Exceptional Equestrians Company
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH THE HEALING POWER OF HORSES.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $812,911
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- 6.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 110
- Highest pay
- $118,358, executive director
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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 48% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1560% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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, 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)
- $488,350 spent. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED SKILLED, QUALITY THERAPY/HIPPOTHERAPY SERVICES PROVIDED BY LICENSED AND SPECIALLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS. ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE ASSESSED BY A LICENSED THERAPIST TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, AND TO DEVELOP INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. IN 2024, 3,163 HIPPOTHERAPY SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, SENSORY AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. PROGRESS TOWARD GOAL ACHIEVEMENT IS DETERMINED VIA OBJECTIVE TESTING, OBSERVATION, AND QUARTERLY REPORTING. THE ADAPTIVE RIDING PROGRAM OFFERS THERAPEUTIC MOVEMENT OF THE EQUINE WHILE TEACHING BASIC HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS. ADAPTIVE RIDING OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SKILL PROGRESSION AND ADVANCEMENT AS GOALS ARE MET IN HIPPOTHERAPY. THIS PROGRAM IS LED BY A PATH CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR AND MONITORED BY A HIPPOTHERAPY CLINICAL SPECIALIST. IN 2024, ADAPTIVE RIDING PARTICIPANTS WERE PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 550 SESSIONS. THE TAKING THE LEAD PROGRAM WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND MENTAL HEALTH. LED BY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND AN EQUINE SPECIALIST IN MENTAL HEALTH, THE TAKING THE LEAD PROGRAM ADDRESSES EMOTIONAL SELF-AWARENESS, SELF-ESTEEM, CONFIDENCE, COMMUNICATION, AND PROBLEM SOLVING TO OFFER COPING STRATEGIES TO BE INCORPORATED INTO DAILY LIFE. IN 2024, 7 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM. FUNDING FOR ALL PROGRAMS COMES FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES INCLUDING THE CHILDRENS LONG TERM WAIVER PROGRAM, IRIS AND LAKELAND CARE, PRIVATE PAY, AND GRANT AND FUNDRAISING INCOME WHICH ASSISTS IN COVERING THE SHORTFALL AS FEES CHARGED DO NOT COVER THE EXPENSE OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES.
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
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.