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Hope Reins

EIN 27-1074966 · Raleigh, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HOPE REINS' VISION IS TO INSPIRE TRUE HOPE AND REAL HEALING FOR EVERY CHILD. AT OUR RANCH, WE PAIR CHILDREN AND TEENS EXPERIENCING TRAUMA WITH A RESCUED HORSE AND MENTOR TO FIND HOPE AND HEALING. THE FREE-OF-CHARGE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SESSIONS INCLUDE A FOCUS ON TRUST, COMMUNICATION, BOUNDARIES, AND LEADERSHIP WHICH ARE IMPORTANT FOR BOTH HEALING FROM TRAUMA AND BUILDING LIFE-LONG RESILIENCY. MANY OF THE HORSES AT HOPE REINS HAVE SUFFERED SIMILAR ABUSE, TRAUMA OR REJECTION AS THE CHILDREN WE SERVE. THE COMMONALITY THAT IS PRESENT OFTEN TRIGGERS AN INSTANT AND POWERFUL BOND BETWEEN HORSE AND CHILD. THE CONVERSATIONS FACILITATED BY A TRAINED MENTOR BETWEEN A HORSE AND A CLIENT PROVIDE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALING AND GROWTH IN THE KEY RESILIENCY SKILLS. OUR GOAL THROUGH SESSIONS IS TO GIVE THESE CHILDREN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A SAFE RELATIONSHIP, ONE THAT FOSTERS AN ENVIRONMENT OF COMPASSION, COMFORT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TRUST.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
41
Volunteers
601
Highest pay
$113,747, founder & ceo

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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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

    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 (2)
  1. $1.6 million spent. IN 2025, THE PATHWAY TO RESILIENCE PROGRAM HELPED 297 HURTING KIDS HEAL THROUGH 3,506 SESSIONS, INCLUDING 207"PATHWAY" KIDS, OF WHICH A RECORD-BREAKING 80 WERE FIRST-YEAR ENROLLEES. PLUS, ANOTHER 90 KIDS FROM STRATEGIC PARTNERS LIKE DURHAM RESCUE MISSION AND BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS. THE KIDS IN THE PROGRAM ARE AGED 5 TO 18, HAVE INCREDIBLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, AND MAY BE BLACK, WHITE, HISPANIC, ASIAN, OR ADOPTED FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY AND HAVE EXPERIENCED EITHER A SERIOUS TRAUMATIC EVENT OR HAVE FACED MULTIPLE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES. SOME TRAVEL TO OUR RANCH FROM AS FAR AWAY AS VIRGINIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THEY MAY RESIDE AT HOME WITH ONE OR BOTH PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS OR THEY MAY LIVE WITH A FOSTER FAMILY OR IN A GROUP HOME. REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL STATUS, WE SERVE ALL THESE FAMILIES AT NO COST TO THEM.
  2. $157,845 spent. ACADEMYIN 2025 WE TRAINED:150 SIMILAR RANCHES91 NEW LEADERS.HOPE REINS ACADEMY IS OUR TRAINING AND EQUIPPING PROGRAM. THROUGH THE ACADEMY, WE SHARE THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERTISE WE'VE DEVELOPED SINCE 2010 SERVING CHILDREN IN CRISIS. DRAWING FROM OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE, WE TRAIN INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING HOPE AND HEALING TO THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. OUR CURRICULUM COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS FROM HORSEMANSHIP GROUNDED IN OUR UNIQUE PHILOSOPHY TO ORGANIZATIONAL BEST PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINABLE, TRAUMA-INFORMED MINISTRY. PARTICIPANTS PAY FEES TO ACCESS AND MAINTAIN ONGOING USE OF OUR TRAINING RESOURCES. HOPE REINS ACADEMY EXTENDS THE REACH OF OUR MISSION AND HELPS ADVANCE OUR VISION TO INSPIRE TRUE HOPE AND REAL HEALING FOR EVERY CHILD.

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 November 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.

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.