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Dressage 4 Kids Inc

EIN 06-1600087 · Cheshire, CT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DRESSAGE 4 KIDS, INC. IS A NON-PROFIT 501 (C) (3) ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH RIDERS AND THE ADULTS WHO SUPPORT THEM. TO ENCOURAGE RIDERS UNDER 21 TO BECOME TRUE HORSEMEN; TO OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS; TO DEVELOP GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP; TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS WHO IN TURN EDUCATE YOUTH; AND TO HAVE FUN.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$192,985, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $1.1 million spent. HORSE MANAGEMENT AND MENTORING TRAINING PROGRAM - THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES DONATED HORSES AND MATCHES THESE HORSES WITH RIDERS. THE DONATED HORSES ARE THEN USED BY DRESSAGE PARTICIPANTS FOR A NOMINAL MONTHLY FEE. THE PARTICIPANT IN TURN CARES FOR THE HORSE, PAYING ALL CARE, FEED AND INSURANCE COSTS. THE PARTICIPANT LEARNS HOW TO CARE FOR THE HORSE AND COMPETES WITH THE HORSE IN THE ORGANIZATIONS EVENTS AS WELL AS SHOWS ORGANIZED BY NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $340,889 spent. THE HORSEMANSHIP AND RIDING PROGRAM INCLUDES THE D4K SUMMER INTENSIVE TRAINING PROGARM (SIT); THE D4K TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND MENTORING PROGRAM (TEAM); AND THE D4K WINTER INTENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM (WIT). THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON HELPING YOUTH DEVELOP THROUGH RIDING AND HORSEMANSHIP EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER TECHNICAL SKILLS, RIDING AND TRAINING THEORY, HORSE CARE AND MANAGEMENT, AND PERSONAL GROWTH.
  3. $50,649 spent. YOUTH DRESSAGE FESTIVAL: THE FLAGSHIP EVENT OF DRESSAGE4KIDS, INC. IS CONDUCTED IN AUGUST. INSTITUTED IN 1999, THE FESTIVAL OFFERS INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM COMPETITION FOR RIDERS FROM AGES 4 THROUGH 21. DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS FEATURE A THREE-PHASED COMPETITION: A WRITTEN, TEST, AN INDIVIDUAL DRESSAGE TEST, AND A GROUP EQUITATION RIDE. DIVISIONS OFFERED ARE INTRODUCTORY THROUGH FOURTH, FEI PONY, JUNIOR AND YOUNG RIDER AND PARA EQUESTRIAN. RIDERS MAY ALSO ASSEMBLE TEAMS AND VIE FOR THE USDF REGION 8 YOUTH TEAM COMPETITION. CLASSES FOR LEASLINE (RIDERS AGED 4 TO 8), PRIX CAPRILLI, (DRESSAGE RIDE INCORPORATING JUMPS), DRESSAGE TRAIL, MUSICAL FREESTYLE ARE OFFERED, AS ARE OTHER COMPETITIVE FUND ACTIVITIES.
  4. $256,788 spent. EDUCATIONAL AND CLASSROMM PROGRAMS INCLUDES THE D4K UNMOUNTED PROGRAMS (UP); THE D4K TRAINING4TEACHING PROGRAM (T4T); AND THE D4K BUSINESS ASSIST PROGRAM (BA). THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXTEND BEYOND RIDING, EQUIPPING PARTICIPANTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, TEACHING SKILLS, AND PROFESSIONAL TOOLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN THE EQUESTRIAN INDUSTRY. VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE D4K ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY, TEAM PROGRAM (ACT). D4K ACT INSPIRES YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES THAT STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE EQUESTRIAN INDUSTRY. D4K SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS EXPAND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT HELPS PARTICIPANTS PURSUE THEIR GOALS AND CONTINUE THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
  5. EDUCATIONAL AND CLASSROMM PROGRAMS INCLUDES THE D4K UNMOUNTED PROGRAMS (UP); THE D4K TRAINING4TEACHING PROGRAM (T4T); AND THE D4K BUSINESS ASSIST PROGRAM (BA). THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXTEND BEYOND RIDING, EQUIPPING PARTICIPANTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, TEACHING SKILLS, AND PROFESSIONAL TOOLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN THE EQUESTRIAN INDUSTRY. VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE D4K ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY, TEAM PROGRAM (ACT). D4K ACT INSPIRES YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES THAT STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE EQUESTRIAN INDUSTRY. D4K SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS EXPAND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT HELPS PARTICIPANTS PURSUE THEIR GOALS AND CONTINUE THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.