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Horse Plus Humane Society

EIN 20-1156396 · Hohenwald, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceFair57 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

HORSE PLUS HUMANE SOCIETY IS THE LARGEST HORSE WELFARE ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES, RESCUING AND SHELTERING MORE HORSES THAN ANY OTHER HORSE WELFARE ORGANIZATION, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS HELPED AND ADOPTED EACH YEAR. WE ARE AN OPEN ADMISSIONS, FULL CIRCLE OF LIFE HORSE WELFARE ORGANIZATION AND WILL NEVER TURN A HORSE AWAY. EVERY YEAR WE HELP HUNDREDS OF HORSE TRASITION FROM A ROUGH PLACE IN THEIR LIFE TO A NEW START. OUR WONDERFUL TEAM OF VETERINARIANS AND HORSE TRAINERS WORK WITH THE HORSES TO HELP THEM BECOME HAPPY, HEALTHY AND ADOPTABLE. HOURSE PLUS HUMANE SOCIETY HAS MANY PROGRAMS TO HELP HORSES AND THEIR OWNERS THOUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
31
Highest pay
$101,385, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $1.9 million spent. RESCUE, SHELTER AND ADOPT INTO LOVING HOMES FROM SLAUGHTER PIPELINE AUCTIONS, PREVENTING THE HORSES FROM BEING SHIPPED OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR SLAUGHTER. ALSO ACCEPT OWNER SURRENDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT SEIZURES, ABANDONED HORSES AND SHELTER TRANSFER HORSES.
  2. FULL CIRCLE OF LIFE MENTORING AND GRANT PROGAM. MENTORED PONY TALES RESCUE AND REHAB IN WISCONSIN TO BECOME A FULL CIRCLE OF LIFE SHELTER. ALSO INCLUDED IS THE HORSE RESCUE HEROES TV PROGRAM.
  3. $295,471 spent. WE BUY HORSES - A PROGRAM WHERE HORSES IN DANGER OF SHIPPING TO SLAUGHTER ARE PURCHASED BRFORE THEIR DESPERATE OWNERS SELL THEM TO A KILL BUYER OR HORSE TRADER WHO WILL TAKE THEM DIRECTLY TO AN AUCTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.