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Missouri Forget-Me-Not Horse Rescue and Sanctuary

EIN 45-3787871 · Linn Creek, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceWeak33 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE AID AND SANCTUARY TO ABUSED, NEGLECTED, ABANDONED OR DONATED HORSES THAT COME TO US IN NEED. TO WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER AGENCIES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO RECTIFY SITUATIONS IN WHICH HORSES ARE IN PERIL. TO PROVIDE HORSES IN OUR SANCTUARY WITH NEEDED MEDICAL CARE, PROPER NUTRITION AND A HEALTH PLAN TO RESTORE THEM PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FOR A NEW LIFE. TO CONTINUE EDUCATIONAL AND FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO BOTH HELP US SUPPORT OUR RESCUE EFFORTS AND TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF ISSUES INVOLVING NEGLECT AND ABUSE IN OUR AREA.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
-3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
30
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$62,692, president

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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (5)
  1. $558,828 spent. MFMN PROVIDES SANCTUARY TO APPROXIMATELY 80 PERMANENT RESIDENT HORSES WHO ARE EITHER ELDERLY OR HAVE SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS DUE TO BLINDNESS, FOUNDER, RINGBONE, JOINT ARTHRITIS, GENETIC DEFORMATIES, DENTAL ISSUES OR OTHER CHRONIC DESEASE. MANY OF THESE HORSES WERE GOING TO BE EUTHANIZED SIMPLY BECUASE THEY COULD NO LONGER BE RIDDEN OR WORKED. ALTHOUGH MOST OF THESE HORSES ARE OVER 20 YEARS OLD, A FEW ARE YOUNGER HORSES WITH GENETIC OR CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS, WHO WILL BE WITH US FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR LIVES.
  2. $390,125 spent. REHABILITATION AND ADOPTION PROGRAM - MISSOURI FORGET ME NOT HORSE RESCUE AND SANCTUARY TAKES IN HORSES THAT HAVE BEEN ABANDONED, NEGLECTED, ABUSED OR DONATED. THE HORSES ARE EVALUATED BY A VETERINARIAN, HORSE TRAINER AND/OR OTHER KNOWLEDGEABLE AND EXPERIENCED STAFF TO DETERMINE IF THEY CAN BE REHABILITATED FOR ADOPTION. HORSES ARE PROVIDED WITH ANY REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT, INCLUDING GELDING STUDS, AND PROVIDING NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT, INCLUDING PASTURE, GRAIN, HAY AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS AS REQUIRED TO RETURN THEM TO A HEALTHY STATE. THEY ARE PROVIDED HOOF CARE BY A FARRIER AND DENTAL CARE, IF NEEDED. ONCE HEALTHY, THE HORSES ARE EVALUATED BY A TRAINER TO DETERMINE THEIR RIDE-ABILITY. BASED ON THE EVALUATION, THEY ARE SENT TO A PROFESSIONAL TRAINER. ONCE THE HOSE IS DEEMED READY FOR ADOPTION, THEY ARE LISTED FOR ADOPTION ON OUR WEBSITE, IN OUR NEWSLETTER AND ON FACEBOOK. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AND REVIEWED AND HORSES ARE ONLY ADOPTED TO APPROVED APPLICANTS. AN ADOPTION FEE IS REQUIRED TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE COST OF CARING FOR THE TRAINING THE HORSE. DURING 2024, WE HAD 16 HORSES ADOPTED TO APPROVED HOMES, AND WE HAD 36 RIDE-ABLE HORSES AND 52 COMPANION ONLY HORSES AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION AT THE END OF THE YEAR, NOT INCLUDING THOSE IN FOSTER CARE. REHABILITATION AND ADOPTION PROGRAM - MISSOURI FORGET ME NOT HORSE RESCUE AND SANCTUARY TAKES IN HORSES THAT HAVE BEEN ABANDONED, NEGLECTED, ABUSED OR DONATED. THE HORSES ARE EVALUATED BY A VETERINARIAN, HORSE TRAINER AND/OR OTHER KNOWLEDGEABLE AND EXPERIENCED STAFF TO DETERMINE IF THEY CAN BE REHABILITATED FOR ADOPTION. HORSES ARE PROVIDED WITH ANY REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT, INCLUDING GELDING STUDS, AND PROVIDING NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT, INCLUDING PASTURE, GRAIN, HAY AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS AS REQUIRED TO RETURN THEM TO A HEALTHY STATE. THEY ARE PROVIDED HOOF CARE BY A FARRIER AND DENTAL CARE, IF NEEDED. ONCE HEALTHY, THE HORSES ARE EVALUATED BY A TRAINER TO DETERMINE THEIR RIDE-ABILITY. BASED ON THE EVALUATION, THEY ARE SENT TO A PROFESSIONAL TRAINER. ONCE THE HOSE IS DEEMED READY FOR ADOPTION, THEY ARE LISTED FOR ADOPTION ON OUR WEBSITE, IN OUR NEWSLETTER AND ON FACEBOOK. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AND REVIEWED AND HORSES ARE ONLY ADOPTED TO APPROVED APPLICANTS. AN ADOPTION FEE IS REQUIRED TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE COST OF CARING FOR THE TRAINING THE HORSE. DURING 2024, WE HAD 16 HORSES ADOPTED TO APPROVED HOMES, AND WE HAD 36 RIDE-ABLE HORSES AND 52 COMPANION ONLY HORSES AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION AT THE END OF THE YEAR, NOT INCLUDING THOSE IN FOSTER CARE.
  3. $84,351 spent. HORSE RESCUE PROGRAM - MISSOURI FORGET ME NOT HORSE RESCUE AND SANCTUARY WORKS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY TO FIGHT ANIMAL ABUSE, NEGLECT AND ABANDONMENT. DURING 2024, WE RESCUED 8 HORSES WITH A BODY SCORE OF 3 OR LESS. IN A FEW CASES, WE WERE UNABLE TO SAVE THE HORSE BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO RESCUE IT IN TIME TO SAVE ITS LIFE. IN ALL CASES, WE TRANSPORTED THE HORSES EITHER TO THE SANCTUARY OR TO A VETERINARIAN CLINIC OR HOSPITAL, DEPENDING ON THE MEDICAL STATE OF THE HORSE. IN THE CASES WHERE THE HORSE DIED AFTER WE HAD POSSESSION OF IT, WE TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR DISPOSAL OF THE REMAINS. HORSES THAT ARE UNABLE TO STAND ARE LOADED INTO OUR RESCUE VAN USING A SPECIALLY DESIGNED SLED. ONCE AT THE SANCTUARY, THEY ARE PLACED IN A SPECIALLY DESIGNED SLING, AND PROVIDED WITH 24 HOUR OBSERVATION AND CARE. IT SOMETIMES TAKES MONTHS FOR THESE HORSES TO RECOVER, AND IN MANY CASES WE FIND THAT THEY ALSO HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT NEED TO BE TREATED, IN ADDITION TO THE STARVATION AND NEGLECT ISSUES. WE FIND THAT AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN CARED FOR, MOST OF THESE HORSES BEGIN TRUSTING HUMANS AGAIN AND LEAD NORMAL AND HEALTHY LIVES. HORSE RESCUE PROGRAM - MISSOURI FORGET ME NOT HORSE RESCUE AND SANCTUARY WORKS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY TO FIGHT ANIMAL ABUSE, NEGLECT AND ABANDONMENT. DURING 2024, WE RESCUED 8 HORSES WITH A BODY SCORE OF 3 OR LESS. IN A FEW CASES, WE WERE UNABLE TO SAVE THE HORSE BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO RESCUE IT IN TIME TO SAVE ITS LIFE. IN ALL CASES, WE TRANSPORTED THE HORSES EITHER TO THE SANCTUARY OR TO A VETERINARIAN CLINIC OR HOSPITAL, DEPENDING ON THE MEDICAL STATE OF THE HORSE. IN THE CASES WHERE THE HORSE DIED AFTER WE HAD POSSESSION OF IT, WE TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR DISPOSAL OF THE REMAINS. HORSES THAT ARE UNABLE TO STAND ARE LOADED INTO OUR RESCUE VAN USING A SPECIALLY DESIGNED SLED. ONCE AT THE SANCTUARY, THEY ARE PLACED IN A SPECIALLY DESIGNED SLING, AND PROVIDED WITH 24 HOUR OBSERVATION AND CARE. IT SOMETIMES TAKES MONTHS FOR THESE HORSES TO RECOVER, AND IN MANY CASES WE FIND THAT THEY ALSO HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT NEED TO BE TREATED, IN ADDITION TO THE STARVATION AND NEGLECT ISSUES. WE FIND THAT AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN CARED FOR, MOST OF THESE HORSES BEGIN TRUSTING HUMANS AGAIN AND LEAD NORMAL AND HEALTHY LIVES.
  4. $21,088 spent. MFMN SUPPORTS A NETWORK OF FOSTER HOMES IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. AT THE END OF 2024 THERE WERE 24 EQUINE BEING SHELTERED IN FOSTER HOMES. THE FOSTER HOMES PROVIDE FOOD, SHELTER AND FARRIER CARE FOR THE EQUINE, AND MFMN SUBSIDIZES ANY NON-ROUTINE VETERINARY CARE. EQUINE IN FOSTER CARE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION, AND MFMN RETAINS OWNERSHIP OF THE EQUINE. EQUINE MUST BE RETURNED TO MFMN IF THE FOSTER HOME NO LONGER WANTS TO KEEP THE EQUINE OR IF IT IS NOT MEETING THE REQUIRED STANDARDS OF CARE FOR THE EQUINE.
  5. MFMN SUPPORTS A NETWORK OF FOSTER HOMES IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. AT THE END OF 2024 THERE WERE 24 EQUINE BEING SHELTERED IN FOSTER HOMES. THE FOSTER HOMES PROVIDE FOOD, SHELTER AND FARRIER CARE FOR THE EQUINE, AND MFMN SUBSIDIZES ANY NON-ROUTINE VETERINARY CARE. EQUINE IN FOSTER CARE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION, AND MFMN RETAINS OWNERSHIP OF THE EQUINE. EQUINE MUST BE RETURNED TO MFMN IF THE FOSTER HOME NO LONGER WANTS TO KEEP THE EQUINE OR IF IT IS NOT MEETING THE REQUIRED STANDARDS OF CARE FOR THE EQUINE.

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 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 March 2012.

    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.