Passes our checks

Joyful Horse Project

EIN 45-4522043 · Bastrop, TX

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

What it says it does

TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR HOLISTIC EQUINE REHABILITATION, TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR BOTH HORSES AND PEOPLE.

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
0 of 35
Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20
It owes 38% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (animals, $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
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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$110,637 spent. WE PROVIDE A SAFE-HAVEN FOR THE HOLISTIC REHABILITATION AND ADOPTION OF ABUSED, ABANDONED AND NEGLECTED HORSES. AS OF THE END OF 2024, WE HAVE 14 HORSES IN OUR REHABILITATION PROGRAM THAT ARE USED FOR OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
$165,955 spent. THROUGH OUR EQUINE LEARNING PROGRAMS, WE HELP PEOPLE DEVELOP HEALTHY PARTNERHSIPS WITH HORSES. SINCE 2013, WE HAVE OFFERED A UNIQUE HORSEMANSHIP PROGRAM FOR VETERAN FAMILIES WHO WANT TO LEARN HOW TO CARE FOR AND WORK WITH OUR REHAB HORSES - THIS PROGRAM OFFERS MUTUAL HEALING BENEFITS TO BOTH THE HORSES AND THE MILITARY FAMILIES. MANY MORE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY ALSO GET INVOLVED IN HELPING US WITH THE HORSES AND OUR VETERANS PROGRAM.
DURING TIMES OF CRISIS, WE PARTNER WITH OTHER NONPROFITS AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE US TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE AND HORSES THAT ARE IN HARM'S WAY. THE BASTROP FIRES OF 2011 WERE THE GENESIS OF FORMING OUR NONPROFIT. SINCE THEN OUR VETERAN PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE HELPED PROVIDE RESOURCES DURING LOCAL FIRES, FLOODS AND HURRICANES TO MEET IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

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

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 2024.
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 2012.
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.