Our annual Case for Giving presents ways in which you can become an active partner with us, targeting your investment to specific parts of our mission and operations. The figures represent the total cost of each item, but your gift, in any amount, will be applied to the program you choose, and will make a difference in our programs.
Canine Development: Continue to produce the world's best Guide Dogs.
Donate now to support Canine Care.
BREEDING. Help ensure that we always start with the very best puppies.
- Underwrite medical supplies and equipment for the Cryopreservation program to allow for the shipping, storage and utilization of breeding materials. $9,000.
- To continually enhance the breeding colony, we'll exchange six breeding dogs with other schools in the UK, Asia and Europe during the coming year, entailing (no pun!) transportation costs and import/export fees of $2,500 per dog, or $15,000 for all six.
- Puppy Litter Sponsor: Underwrite all of the pre-natal, birthing and neo-natal costs for one litter of extremely cute pups. $10,000
KENNEL. Create the best living environment for all of our dogs
- One of the best ways to relieve kennel stress is through enriching the kennel environment. Doing so produces brighter, more active and more well-adjusted Guides. Guide Dogs spends approximately $10,000 each year on dog toys, play structures and enrichment materials and another $5,000 annually to replace dog bedding.
- One final kennel is being renovated during the coming year and you can sponsor a re-designed and re-equipped dog run in this kennel for $18,000 and have your name listed on the large donor plaque in the main hallway.
- Feed the dogs for a day. For $438 you can feed all of the dogs in the SR kennel for one day or you can become the dogs' best friend (especially the Labs) for an entire year with a donation of $250,000.
CANINE PROGRAMS. Provide our dogs the best socialization and training.
- Puppy delivery sponsor. Underwrite transportation of 10 puppies to and from the homes of the volunteer families who will raise them. $1,000.
- Puppy patron. Help produce one future Guide Dog by paying the breeding, whelping and initial training costs for a puppy. $5,000.
- Career change guardian. Help defray the cost of transporting and temporarily housing one dog who is moving from the Guide program to another service role. $2,500.
- Dog naming opportunity. Own the exclusive naming rights for one Guide Dog throughout their active, service life. $30,000.
- Dog health. Help our dogs maintain optimum health by providing heartworm and flea prevention for one dog ($200) or an annual "wellness" vet check ($250 per dog).
Services to the Visually Impaired Community: Give every qualified blind man or woman the opportunity to partner with a Guide Dog.
Donate now to support Services for the Blind.
- K9 Buddy program. Help select and train a career changed dog to be placed as a pet with a visually impaired child and their family. Program provides companionship, teaches responsibility and prepares the child to have a Guide when they're older. $7,500.
- Underwrite four Lifestyle Workshops on Guide Dogs' San Rafael campus to introduce visually impaired individuals to the duties, joys and benefits of working with a Guide Dog partner as well as the requirements for successfully training with a Guide. $600.
- GDB will provide a four day summer camp experience on the San Rafael campus for visually impaired youth, aged 14 to 17, so that they can actively experience working with, and caring for a Guide Dog. A donation of $6,000 pays for room and board, training supplies and outings for 10 campers.
- Three visually impaired individuals (preference given to GDB grads) will have the opportunity for a 3-week, paid internship where they will work in a department at Guide Dogs such as the dorm kitchen, vet clinic or in Puppy Raising, developing skills that they can use in the labor market. The cost of room, board and travel for each intern is $2,250.
Student Services: Provide equal access to a Guide Dog without regard to an individual's income or financial status.
- Class Travel Patron. Underwrite all travel expenses for one class of students to/from campus. $8,000 for a San Rafael class or $4,000 for a class at the Oregon campus.
- Class Nutrition Benefactor. Underwrite all costs to feed nutritious meals to one class of students while in the dorm for $15,000 at San Rafael; $7,500 for an Oregon class.
- Class Champion. Entirely sponsor a class of blind students by underwriting both the travel and nutrition costs for the entire class. San Rafael $23,000; Oregon $11,500.
- Guide Dog Team Sponsor. Help to defray the costs of developing and training both parts of the team: the dog and the student, in order to produce a successful partnership. $15,000.
- Lifelong Team promoter. In addition to covering the costs of training (above), a 'lifelong' sponsor also finances the in-home, professional follow up by a graduate services specialist for the entire working life of the partnership. $25,000
- Wheelchair Team Sponsor. A donation of $50,000 will pay for the highly specialized training required to prepare a Guide Dog to safely lead a blind man or woman in a motorized wheelchair.
- Each GDB grad is not only matched with a Guide Dog but they are also
provided with the tools and supplies necessary to manage, or direct that dog.
Your gift may purchase a single item, or a complete set for a student:
- Gentle leaders $25
- American leather harnesses $225
- Swiss ergonomic harnesses $300
- Leather leashes $15. - Scholarships for GDB graduates, administered by the GDB Alumni Association can be underwritten for $1,000/ each with the donor's name attached to the award.
- Each year, approximately 24 Guides are flown in from their blind partner's home to GDB for medical care or other reasons at an average cost of $500 for airfare, a cargo container and a vet visit to obtain a health certificate. The total cost of this student support program is approximately $12,000 per year.
- Help maintain a fund which provides temporary financial assistance for graduates who are not able to purchase dog food for their Guides. Used in emergencies, the times require that we budget $1,100 per year to keep this vital support available.
Overall Program Support
- In order to maintain the life-saving skills and knowledge required of our staff, CPR training is provided on a regular basis. A one-time donation of $600 will replace the current, worn out set of training mannequins.
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