Blue Sky Therapeutic Riding and Respite
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide a safe happy and healthy therapeutic community that works to empower and propel our special needs citizens and their families to their fullest potential. We serve our valued clients by providing therapeutic horseback riding respite vocational training and entrepreneurial opportunities.
- Income
- $510,625
- Spending
- $464,795
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- -20.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 40%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $58,500, executive director
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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $153,914 spent. Riders participate in a variety of horsemanship activities including grooming tacking and coaching a horse through patterns over and around obstacles. Our clients get to experience the personalities of our horses and learn valuable life skills. We believe that our riders are capable of incredible things and our horses know it! All instructors at Blue Sky are certified therapeutic riding instructors credentialed by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship an internationally recognized organization dedicated to industry standards and best practices for therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with special needs and disabilities. Therapeutic Driving lessons are instructed by a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Driving Instructor
- $140,320 spent. PURPOSE is a day program that currently meets on Tuesday Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-2:00 and on Friday we have our Fun Friday program from 10:00-1:00 At PURPOSE our partners clients participate in the following areas: R.I.S.E Purpose Mercantile Purpose Produce Barn Management We use these four facets to teach job social and life skills in a fun and supportive community. Also our partners work towards employment in our very own PURPOSE Mercantile Silo. Blue Sky is a place for our partners to belonga place where their voices are heard and they know they always have a seat at the table.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.