
FAQs
General
What are the mission and goals of The Dog Aging Institute?
The Dog Aging Institute strives to improve healthy aging by promoting research, providing funding, and developing educational resources to support the Dog Aging Project and similar studies of companion dogs.
Does The Dog Aging Institute conduct research?
While The Institute does not conduct its own research, it helps fund research studies, facilitates collaborations and partnerships, and educates the public about the work being done in the canine aging field. Additionally, we foster projects using a multidisciplinary approach to understand and address the challenges of aging in dogs.
What’s the relationship between the Dog Aging Project and The Dog Aging Institute?
The Dog Aging Project and the Dog Aging Institute are separate organizations working toward the same goal.
- The Dog Aging Project is a collaboration of researchers from different institutions conducting canine aging and health studies.
- The Dog Aging Institute is a nonprofit that supports the Dog Aging Project and other canine research initiatives through fundraising, collaboration, and education.
The founders of the Dog Aging Project also founded The Institute as they recognized a need for additional financial support for research projects in the canine aging field.
You can support canine aging research in many ways.
- Enroll your dog in the Dog Aging Project study. Visit dogagingproject.org.
- Donate to The Dog Aging Institute. All donations support the Dog Aging Project, educational initiatives, and canine health research.
- Listen to our podcast, Longevity for Dogs, to hear about canine aging research directly from the scientists.
- Sign up to receive updates from us via our e-newsletter.
- Share the Dog Aging Project and The Dog Aging Institute with your friends and family.
Together, both organizations are working to improve the lives of dogs and their companions as they age!
Will my donation be used to fund laboratory experiments on dogs?
No. The Institute does not fund any research that involves dogs in a laboratory. We primarily support observational studies and analysis of existing data. This data is gathered over time from participating community scientists, in partnership with veterinarians and research institutions.
In select cases, we may support a clinical trial; however, all participating dogs must be living at home with their owners. The safety, welfare, and happiness of all participants is at the forefront of every funding decision.
Has this information been sent to the companion dog owners who are enrolled in the Dog Aging Project?
The Dog Aging Institute and the Dog Aging Project are collaborators – two separate legal entities working together to advance canine aging and health research. As collaborators, they share updates across both organizations’ newsletters and social media posts.
Privacy policies for the Dog Aging Project restrict the sharing of Project participant contact information with outside organizations and businesses, including The Dog Aging Institute. This means we cannot directly contact Project participants on behalf of the Institute.
Since many Dog Aging Project participants are interested in supporting canine aging research, we invite all DAP Pack members and supporters of the Project to also follow The Dog Aging Institute. By following both organizations, you’ll stay informed about their collaborative work and remain up-to-date with the latest activities in the canine aging and health research field.
Does The Dog Aging Institute sell donor information?
No! The Dog Aging Institute does not sell, share, or trade donor information with any other organization, including any organizations receiving a grant through The Institute. Your information is protected through our data privacy policy.
Are you able to provide medical advice for my dog?
Providing medical advice requires a veterinary-patient relationship that The Dog Aging Institute cannot have with your dog. We encourage you to have a discussion about your dog’s health with your primary care veterinarian.
Donation
Is The Dog Aging Institute a nonprofit organization?
The Dog Aging Institute has been granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and is recognized as a charitable organization by the IRS. This means that donations to The Dog Aging Institute qualify for tax exemption, including any donations made since the Institute’s incorporation date of December 6, 2023. The Institute can be found on GuideStar, and the Tax ID is EIN 93-4834347.
What payment methods does The Dog Aging Institute accept for donations?
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Credit or debit card
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Cash App
- Donor Advised Funds (DAF)
- US bank transfer (ACH)
- Check (by mail)
- Cryptocurrency
- Stocks
To discuss any of these opportunities, planned giving, or other ways you are interested in donating, please email donate@dogaginginstitute.org.
How does The Dog Aging Institute raise funds? Where does most of your funding come from?
The Dog Aging Institute is a 501(c)(3) and accepts donations from individuals, organizations, and businesses who want to ensure that the field of canine health and aging research continues into the future.
How will my donation to The Institute help the Dog Aging Project?
The Dog Aging Project is a collaboration of researchers from multiple universities (including the University of Washington, Tufts University, Virginia Tech, and Texas A&M University). As it’s not a legal entity, it cannot receive donations directly.
That’s where The Institute comes in. As a 501(c)(3), we can accept donations directly and provide a tax receipt to donors. Funds donated through The Institute are used for grants to support canine health and aging research at institutions all across the country.
Who will The Dog Aging Institute provide grants to, and what are the general criteria for receiving a grant?
The Dog Aging Institute seeks to advance innovative research that helps people and their dogs live longer, healthier, happier lives. Research teams who study aging, age-related disease, factors that influence aging outcomes, and interventions to reduce or slow age-related disease in companion dogs are eligible for support from The Dog Aging Institute.
Can I send a donation by check?
Yes! Please make your check payable to The Dog Aging Institute, and include your email and phone number in the memo space. Checks can be mailed to: The Dog Aging Institute, PO Box 302008, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. A tax receipt will be mailed to you.
How can I set up an employer match for my donation to The Dog Aging Institute?
Check with your employer to see if they have an employer match program and if The Dog Aging Institute is eligible. One example is Benevity, where you will find The Dog Aging Institute listed in its cause portal. If your employer does not have The Dog Aging Institute listed or you need help getting it set up with your employer, please contact donate@dogagingproject.org.
Do you accept Donor Advised Fund donations, and if so, what information do I need to supply to my financial institution?
Yes! You can donate using a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) directly from our donation form, or by contacting your fund advisor and providing our EIN 93-4834347.
Do you accept cryptocurrency donations?
Yes! Please visit our Donate page and select “Donate Crypto.” All crypto donations are processed using the Engiven platform, a secure donation software designed for nonprofits to receive crypto. To learn more about Engiven and the cryptocurrency process, please visit our Engiven page.
Partnerships & Education
Are there partnership or sponsorship opportunities with The Dog Aging Institute?
Yes! Please email info@dogaginginstitute.org to discuss opportunities to work with The Dog Aging Institute.
What educational resources are available?
The Dog Aging Institute produces a biweekly podcast, Longevity for Dogs. Each episode, we sit down with researchers to discuss the science of canine health and aging. From epigenetics to behavior, environment to medical care, we bring you the science directly from the researchers. You can find Longevity for Dogs on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
We also produce a series of short educational science videos that break down scientific concepts using examples from canine aging research. To learn more, check out Pawsitively Science on The Dog Aging Institute YouTube channel.