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Equine Rescue of Aiken

EIN 20-5162723 · Aiken, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceWeak45 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

EQUINE RESCUE OF AIKEN'S MISSION IS TO RESCUE UNWANTED HORSES WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT. EQUINE RESCUE OF AIKEN WORKS WITH SELECT RACE TRACKS TO REPURPOSE OFF THE TRACK THOROUGHBREDS, THEN REHABILITATES THE HORSES WITH THE GOAL TO PLACE THEM IN "FOREVER" HOMES. ALONG WITH RESCUING HORSES ALREADY IN TROUBLE, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON THE PLIGHT OF INHUMANELY TREATED ANIMALS IS PART OF OUR MISSION. WE HOPE TO INSPIRE THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY YOUTH, ON THE PROPER TREATMENT AND RESPECT THAT HORSES DESERVE.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
6
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$80,000, 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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (4)
  1. $578,832 spent. HORSE ADOPTION PROGRAM: WE HAVE A CAPACITY OF 65 HORSES IN OUR CARE AT ONE TIME AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION, BUT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, WE CAN CARE FOR UP TO 70 HORSES TEMPORARILY. WE MAY SEEK A FOSTER SITUATION FOR EITHER AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OR FOR A SPECIAL NEEDS HORSE, BUT WE PREFER OUR HORSES TO BE IN OUR PERSONAL CARE.
  2. HORSE BOARDING: BOARDING IS OFFERED AT OUR FACILITY. MOST OF OUR BOARDERS HAVE ADOPTED HORSES DIRECTLY FROM US. ON AVERAGE, WE PROVIDE THIS SERVICE FOR 9 HORSES.
  3. $387,556 spent. COUNTY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT: EQUINE RESCUE OF AIKEN SUPPORTS CITY CITY OF AIKEN AND AIKEN COUNTY WHEN THEY CONFISCATE HORSES. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE CITY AND COUNTY PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM BY ALLOWING OFFENDERS TO EARN COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS AT OUR FACILITY. THE PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM IS A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR FIRST TIME OFFENDERS OF NON-VIOLENT CRIMES, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO AVOID THE COURT SYSTEM BY COMPLETING COUNSELING, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK, RESTITUTION, DRUG TESTING, AND PRISON TOURS.
  4. COUNTY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT: EQUINE RESCUE OF AIKEN SUPPORTS CITY CITY OF AIKEN AND AIKEN COUNTY WHEN THEY CONFISCATE HORSES. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE CITY AND COUNTY PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM BY ALLOWING OFFENDERS TO EARN COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS AT OUR FACILITY. THE PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM IS A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR FIRST TIME OFFENDERS OF NON-VIOLENT CRIMES, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO AVOID THE COURT SYSTEM BY COMPLETING COUNSELING, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK, RESTITUTION, DRUG TESTING, AND PRISON TOURS.

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 2019.

    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.