Liquid reserves53.2 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +29.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MIK MILEM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $57K
KATIE ARES FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 0 $15K
board members · 11
  • BRIAN RIVELAND — DIRECTOR
  • ELIZABETH SCHRYER — TREASURERPAST PRESIDENT
  • FRED PETTERS — DIRECTOR
  • GARY M BRIDGET SHRM-SCP — DIRECTOR
  • JOHN G BURNHAM DVM — FOUNDERDIRECTOR
  • JULIE WIRTANEN CFRE — SECRETARY
  • KELLY FINNELL — VICE PRESIDENT
  • KRISTINA WOOD — DIRECTOR
  • MARK DEVINE — DIRECTOR
  • ROBERT COOPER — PRESIDENT
  • VICTORIA BELLOMO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 2

who they work with

  • Kristy Velesko Photography Partner — Provides photography services for veteran/dog team graduation events.
  • Victory Fotos Partner — Provides photography services for veteran/dog team graduation events.