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Equus Effect

EIN 45-2632601 · Sharon, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO HELP VETERANS AND OTHERS IN TRANSITION REBUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AT HOME, WORK AND SCHOOL THROUGH MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH HORSES.

Income
$393,223
Spending
$347,380
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
2
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$31,665, executive director/board m

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $249,675 spent. IN JUNE 2019, THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION (VA) WAS AWARDED A $200,000 RESEARCH GRANT TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF OUR FOUR-SESSION, 16-HOUR CURRICULUM ON A TRANS DIAGNOSTIC SAMPLE OF VETERANS WHERE PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCE FOR THEMSELVES, WHAT IT TAKES TO WORK WITH HORSES IN A WAY THAT CULTIVATES NERVOUS SYSTEM REGULATION AS WELL AS HOW TO MANAGE TRIGGERS THAT HAPPEN AT WORK AND AT HOME. WE BUILD CLIENTS' CAPACITY TO HANDLE LIFE'S CHALLENGES AND TO BUILD HEALTHY, AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THOSE WITH WHOM THEY LIVE AND WORK. TO THIS END, RESEARCHERS AND CLINICIANS AT THE VA AND YALE UNIVERSITY CONDUCTED THIS 12-WEEK PILOT PROJECT IN FALL 2022 THROUGH SPRING 2023. THE DESIGN INCLUDED A CONTROL SAMPLE AS WELL AS A TRIAL SAMPLE OF VETERANS WHO STRUGGLE WITH EMOTION REGULATION AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT. WE ARE VERY PLEASED THAT THE INITIAL FINDINGS FROM THIS STUDY ARE EXTREMELY POSITIVE AND THAT OUR CURRICULUM IS VIEWED AS A VALUABLE COMPLEMENT TO TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING. WE HOPE THAT THIS STUDY MAY LEAD US TO BECOME ONE OF TWO EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS IN THE US. THIS YEAR, WE ALSO TRAINED SIX NEW FACILITATORS TO DELIVER OUR PROGRAM IN NORTH CAROLINA, NEW YORK STATE AND TEXAS. TO DATE, WE HAVE SERVED OVER 2900 PEOPLE IN UNIFORM - VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, MILITARY FAMILIES, PEOPLE IN RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS. THE EQUUS EFFECT ALSO SERVES MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS AND PEOPLE IN RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE. WE UNDERSTAND THE ADDITIONAL BURDEN AND COMPASSION FATIGUE EXPERIENCED BY MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS DUE TO THE END OF THE 20-YEAR WAR IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AS WELL AS THE CONTINUED FALLOUT FROM THE PANDEMIC. WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT TO DATE, WE HAVE SERVED OVER 2,500 VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, MILITARY FAMILIES, MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS AND PEOPLE IN RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE. IN 2023, WE EXPANDED OUR CAPACITY TO OFFER WEEKEND RETREATS TO VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS AND PLAN TO CONTINUE THIS INTO FY 2024 AND BEYOND.IN 2024, WE INCLUDED MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDER SPOUSES AND FAMILY MEMBERS IN OUR PROGRAMS AS WE UNDERSTAND THE BURDENS BORNE BY THOSE WHO MANAGE THE HOME FRONT WHILE THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY. THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND COMMUNITIES NEED THE SUPPORT OF FAMILY MEMBERS IN ORDER TO FUNCTION WHILE AWAY FROM HOME. IN TURN, FAMILY MEMBERS SAY THEY HAVE DERIVED A GREAT DEAL OF SUPPORT AND PRACTICAL TOOLS FROM OUR CURRICULUM THAT HELP THEM SETTLE DOWN AND DEAL WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIVING WITH SOMEONE WHOSE JOB IS DANGEROUS.WE ARE GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH THESE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN AS IT PROVIDES US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THOSE WHO SERVE US. IN ADDITION, IT EXPANDS THE IMPACT OF OUR PROGRAM TO REACH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY, AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH OUR HORSES.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2014.

    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 2024.

    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 September 2014.

    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.