The Laura J. Niles Foundation encourages and supports efforts that offer learning and economic growth opportunities for the motivated poor. Of equal importance are charitable initiatives that foster life enrichment through canine and other types of animal companionship. The foundation has a particular interest in education, economic self-sufficiency and programs that alleviate unhealthy dependencies. With regard to animals, most notably dogs, the foundation's areas of concentration center around canine health research, animal protection & adoption, search & rescue training, human assistance and similar fields of interest.