Mercy Spring Ranch
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO UTILIZE HORSES AND OTHER RANCH ACTIVITIES TO HELP BRING THE HOPE, HEALING, AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED VARIOUS TYPES OF TRAUMA IN THEIR LIVES. THIS TRAUMA MAY COME IN THE FORM OF PREVIOUS PHYSICAL, MENTAL, OR SEXUAL ABUSE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, A DEATH OR ILLNESS IN THE FAMILY, DIVORCE, PLACEMENT IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, BULLYING, ETC.
- Income
- $60,213
- Spending
- $84,576
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 40% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
- $84,576 spent. MERCY SPRING RANCH IS A 501(C)3, NON-PROFIT, CHRISTIAN MINISTRY THAT UTILIZES HORSES AND OTHER RANCH ACTIVITIES TO HELP BRING THE HOPE, HEALING, AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED VARIOUS TYPES OF TRAUMA IN THEIR LIVES. THIS TRAUMA MAY COME IN THE FORM OF PREVIOUS PHYSICAL, MENTAL, OR SEXUAL ABUSE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, A DEATH OR ILLNESS IN THE FAMILY, DIVORCE, PLACEMENT IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, BULLYING, ETC. THE ORGANIZATION PRIMARILY SERVES THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE STANISLAUS AND SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY COMMUNITIES OF THE CALIFORNIA CENTRAL VALLEY. THIS IS DONE FREE OF CHARGE, WITH NONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS PAYING TO PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS. MERCY SPRING RANCH IS A 100% VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION WITH NO PAID STAFF.THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. AFTER MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF WORKING IN YOUTH MINISTRY, THE FOUNDERS WERE WELL AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTORING YOUTH. THE BENEFITS INCLUDE INCREASED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES, LOWER HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATES, HEALTHIER RELATIONSHIPS AND LIFESTYLE CHOICES, BETTER ATTITUDE ABOUT SCHOOL, HIGHER COLLEGE ENROLLMENT RATES AND EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS, ENHANCED SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE, IMPROVED BEHAVIOR, BOTH AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL, STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND PEERS, IMPROVED INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, AND DECREASED LIKELIHOOD OF INITIATING DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE. MENTORSHIP SESSION LEADERS WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH EACH CHILD, IMPARTING THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR IDENTITIY AND WORTH IS MUCH GREATER THAN WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE BY OTHERS. THE PROGRAM USES THE INTERACTION WITH HORSES AND OTHER RANCH ACTIVITIES TO BREAK DOWN WALLS AND ALLOW CHILDREN TO SHARE THEIR HURTS AND FEARS. IN ADDITION, LIFE SKILLS ARE TAUGHT TO THE CHILDREN THROUGH WOOD-WORKING AND METAL WORKING PROJECTS, GARDENING, CRAFT PROJECTS, ETC. WHILE THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS DIRECTED TOWARD THE CHILDREN, GREETERS ALSO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH THE PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND SIBLINGS AS WELL. THE GREETERS PRAY FOR THEM, LISTEN TO WHAT THEY ARE ALSO GOING THROUGH, AND HELP WHEN AND WHERE THEY CAN. FOR INSTANCE, THE RANCH TEACHES THEM ABOUT SUSTAINABLE AND ECONOMICAL WAYS THEY CAN FEED THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH HEALTHY, ORGANIC GARDENING AND RAISING THEIR OWN FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. THANKS TO THE GENEROUS DONATION BY THE RAYMUS FOUNDATION IN 2024, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GREEHOUSE, THE ORGANIZATION HAS ALMOST DOUBLED THESE EFFORTS. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES RANCH FAMILIES, AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, WITH FERSH PRODUCE FROM THE MERCY SPRING RANCH GARDEN, AS WELL AS FRESH ORGANIC EGGS. IN 2025, THE RANCH PROVIDED 1,750 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE TO FAMILIES.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 13, 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 September 2010.
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 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.