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Equine Advocates Incorporated

EIN 11-3313534 · Valatie, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RESCUE, PROTECT AND PREVENT THE ABUSE OF EQUINES THROUGH EDUCATION, INVESTIGATION, RESCUE OPERATIONS, THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AND THE OPERATION OF A HORSE SANCTUARY FOR SLAUGHTER-BOUND, ABUSED AND NEGLECTED HORSES.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
21.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
18
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$96,572, sec'y/devlp

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $1.8 million spent. TO CONDUCT RESCUE OPERATIONS TO SAVE EQUINES, INCLUDING HORSES, PONIES, DONKEYS & MULES FROM SLAUGHTER & ANY FORM OF ABUSE & NEGLECT; TO OPERATE A HORSE SANCTUARY WHERE RESCUED EQUINES ARE CARED FOR IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS A MODEL FOR THE WAY EQUINES SHOULD LIVE AND BE TREATED & ALSO AS A WAY TO EDUCATE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS & THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS FROM WHICH EQUINES ARE RESCUED - THIS IS DONE THROUGH THE EXAMPLES OF THE ONES WHO ARE RESCUED & LIVE AT THE SANCTUARY - THEY ARE AMBASSADORS FOR OTHERS FROM SIMILAR SITUATIONS WHO ALSO NEED HELP AND/OR RESCUE; TO PROVIDE HUMANE EDUCATION AS TAUGHT BY A TEACHER IN OUR HUMANE EDUCATION CENTER, SERVICING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND HIGHER GRADE STUDENTS TO HELP FULFILL STATE LEARNING STANDARDS AS MANDATED BY NEW YORK STATE HUMANE EDUCATION LAW; TO CONDUCT AND PRESENT SYMPOSIUMS, LECTURE DEMONSTRATIONS & OTHER EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS & TOURS AT OUR HUMANE EDUCATION CENTER ON THE SANCTUARY GROUNDS - TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT EQUINE-RELATED ISSUES, THE SPECIAL CARE & NEEDS OF EQUINES AND TO FURTHER THE UNDERSTANDING & NEED FOR THE RESCUE & PROTECTION OF WILD & DOMESTIC EQUINES;TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS INTO VARIOUS FORMS OF EQUINE ABUSE, INCLUDING SLAUGHTER, THE PMU INDUSTRY, THE URBAN CARRIAGE HORSE TRADE, THE TRAGIC FATE OF MOST CAMP HORSES, THE HORROR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER AUCTIONS, ETC.;TO PRODUCE FILMS, VIDEO, BOOKS, LITERATURE & OTHER MATERIALS TO PRESENT AND/OR OFFER TO THE PUBLIC AS A WAY TO BRING ABOUT BETTER AWARENESS OF PROBLEMS FACING WILD & DOMESTIC EQUINES IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. TO CONDUCT RESCUE OPERATIONS TO SAVE EQUINES, INCLUDING HORSES, PONIES, DONKEYS & MULES FROM SLAUGHTER & ANY FORM OF ABUSE & NEGLECT; TO OPERATE A HORSE SANCTUARY WHERE RESCUED EQUINES ARE CARED FOR IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS A MODEL FOR THE WAY EQUINES SHOULD LIVE AND BE TREATED & ALSO AS A WAY TO EDUCATE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS & THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS FROM WHICH EQUINES ARE RESCUED - THIS IS DONE THROUGH THE EXAMPLES OF THE ONES WHO ARE RESCUED & LIVE AT THE SANCTUARY - THEY ARE AMBASSADORS FOR OTHERS FROM SIMILAR SITUATIONS WHO ALSO NEED HELP AND/OR RESCUE; TO PROVIDE HUMANE EDUCATION AS TAUGHT BY A TEACHER IN OUR HUMANE EDUCATION CENTER, SERVICING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND HIGHER GRADE STUDENTS TO HELP FULFILL STATE LEARNING STANDARDS AS MANDATED BY NEW YORK STATE HUMANE EDUCATION LAW; TO CONDUCT AND PRESENT SYMPOSIUMS, LECTURE DEMONSTRATIONS & OTHER EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS & TOURS AT OUR HUMANE EDUCATION CENTER ON THE SANCTUARY GROUNDS - TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT EQUINE-RELATED ISSUES, THE SPECIAL CARE & NEEDS OF EQUINES AND TO FURTHER THE UNDERSTANDING & NEED FOR THE RESCUE & PROTECTION OF WILD & DOMESTIC EQUINES;TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS INTO VARIOUS FORMS OF EQUINE ABUSE, INCLUDING SLAUGHTER, THE PMU INDUSTRY, THE URBAN CARRIAGE HORSE TRADE, THE TRAGIC FATE OF MOST CAMP HORSES, THE HORROR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER AUCTIONS, ETC.;TO PRODUCE FILMS, VIDEO, BOOKS, LITERATURE & OTHER MATERIALS TO PRESENT AND/OR OFFER TO THE PUBLIC AS A WAY TO BRING ABOUT BETTER AWARENESS OF PROBLEMS FACING WILD & DOMESTIC EQUINES IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD.

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 October 1996.

    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.

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