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Special Strides

EIN 22-3667820 · Monroe, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SPECIAL STRIDES IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WITHSPECIAL NEEDS USING A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF THERAPY, HORSES, AND THENATURAL ENVIRONMENT. HELPING CHILDREN AND ADULTS BUILD STRENGTH,CONFIDENCE, INDEPENDENCE, AND CONNECTION ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVETHEIR PERSONAL GOALS. SPECIAL STRIDES IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONCOMMITTED TO ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION, ENSURING THAT EVERY INDIVIDUALHAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO "IMPROVE THEIR LIVES... ONE STRIDE AT A TIME"REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL STATUS.

Income
$854,868
Spending
$951,666
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
18
Volunteers
52
Highest pay
$91,329, treasurer/therapist/execut

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 92% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 11 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 (3)
  1. $686,317 spent. SPECIAL STRIDES IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN MONROE TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY, PROVIDING THERAPY, RECREATIONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS THE LIFESPAN. PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND SPEECH THERAPY THAT INTEGRATE EQUINE MOVEMENT, AS WELL AS ADAPTIVE HORSEMANSHIP WITH BOTH MOUNTED AND UNMOUNTED ACTIVITIES.THESE SERVICES SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL SKILLS IN BALANCE, MOBILITY, COMMUNICATION, SOCIAL PARTICIPATION, AND ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING. IN 2025, SPECIAL STRIDES SERVED OVER 146 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED SESSIONS AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING.
  2. $114,045 spent. IN 2004, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ESTABLISHED THE STEVEN WERTHAN MEMORIAL FUND TO ENSURE ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL NEED. THIS PROGRAM REFLECTS THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITMENT TO REDUCING FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO CARE AND PARTICIPATION.IN 2025, $134,145 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS AWARDED TO 66 INDIVIDUALS, WITH $114,045 UTILIZED TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION IN THERAPY, RECREATIONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.
  3. VOLUNTEERS ARE INTEGRAL TO THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES AT SPECIAL STRIDES. THEY SUPPORT THERAPY AND ADAPTIVE HORSEMANSHIP SESSIONS AS TRAINED SIDEWALKERS AND HORSE LEADERS, AND CONTRIBUTE TO ADMINISTRATIVE AND FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.IN 2025, 101 NEW VOLUNTEERS WERE ENGAGED, WITH 23 INDIVIDUALS CONTINUING AS ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S VOLUNTEER TEAM. SPECIAL STRIDES FOSTERS VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT LEADERSHIP, VOCATIONAL SKILLS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. VOLUNTEERS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN EXTENDING THE ORGANIZATION'S REACH AND IMPACT

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 November 6, 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 March 2000.

    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 November 4, 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.