# Guide Dogs for the Blind

Guide Dogs for the Blind is an Endowment / Foundation based in San Rafael, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** San Rafael, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 350 Los Ranchitos Road, San Rafael, CA 94903, United States
- **Founded:** 1942
- **Assets under management:** 424 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** guidedogs.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/guide-dogs-for-the-blind

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Guide Dogs for the Blind was established in 1942 and provides guide dogs, K9 Buddy dogs, and mobility training at no cost to clients. Christine Benninger holds the role of President and CEO while Don Dea chairs the board. The organization runs as a non-profit with an endowment that sustains its core programs. The endowment allocates 14.32 percent to private equity and maintains exposure to venture capital, buyouts, and secondaries. Geographic reach centers on North America with campuses in California and Oregon. Lilian Shackelford Murray serves on the investment committee alongside her role at Saints Capital. No specific portfolio company holdings appear in available records. The firm employs 570 professionals. It maintains an additional campus in Boring, Oregon and runs the Guide Dogs for the Blind Foundation as its primary philanthropic vehicle. A capital campaign for Oregon campus expansion launched in February 2025. Investment decisions route through an internal committee that includes external advisors from Saints Capital. The structure separates operating activities from endowment management without external fund vehicles.

## Sectors

- Healthcare

## Offices

- Boring, OR, United States

## People

- Christine Benninger — President and CEO
- Don Dea — Chair of the Board of Directors

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Guide Dogs for the Blind?

An internal investment committee oversees endowment allocations. Lilian Shackelford Murray serves on the committee while holding a managing director role at Saints Capital. Orr Group provides additional investment advisory support.

### Does Guide Dogs for the Blind participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The endowment holds positions as a limited partner in private equity and venture capital funds. No direct deal program is documented in available records.

### What asset classes does the endowment currently hold?

Private equity represents 14.32 percent of the portfolio. Additional strategies include venture capital, buyouts, distressed debt, and secondaries.

### Where does Guide Dogs for the Blind maintain physical operations?

Primary operations sit at the San Rafael, California campus. A secondary 28-acre campus operates in Boring, Oregon with a new facility under development.

### How is the Guide Dogs for the Blind Foundation related to the operating entity?

The foundation serves as the primary philanthropic vehicle managing bequests and donations. It supports the operating entity that delivers guide dog services.

## Related profiles

- [Arison Arts Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/arison-arts-foundation)
- [Peddie School](https://altss.com/profile/peddie-school)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/guide-dogs-for-the-blind

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology