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Central Kentucky Riding for Hope Inc

EIN 31-1024505 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CENTRAL KENTUCKY RIDING FOR HOPE IS DEDICATED TO ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY BY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SPECIAL PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL NEEDS THROUGH THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES WITH THE HORSE.

Income
$919,587
Spending
$940,522
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
20
Volunteers
325
Highest pay
$98,087, executive director, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
  1. $723,626 spent. IN 2024, 600 PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED DIRECT CKRH CLIENT SERVICES THROUGH THE EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES & THERAPIES (EAAT), AN UMBRELLA TERM WHICH INCLUDES THE RANGE OF EQUINE ACTIVITIES/THERAPIES DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR DIVERSE NEEDS. CKRH PROVIDED 2,028 DIRECT CLIENT SERVICE HOURS THROUGH EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AND THERAPY SESSIONS. THEY INCLUDE:THERAPEUTIC RIDING (TR), MOUNTED TRADITIONAL RIDING DISCIPLINES OR ADAPTIVE RIDING ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY A CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR IN PRIVATE OR GROUP LESSONS. ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO MEET EACH PARTICIPANT'S NEEDS AND MAY FOCUS ON FINE/GROSS MOTOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, BALANCE, STRENGTH OR COORDINATION. AN ALTERNATIVE FOR INDIVIDUALS UNABLE TO RIDE (DUE TO CONTRAINDICATIONS) IS THERAPEUTIC DRIVING.HIPPOTHERAPY (HPOT), MOUNTED PHYSICAL/OCCUPATIONAL/SPEECH THERAPIES THAT UTILIZE EQUINE MOVEMENT. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY A LICENSED THERAPIST OR SPEECH/LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CARDINAL HILL REHABILITATION HOSPITAL. EQUINE FACILITATED MENTAL HEALTH (EFMH), NON-MOUNTED EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AND THERAPIES WITH A FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. LED BY A LICENSED/CREDENTIALED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IN CONJUNCTION WITH A CREDENTIALED EQUINE PROFESSIONAL, EXAMPLES INCLUDE PSYCHOTHERAPY, MARRIAGE/FAMILY COUNSELING AND BEREAVEMENT THERAPY. CKRH PARTNERS WITH THE BLUEGRASS RAPE CRISIS CENTER TO PROVIDE PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO ADULT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL TRAUMA; ST. JAMES PLACE TO PROVIDE PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO MILITARY VETERANS AND HOSPICE OF THE BLUEGRASS WITH THE HEALING HOOVES BEREAVEMENT RETREAT. EQUINE FACILITATED LEARNING (EFL), NON-MOUNTED EQUINE ACTIVITIES WHICH INCORPORATE EQUINE/HUMAN INTERACTION TO PROMOTE EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOP LIFE/SOCIAL SKILLS. WE PARTNER WITH MANY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. CKRH IS HOME TO A FULL TIME FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL, THE STABLES. THE STABLES IS A COMMUNITY COLLABORATION THAT FOCUSES ON CAREER READINESS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CHILDREN. CKRH PARTNERS WITH THE KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD TO TEACH SKILLS IN RESILIENCY TO SOLDIERS. THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP (TH), MOUNTED AND NON-MOUNTED EQUINE ACTIVITIES WHICH DEVELOP SKILLS IN HORSE CARE, HANDLING OR RIDING. PARTICIPANTS' EQUINE SKILLS PROGRESS WHILE IMPROVING COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL ABILITIES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HORSE-MASTER LESSONS, US PONY CLUB CURRICULUM AND OCCASIONAL HORSE SHOW COMPETITIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.