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Ushja Foundation Inc

EIN 26-2472549 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE USHJA FOUNDATION ADVANCES THE EDUCATIONAL, HUMANITARIAN AND COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS OF THE USHJA.

Income
$430,329
Spending
$335,792
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
72.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
0
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$60,250, chair

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 72.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 November 30, 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. $226,736 spent. SUPPORT OF USHJA PROGRAMS - THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR VARIOUS UNITED STATES HUNTER JUMPER ASSOCIATION, INC.'S PROGRAMS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE HORSEMANSHIP QUIZ CHALLENGE, THE WHEELER MUSEUM, HORSEMANSHIP CLINICS, AND OTHER USHJA PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ACTS AS THE CHARITABLE ARM OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND RAISES FUNDS TO SUPPORT USHJA PROGRAMS. IN FY 24, THE FOUNDATION RAISED FUNDS FOR THE FOLLOWING ASSOCIATION PROGRAMS, THE WORLD CHAMPION HUNTER RIDER PROGRAM, SALLIE B WHEELER HUNTER BREEDING CHAMPIONSHIPS, THE EMERGING JUMPER RIDER PROGRAM, YOUNG HUNTER PONY CHAMPIONSHIPS, INTERNATIONAL HUNTER DERBY AND GREEN HUNTER INCENTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK, USHJA AWARDS, AND THE USEF YOUTH SPORTSMAN AWARD.
  2. $72,483 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, & CONTRIBUTIONS - THE USHJA FOUNDATION HAS MULTIPLE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS AVAILABLE TO USHJA MEMBERS ANNUALLY. THE HAMEL SCHOLARSHIP FOR FURTHER EDUCATION IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE FURTHER EDUCATION AMONG EQUESTRIANS AND WILL AWARD UP TO 25K TO UP TO THREE USHJA MEMBERS ANNUALLY FOR COLLEGE, GRADUATE, TRADE OR PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL. THE GOCHMAN FAMILY GRANT FOR THE US PONY FINALS OFFERS UP TO THREE ANNUAL GRANTS TO YOUNG RIDERS TO AFFORD THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE IN THE US PONY FINALS. ZONE SCHOLARSHIPS - FUNDS ARE RAISED BY MEMBERS OF REGIONAL ZONES AND AWARDED AS EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO ZONE MEMBERS. THE JT TALLON MEMORIAL EQUITATION GRANT IS AWARDED TO JUNIOR USHJA MEMBERS WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES WHO HAVE QUALIFIED FOR A NATIONAL EQUITATION FINAL ARE PROVIDED THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO ATTEND. THE CHUCK KELLER GRANT FOR EQUESTRIAN EXCELLENCE IS AWARDED ANNUALLY TO ONE USHJA EMERGING ATHLETES NATIONAL TRAINING SESSION PARTICIPANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF FURTHERING THEIR EQUESTRIAN TRAINING IN PURSUIT OF EQUESTRIAN EXCELLENCE. THE NAOMI BLUMENTHAL MEMORIAL TRAINING GRANT PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR EQUESTRIANS WISHING TO CONTINUE THEIR EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION. THE SUNNY STEVENS STABLE MANAGER AWARD IS AWARDED ANNUALLY TO ONE USHJA EMERGING ATHLETES NATIONAL TRAINING SESSION STABLE MANAGER PARTICIPANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF FURTHER EDUCATION. SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, & CONTRIBUTIONS - THE USHJA FOUNDATION HAS MULTIPLE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS AVAILABLE TO USHJA MEMBERS ANNUALLY. THE HAMEL SCHOLARSHIP FOR FURTHER EDUCATION IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE FURTHER EDUCATION AMONG EQUESTRIANS AND WILL AWARD UP TO 25K TO UP TO THREE USHJA MEMBERS ANNUALLY FOR COLLEGE, GRADUATE, TRADE OR PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL. THE GOCHMAN FAMILY GRANT FOR THE US PONY FINALS OFFERS UP TO THREE ANNUAL GRANTS TO YOUNG RIDERS TO AFFORD THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE IN THE US PONY FINALS. ZONE SCHOLARSHIPS - FUNDS ARE RAISED BY MEMBERS OF REGIONAL ZONES AND AWARDED AS EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO ZONE MEMBERS. THE JT TALLON MEMORIAL EQUITATION GRANT IS AWARDED TO JUNIOR USHJA MEMBERS WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES WHO HAVE QUALIFIED FOR A NATIONAL EQUITATION FINAL ARE PROVIDED THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO ATTEND. THE CHUCK KELLER GRANT FOR EQUESTRIAN EXCELLENCE IS AWARDED ANNUALLY TO ONE USHJA EMERGING ATHLETES NATIONAL TRAINING SESSION PARTICIPANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF FURTHERING THEIR EQUESTRIAN TRAINING IN PURSUIT OF EQUESTRIAN EXCELLENCE. THE NAOMI BLUMENTHAL MEMORIAL TRAINING GRANT PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR EQUESTRIANS WISHING TO CONTINUE THEIR EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION. THE SUNNY STEVENS STABLE MANAGER AWARD IS AWARDED ANNUALLY TO ONE USHJA EMERGING ATHLETES NATIONAL TRAINING SESSION STABLE MANAGER PARTICIPANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF FURTHER EDUCATION.
  3. $10,920 spent. HORSEMAN ASSISTANCE GRANTS -THE HORSEMAN'S ASSISTANCE FUND WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS WHO REQUIRE ASSISTANCE AS A RESULT OF ACCIDENT OR ILLNESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 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 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 November 2024.

    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 August 2009.

    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.

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

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Ufw Foundation (Bakersfield, CA), EIN 95-2703575. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.