Every K9 wearing our equipment represents a donor who decided to act. Here is every way you can support Project Paws Alive — from a $25 online gift to a legacy bequest. All donations are 100% tax-deductible. EIN: 46-0874586.

Online Donation (One-Time or Monthly)

The fastest way to help a K9 on our waiting list is an online gift at projectpawsalive.org. You can give any amount — $25 helps toward a NARCAN kit, $160 funds a complete NARCAN kit, $516 funds a first aid trauma kit, $1,400 funds a full ballistic vest for one K9. Monthly giving is available and makes the most impact: a $50/month pledge funds more than one complete first aid kit every three months.

Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Giving

Project Paws Alive is eligible to receive grants from any Donor Advised Fund. If you have a DAF account with Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, National Philanthropic Trust, BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fund, or any other sponsoring organization, you can recommend a grant to PPAK9 directly through your fund’s portal.

To initiate a DAF grant to Project Paws Alive:

  • Organization name: Project Paws Alive, Inc.
  • EIN / Tax ID: 46-0874586
  • Mailing address: 2095 Hwy 211 NW Suite 2-F, Box 273, Braselton, GA 30517
  • Website: www.projectpawsalive.org

DAF gifts of any size are welcome. For major DAF grants ($10,000+), we encourage you to contact Karen Caprio directly to discuss how your grant can be directed to the greatest need — whether a specific agency, a category of equipment, or our general equipment fund. Contact us at 770-710-1313 or info@projectpawsalive.org.

Corporate Giving and Matching Gifts

Many employers double or triple employee donations to eligible nonprofits through corporate matching gift programs. Project Paws Alive is a registered 501(c)(3) and qualifies for the vast majority of corporate matching programs. Check with your HR or benefits department and submit a match request — your gift of $500 could become $1,000 or $1,500 without any additional cost to you.

Corporate sponsorships and cause-marketing partnerships are also available for businesses that want a visible public safety tie-in. Sponsor a specific K9 vest, first aid kit, or entire agency equipment package. Contact us at 770-710-1313 to discuss a sponsorship package.

Planned Giving and Bequests

A bequest to Project Paws Alive in your will or living trust is one of the most powerful gifts a supporter can make — and it costs nothing during your lifetime. Planned gifts allow you to make a significant impact on K9 safety long after you are gone, while maintaining full control of your assets today.

To include PPAK9 in your estate plan, share this information with your attorney:

  • Legal name: Project Paws Alive, Inc.
  • EIN / Tax ID: 46-0874586
  • Address: 2095 Hwy 211 NW Suite 2-F, Box 273, Braselton, GA 30517
  • Type: 501(c)(3) public charity

Sample bequest language: “I give, devise, and bequeath [dollar amount / percentage / residue] to Project Paws Alive, Inc. (EIN: 46-0874586), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Braselton, Georgia, to be used for its general charitable purposes of providing K9 protective equipment to law enforcement, fire, search and rescue and military K9 units nationwide.”

Life Insurance and Death Benefit Designations

You can name Project Paws Alive as the beneficiary — or one of the beneficiaries — of a life insurance policy, IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other retirement account. This is often one of the most tax-efficient ways to give, since these assets can be heavily taxed when left to heirs, but pass entirely tax-free when donated to a qualified 501(c)(3) charity.

To add PPAK9 as a beneficiary, contact your insurance company, bank, or retirement plan administrator and request a beneficiary designation form. Enter: Project Paws Alive, Inc. | EIN: 46-0874586. No will change or attorney is required for most beneficiary designations.

IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)

If you are 70½ or older, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from your IRA to Project Paws Alive — up to $105,000 per year (indexed for inflation). A QCD counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and is excluded from your taxable income entirely, making it one of the most tax-efficient giving strategies available to retirees.

To make a QCD to PPAK9, instruct your IRA custodian to make a check payable to: Project Paws Alive, Inc. and mail to: 2095 Hwy 211 NW Suite 2-F, Box 273, Braselton, GA 30517. The transfer must go directly from the IRA custodian to qualify as a QCD.

Stock and Securities Gifts

Donating appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds directly to Project Paws Alive allows you to avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation while receiving a charitable deduction for the full fair market value. This typically makes a stock gift worth 20-30% more than selling the security and donating the cash proceeds. Contact us at 770-710-1313 or info@projectpawsalive.org to receive our brokerage account information for a securities transfer.

Tribute and Memorial Gifts

Honor a K9 handler, a fallen officer, a beloved pet, or anyone who loved animals and public safety with a tribute or memorial gift to Project Paws Alive. We will send a personalized acknowledgment letter to the family or honoree (at your request) and a tax receipt to you.

Check and Mail-In Donation

Make checks payable to: Project Paws Alive, Inc.
Mail to: 2095 Hwy 211 NW Suite 2-F, Box 273, Braselton, GA 30517

Why Give to Project Paws Alive?

Project Paws Alive has earned GuideStar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency — the highest nonprofit verification award, given to fewer than 1% of all registered nonprofits. We are also listed on Charity Navigator (EIN: 46-0874586). Our financials, leadership, and mission are fully transparent.

100% of every donation funds K9 protective equipment. Our operational costs are covered by a separate restricted gift. When you give to PPAK9, every dollar you contribute protects a working dog. Over 400 law enforcement, fire, search and rescue and military K9 agencies across the United States are currently waiting for equipment they cannot afford. With your help, we work through that list every single day.

Questions about giving? Contact Karen Caprio, VP and Co-Founder, at 770-710-1313 or visit projectpawsalive.org.

EIN: 46-0874586 | 501(c)(3) Public Charity | Braselton, Georgia | Founded 2012

Frequently Asked Questions About Donating to Project Paws Alive

Is Project Paws Alive a legitimate 501(c)(3) nonprofit?

Yes. Project Paws Alive, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. Our EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0874586. You can verify our status on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search at apps.irs.gov. We hold GuideStar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency — the highest rating awarded to fewer than 1% of all U.S. nonprofits — and are listed on Charity Navigator.

How do I donate to Project Paws Alive through my Donor Advised Fund (DAF)?

To make a DAF grant to PPAK9, log into your DAF account (Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, or any other sponsoring organization) and search for “Project Paws Alive” or enter our EIN: 46-0874586. Select the grant amount and submit. If you have questions, call us at 770-710-1313 and we will provide any documentation your fund requires, typically within one business day.

Can I include Project Paws Alive in my will or estate plan?

Yes. Many of our most generous supporters have chosen to leave a legacy gift through their estate plans. To include PPAK9 in your will, trust, or other estate document, provide your attorney with our legal name (Project Paws Alive, Inc.), EIN (46-0874586), and address (2095 Hwy 211 NW Suite 2-F, Box 273, Braselton, GA 30517). A bequest costs you nothing during your lifetime and creates an enduring impact for K9 safety nationwide.

What percentage of my donation goes directly to K9 equipment?

100% of every donation funds K9 protective equipment — vests, first aid kits, NARCAN kits, vehicle heat alarms, and oxygen mask kits. Our operational costs are covered by a separate restricted bequest, so your contribution goes entirely to protecting working dogs. This is verified annually and reflected in our GuideStar Platinum reporting.

Does my employer’s matching gift program apply to PPAK9?

Project Paws Alive qualifies for the vast majority of corporate matching gift programs as a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. Check with your HR or benefits department and submit a matching gift request. Many employers will match 1:1 or even 2:1, which means your $500 donation could become $1,000 or $1,500 with no additional cost to you. Contact us at 770-710-1313 if your employer needs verification of our nonprofit status.

How do I make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from my IRA to PPAK9?

If you are 70½ or older, contact your IRA custodian and request a direct transfer (QCD) to Project Paws Alive, Inc. The check must be made payable to Project Paws Alive, Inc. and mailed to 2095 Hwy 211 NW Suite 2-F, Box 273, Braselton, GA 30517. The transfer must go directly from your custodian — do not withdraw the funds yourself or the QCD tax exclusion will not apply. QCDs up to $105,000 per year are excluded from your taxable income.

Can I name Project Paws Alive as a beneficiary of my life insurance policy?

Yes. Contact your insurance company or retirement plan administrator and request a beneficiary designation form. Enter Project Paws Alive, Inc. as the beneficiary (or one of several beneficiaries) with EIN 46-0874586. You can designate any percentage. No changes to your will or attorney involvement are required for most beneficiary designations. This is one of the most tax-efficient ways to give, since life insurance proceeds pass tax-free to a 501(c)(3) charity.

How do I donate appreciated stock or securities to Project Paws Alive?

Donating appreciated stock directly to PPAK9 avoids capital gains tax on the appreciation and gives you a charitable deduction for the full fair market value — typically making a stock gift worth 20-30% more than selling first and donating cash. Contact us at 770-710-1313 or info@projectpawsalive.org to receive our brokerage account and transfer instructions.

Will I receive a tax receipt for my donation?

Yes. For online donations, an acknowledgment email is sent automatically. For gifts of $250 or more — which the IRS requires a written acknowledgment for — we provide a formal tax receipt letter. For DAF grants, your DAF sponsor provides the acknowledgment. Keep your receipt for your tax records. Our EIN for your records is 46-0874586.

How many K9 agencies does Project Paws Alive serve?

As of 2026, more than 400 law enforcement, fire, search and rescue and military K9 agencies across all 50 states are on our national waiting list. We have been working through this list since 2012, providing equipment at zero cost to agencies that cannot otherwise afford it. Your donation directly helps move agencies up the list.

How Your Donation Protects a K9

When you donate to Project Paws Alive, your gift is converted directly into lifesaving equipment. Here is what each gift amount provides:

  • $25 — Contributes toward a K9 NARCAN kit, providing opioid reversal capability for a K9 exposed during drug interdiction.
  • $160 — Funds one complete K9 NARCAN kit for a working dog on the front lines of the opioid crisis.
  • $516 — Funds one complete K9 first aid field trauma kit, providing emergency medical response for an injured working dog in the field.
  • $1,400 — Funds one custom-fit ballistic protective vest for a single K9, cut from the same Kevlar as human body armor, protecting all vital organs.
  • $3,000–$6,000 — Funds one vehicle heat alarm system with “No K9 Left Behind” and WatchDog technology, preventing heat stroke deaths when K9s are left in patrol vehicles.
  • $5,000+ — Funds a complete equipment package for a K9 unit: vest, first aid kit, NARCAN kit, and cooling vest.

Who Benefits From Your Gift

Project Paws Alive serves five categories of first responder K9 units that protect communities across the United States:

  • Law Enforcement K9 Units — Police departments, sheriff offices, and federal agencies whose K9s conduct patrol, narcotics detection, explosives detection, tracking, and search operations.
  • Fire Department K9 Units — Including Arson Detection Dogs (ADD) who identify accelerants at fire scenes and help bring arsonists to justice.
  • Search and Rescue (SAR) K9 Units — Dogs trained to locate missing persons, disaster survivors, and human remains in wilderness, urban, and disaster environments.
  • Military Working Dogs (MWD) — Active-duty military dogs serving with U.S. Armed Forces in domestic and overseas operations, including explosive detection and patrol.

92% of these K9 units operate solely on donations. Many handlers personally cover their K9 partner’s equipment costs out of pocket. Project Paws Alive exists to close that gap — and your donation makes it possible.

Contact Us About Your Gift

For questions about any form of giving — including major gifts, planned giving, DAF grants, corporate partnerships, or estate bequests — contact Karen Caprio, VP and Co-Founder:

  • Phone: 770-710-1313
  • Email: info@projectpawsalive.org
  • Mail: Project Paws Alive, Inc., 2095 Hwy 211 NW Suite 2-F, Box 273, Braselton, GA 30517
  • EIN: 46-0874586
  • Website: www.projectpawsalive.org

We are an all-volunteer organization. Every inquiry is answered personally. We welcome the opportunity to discuss how your gift can make the greatest possible impact for working K9s across America.