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The Cloud Foundation

EIN 20-1740623 · Colorado Spgs, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CLOUD FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO PREVENTING THE EXTINCTION OF CLOUD'S HERD THROUGH EDUCATION, MEDIA EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING, AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT. WE ARE ALSO DETERMINED TO PROTECT OTHER WILD HORSE HERDS ON PUBLIC LANDS, ESPECIALLY ISOLATED HERDS WITH UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

Income
$336,342
Spending
$370,611
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
13.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$71,444, executive director

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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
  1. $266,146 spent. THE CLOUD FOUNDATION FOUNDER, GINGER KATHRENS, IS REGULARLY INVITED TO SPEAK AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES ADVOCATING THE PRESERVATION OF WILD HORSES AND BURROS. THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN FEATURED ON ABC, NBC, CNN, AND PBS, EDUCATING A NATIONAL AUDIENCE ABOUT THE NEED TO PRESERVE WILD HORSES AND BURROS. TCF ATTENDS THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) NATIONAL MEETINGS REGARDING THE MANAGEMENT OF WILD HORSES AND BURROS. KATHRENS AND OTHER TCF BOARD MEMBERS GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE NEED TO REFORM THE MANAGEMENT OF WILD HORSES AND BURROS BOTH ON THE RANGE AND IN CAPTIVITY. TCF COMMENTS ON ALL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS, WHICH DEAL WITH THE PLANNED REMOVAL OF WILD HORSES AND BURROS FROM PUBLIC LANDS. TCF DIRECTOR KATHRENS WRITES ARTICLES FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ON THE ISSUE. TCF SPEAKS AT SCHOOLS, CREATES EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND PRODUCES EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS AND STILL PRESENTATIONS REGARDING WILD HORSES AND BURROS. TCF COLLABORATES WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE THE PROTECTION OF WILD HORSES AND BURROS.SINCE ITS INCEPTION (2005) TCF HAS DIRECTLY RESCUED DOZENS OF MUSTANGS THAT WERE BOUND FOR DIRT HOLDING AREAS MANAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR WERE ON THEIR WAY TO KILLER BUYER AUCTIONS. THE FOUNDATION HAS FACILITATED THE ADOPTION AND PURCHASE OF DOZENS OF OTHER ONCE WILD HORSES. TCF HAS PROVIDED TRAINING OR RETRAINING OF ONCE ADOPTED WILD HORSES THAT WERE SUBSEQUENTLY RESCUED EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY TCF. TCF MAINTAINS TWO FAMILY BANDS OF WILD HORSES ON PRIVATELY OWNED, LEASED PASTURES IN MONTANA. THESE "FREEDOM FAMILY" WILD HORSES LIVE MUCH LIKE THEY DID ON THE PRYOR MOUNTAINS. TCF PROVIDES SCHEDULED VISITS TO SEE THE FREEDOM FAMILIES FOR PURPOSES OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND EDUCATION ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR AND COMPLEX SOCIAL INTERACTIONS OF WILD HORSES.

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 August 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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: The Foundation (Houston, TX), EIN 92-0742101. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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